Transit Base Chief - Bus Operations

King County•Seattle, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Metro Transit’s Bus Operations Division is seeking to hire five (5) Transit Base Chiefs! These career service positions are open to all qualified applicants. As a Transit Base Chief, you'll help lead a diverse workforce in a fast-paced, seven-day-a-week operation. Working as part of a base leadership team under the direction of a Transit Superintendent, you'll supervise Transit Operators and First-Line Supervisors while helping deliver safe, clean, reliable, and customer-focused transit service. King County Metro operates one of the nation's leading public transportation systems, connecting people throughout King County to work, school, healthcare, and the communities they call home. Bus Operations work is guided by a shared vision: Safety comes first for us and our customers. We serve with pride, respect each other, and solve problems together. We are one team. If you're passionate about developing people, leading through challenges, and making a meaningful impact in your community, we encourage you to apply. Transit Base Chiefs provide day-to-day leadership within Bus Operations by balancing employee support, operational priorities, safety, labor relations, and customer service. Every day presents new opportunities to lead, requiring sound judgment, adaptability, collaboration, and the ability to build trust while navigating a variety of operational and employee situations. Working closely with a Transit Superintendent and other Base Chiefs, you'll help create a positive workplace culture while supporting reliable transit service for the communities we serve.

Requirements

Three years of progressively responsible leadership experience in public transportation or another complex operational environment, including at least two years in a supervisory or lead role.
Experience supervising employees in a unionized or similarly complex workplace.
Experience addressing employee performance and workplace issues.
Experience interpreting and applying policies, procedures, or labor agreements.
Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
A commitment to safety, equity, inclusion, and customer service.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn new technology.

Nice To Haves

Experience with grievance administration.
Experience in workforce planning.
Experience in operational performance analysis.
Experience using workforce scheduling or comparable operational management software.
Experience using Microsoft 365.
Experience in continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and support Transit Operators and First-Line Supervisors.
Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
Support safe, reliable, and efficient daily transit operations.
Manage employee performance through coaching, recognition, investigations, and corrective action.
Interpret and apply labor agreements, County policies, and Metro procedures.
Conduct grievance hearings and help resolve employee relations matters.
Use sound judgment to balance operational priorities while supporting employees and customers.
Build collaborative relationships with employees, labor representatives, and internal partners.
Perform additional leadership responsibilities and special projects as assigned to support Bus Operations' operational priorities.
Ensure that SMS is implemented and executed within their areas of responsibility.
Ensure that performance of SMS is measured and documented in all areas of their responsibility.
Provide time necessary for employees to receive sufficient training.
Work on hazard identification analysis, tracking, and mitigation as safety concerns are brought forward.
Provide onsite safety orientation to all new or transferred employees.
Hold and document required safety meetings.
Work on hazard identification and mitigation are brought forward.
Ensure the maintenance of a safe workplace in conformity with Metro Transit safety programs.
Report safety and security concerns and ideas.