Senior Director, Vehicle Maintenance

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority•Austin, TX

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Vehicle Maintenance reports to the Vice President of Bus Operations and Vehicle Maintenance and provides executive leadership, vision, and strategic direction for CapMetro’s vehicle maintenance and fleet management functions. The role develops and executes long-range strategies to keep revenue and nonrevenue fleets safe, reliable, financially sustainable, in a state of good repair, and prepared for future service and technology requirements. It leads fleet lifecycle planning, replacement and modernization strategies, reliability initiatives, capital investment planning, and the introduction of emerging vehicle technologies. The Senior Director establishes performance expectations and accountability for maintenance and contracted services, builds organizational capability and workforce readiness, and advises executive leadership on fleet condition, investment priorities, technology, and emerging risks. The position is a senior member of the Bus Operations and Maintenance leadership team and contributes to agency-wide strategy and long-term decision-making. It leads collaboration across departments and with employees, labor representatives, service partners, manufacturers, and other stakeholders. The role directly manages department personnel and may authorize, coordinate, and schedule work with vendors and consultants. Work is performed in office and outdoor environments, with exposure to inclement and adverse weather. The role requires managing multiple project timelines and employees performing complex work. The position may require work beyond a normal 40-hour weekly schedule; regular and predictable attendance at the assigned work location is essential. This is an onsite position, with the primary workplace at a CapMetro facility or field location and an expectation to work there four or more days per week. The position is identified as FTA safety-sensitive and requires participation in the employer’s prohibited-substance testing program. Visa sponsorship is not available; applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Transportation Management, Fleet Management, or a related field; relevant professional experience may substitute for education year for year, up to four years.
Twelve years of progressively responsible experience in fleet maintenance, transportation operations, asset management, or a related field, including at least eight years in a management or leadership capacity.
Demonstrated experience overseeing complex maintenance operations, including workforce management, operational performance, resource allocation, budget administration, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Knowledge of vehicle maintenance practices, preventive maintenance programs, fleet reliability, safety standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Knowledge of vehicle procurement processes, technical specification development, contract administration, and manufacturer support programs.
Knowledge of transit bus technical systems and transit and manufacturing safety rules.
Computer skills and experience with MS Windows products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project, and other software packages in a Windows environment; ability to write inspection reports, develop and use spreadsheets to track projects, communicate by email, and maintain calendar appointments.
Skill in developing and executing long-range strategic plans that align fleet investments with organizational objectives.
Skill in budget development, financial oversight, and capital program management.
Excellent communication skills, including listening, providing feedback, communicating goals and objectives within a team, and building relationships based on trust and respect.
Excellent management skills, including holding oneself and others accountable, making difficult decisions, focusing on results, analyzing data, and planning, developing, and implementing formal work plans.
Knowledge of basic management strategies and project coordination.
Strong problem-solving, organizational, coaching, facilitation, and presentation skills.
Ability to read and interpret technical information related to bus operations and maintenance; troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems; and write objective reports based on observations and inspections.
Ability to provide visionary leadership and establish strategic direction for vehicle maintenance operations.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to stand and sit frequently during an eight-hour period; reach vertically overhead and horizontally; use a telephone or headset; lift and move material weighing up to 20 pounds; work at a computer terminal for 6–8 hours a day; and function amid constant interruptions.
Must be authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.
Must participate in the employer’s testing program for prohibited substances as a condition of employment in this FTA safety-sensitive position.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing large vehicle fleets, heavy-duty equipment, or maintenance operations in a public transit or similarly complex operating environment.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership, vision, and strategic direction for Vehicle Maintenance, setting long-term priorities aligned with CapMetro’s service goals, Strategic Plan, and organizational objectives.
Develop and lead a comprehensive long-range fleet strategy covering lifecycle management, replacement, modernization, state of good repair, fleet growth, emerging technologies, infrastructure readiness, and future service requirements.
Contribute to agency-wide strategy, organizational priorities, service performance, and long-term decisions as a senior member of the Bus Operations and Maintenance leadership team.
Advise executive leadership on fleet condition, investment priorities, emerging risks, technology choices, and long-range capital needs, translating complex operational, technical, and financial information into strategic recommendations.
Lead fleet replacement and capital investment planning using vehicle condition, useful life, reliability, lifecycle cost, service requirements, technology readiness, funding availability, and organizational risk.
Provide strategic leadership for vehicle procurement and modernization, considering customer and operator needs, safety, accessibility, reliability, maintainability, infrastructure, workforce capability, manufacturer support, and lifecycle cost.
Establish performance expectations, governance, and accountability for Vehicle Maintenance and contracted maintenance services, using performance measures to improve reliability, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement.
Establish a multi-year vision for maintenance operations that strengthens reliability, availability, organizational capability, financial sustainability, and readiness for future vehicle technologies.
Develop leaders, strengthen succession planning, establish accountability, and create workforce development strategies to prepare employees for changing technologies, maintenance practices, and fleet requirements.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, innovation, customer focus, and continuous improvement, while maintaining relationships with employees, labor representatives, service partners, manufacturers, and other stakeholders.
Lead strategic partnerships across Operations, Planning, Safety, Finance, Procurement, Capital Projects, Information Technology, and other departments to align fleet investments, infrastructure, workforce, technology, and service planning.
Anticipate industry, technology, supply chain, regulatory, and manufacturer trends; develop strategies to manage risk, preserve organizational flexibility, and prepare CapMetro for future fleet and service needs.
Support Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Safety Management Systems process by ensuring staff follow safety and security policies, consider safety in their actions, and report safety and security concerns.
Perform other duties as required or assigned.
Plan, schedule, delegate, and oversee department employees’ work assignments; authorize, coordinate, and schedule work with vendors and consultants; conduct personnel actions, including hiring and interviewing; and oversee hiring, training, work assignments, and performance evaluations.