Director of Fleet Maintenance

Ben Franklin Transit•Richland, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Direct the daily activities of Fleet Maintenance operations to ensure Agency goals and strategies are realized. Plan, direct, and coordinate staff activities to maintain Agency vehicles and equipment in a state of good repair. Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) provides exceptional and cost-effective transportation services that consistently exceed customer expectations while promoting the principles and practices of livable communities and sustainable development. We value customer service, collaboration, diversity, fiscal accountability, innovation, sustainability, and safety. Employees and representatives of BFT are expected to uphold our values and mission.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Transportation, or related field from an accredited institution and five years of progressively responsible supervisory/management level experience in maintenance and/or transportation; or an equivalent combination of experience, training, and education.
Must possess a valid driver’s license.
Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, budget planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources.
Interpret and apply principles in the management of a fleet maintenance program of a transit organization.
Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, codes, and regulations related to assigned areas.
Understand and apply collective bargaining and labor agreements within a public transit environment.
Vehicle and equipment maintenance and management processes, practices, procedures, repair, and implementation techniques.
Industrial safety rules and regulations as applied to a public transit system, specifically methods for safety and legally handling hazardous materials and waste.
Prepare and control a budget.
Identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
Direct, train, counsel, and administer corrective action for staff, as warranted.
Demonstrate persuasion and influence in negotiation strategies.
Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted during work.
Learn new technologies, policies, procedures, and guidelines established by professional organizations and/or governing agencies.
Utilize office equipment and other relevant technology (software and systems) to meet business needs.
Understand, follow, and communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Work as a team member and independently; effectively apply organizational and time management skills; meet deadlines and comply with Agency policies.
Exercise sound judgment in making decisions.
Focus on tasks and recall details; handle frequent interruptions.
Knowledge of FTA Transit Asset Management (TAM) regulations, National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements, and capital asset lifecycle planning.
Develop staffing models and forecasts to support fleet maintenance operations and capital planning.

Nice To Haves

Seven (7) years of experience managing a transit fleet
Experience in automotive technology
Experience developing or administering a Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction to departmental staff, to include: coordinate work among the department and with external agencies; prioritize and assign work; supervise, motivate, and evaluate work performance, working with employees to correct performance deficiencies; ensure that employees follow policies and procedures; make hiring, termination, and disciplinary decisions and recommendations; and participate in the selection of new employees, ensuring appropriate training is provided.
Plan, organize, and direct the maintenance and repair of all Agency vehicles and related equipment, including fixed-route buses, rideshare and paratransit vehicles, service vehicles, and agency-owned vehicles used to provide contracted service.
Plan and oversee implementation of fleet maintenance and capital programs; ensure compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines.
Oversee vehicle and equipment procurement and compliance with warranty provisions; develop transportation improvement projects, including scope and budget definition.
Serve as a key stakeholder in maintaining the Agency's Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan, incorporating updated elements as required in accordance with FTA regulations (49 CFR Part 625), including asset inventory, condition assessments, and useful life benchmarks (ULB) for fleet vehicles and equipment.
Establish and monitor State of Good Repair (SGR) performance targets for fleet assets; report performance measures to the National Transit Database (NTD) and coordinate with planning partners as required.
Develop and manage the fleet capital replacement plan and schedule, prioritizing vehicle and equipment replacement based on condition, useful life, and available capital funding.
Prepare and support grant applications and capital funding requests (e.g., FTA Sections 5307, 5339) related to fleet acquisition and replacement.
Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Maintenance department; report out on department performance to Agency leadership.
Monitor fleet sizing and spare ratio to ensure compliance with FTA guidelines and service reliability needs.
Oversee the Maintenance department budget and forecast agency capital needs, to include staffing level justification; develop and review cost estimates for maintenance, repair, and capital projects; research and analyze data for cost-effective improvements.
Execute contingency plans and adapt operations for unexpected weather conditions, equipment failures, and emergency situations.
Respond to fleet and emergency situations on a 24-hour/7-day-a-week basis.
Ensure Agency standards of safety and security are met by reviewing fleet operations and equipment for adherence to Agency policies and local, state, and federal rules and regulations.
Develop, implement, and evaluate maintenance policies and programs to ensure Agency vehicles and equipment are maintained at a high standard of quality and repair.
Oversee selection, implementation, and administration of the vehicle maintenance management system (CMMS) and other information technology required for daily operations and TAM/NTD reporting.
Track and report information by reviewing/analyzing daily workflow, running repairs, road calls, preventative maintenance inspections, and employee attendance.
Plan and manage transition strategies for alternative fuel or zero-emission vehicle technologies, including related infrastructure and workforce training needs, as applicable to Agency goals.
Provide principal oversight of special fleet improvement projects that align with Agency business strategy.
Address labor relations issues per Agency guidelines; hear grievance responses; determine corrective action; may represent department interests in collective bargaining and arbitration.
Direct investigations to verify and resolve customer complaints.
Negotiate, authorize, and monitor fulfillment of contracts with equipment and/or materials suppliers.
Ensure compliance with safety regulations and safe work practices; ensure conformance to hazardous material and hazardous waste regulations.
Develop succession planning and technician training/certification programs to build internal fleet maintenance capacity.
Prepare a variety of reports, documents, and correspondence.
Work with and maintain confidential information.
Demonstrate regular and punctual attendance.
Other duties as assigned.