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 ensure revenue and nonrevenue fleets are safe, reliable, financially sustainable, maintained in a state of good repair, and positioned to meet 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, develops organizational capability and workforce readiness, and advises executive leadership on fleet condition, investment priorities, technology, and emerging risks. The position provides enterprise leadership as a member of the Bus Operations and Maintenance leadership team, and collaborates across departments and with employees, labor representatives, service partners, manufacturers, and other stakeholders. It directly manages department personnel and coordinates work with vendors and consultants. The role supports CapMetro’s Safety Management Systems process and is designated as an FTA safety-sensitive position, requiring participation in the employer’s prohibited-substance testing program. Work is performed in an office and outside environment, with exposure to inclement and adverse weather. The position is onsite, with the primary workplace at a CapMetro facility or field location and an expectation to work there at least four days a week. It may require work beyond a normal 40-hour weekly schedule. The role includes frequent sitting and standing, reaching, use of a telephone or headset, lifting and moving materials up to 20 pounds, and computer-terminal work for 6–8 hours a day. Regular and predictable attendance at the assigned work location is essential. 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 organize 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 and providing feedback, communicating goals and objectives in a team environment, and building relationships based on trust and respect.
Excellent management skills, including accountability, making difficult decisions, focusing on results, analyzing data, and planning, developing, and implementing formal work plans.
Knowledge of basic management strategies and project coordination.
Problem-solving, organization, coaching, facilitation, and presentation skills.
Ability to read and interpret technical information related to bus operations and maintenance; troubleshoot and solve 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.
Must be currently 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 that support CapMetro’s service goals, Strategic Plan, and organizational objectives.
Develop and lead a long-range fleet strategy covering vehicle lifecycle management, replacement, modernization, state of good repair, fleet growth, emerging technologies, infrastructure readiness, and future service requirements.
Contribute enterprise leadership and agency-wide strategy 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.
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, ensuring specifications and technology decisions consider 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 drive reliability, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement.
Establish a multi-year vision for maintenance operations that strengthens fleet reliability, availability, organizational capability, financial sustainability, and readiness for future vehicle technologies.
Develop leaders, strengthen succession planning, establish clear accountability, and create workforce development strategies for changing technologies, maintenance practices, and future fleet requirements.
Champion a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, innovation, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
Maintain strong relationships with employees, labor representatives, service partners, manufacturers, and other stakeholders.
Lead strategic partnerships with 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 for future fleet and service needs.
Support CapMetro’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.
Direct and manage department personnel by planning, scheduling, delegating, and overseeing 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.