Transit Supply Chain Chief (SDA)

King County•Seattle, WA

14h•Onsite

About The Position

King County Metro Transit’s Vehicle Maintenance Division is seeking a service-driven leader to become our next Transit Supply Chain Chief. This leadership role oversees materials management and inventory control within the division, guiding the work of Transit Parts Specialists, Transit Purchasing Specialists, Leads, and Information Processing specialists. Together, these teams form the backbone of Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance supply chain. Their work ensures that our maintenance professionals have the materials and supplies they need to safely maintain a fleet that serves hundreds of thousands of riders every day. The Supply Chain Chief provides leadership, coordination, and strategic oversight that keeps this system running sustainably. Transit Chiefs provide policy direction, create a culture of customer service, work collaboratively with union leaders and others within the organization, and are a resource to employees at the worksite. They demonstrate support for organizational goals by providing quality service, working collaboratively with other sections and departments, and valuing diversity of opinion, culture, and perspective. This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment, and subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols. This recruitment will be used to fill a Special Duty Assignment as a Transit Supply Chain Chief, with an expected end date in February 2027 with the possibility of extension. This recruitment may be used to create an eligibility list to fill future SDAs in this classification (Transit Chief- Vehicle Maintenance) and Supply Chain workgroup. If created, the list would be retained for 12 months from the date of posting, and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Requirements

At least one (1) year of leadership or supervisory experience leading diverse teams in a vehicle maintenance or supply chain environment, including assigning work, monitoring performance, coaching, counseling, setting expectations, and recommending corrective or developmental actions.
Increasingly responsible experience in parts or materials management, inventory control, warehousing, parts room operations, logistics, procurement, and/or warranty processes—preferably in a relevant transit, large fleet, or industrial setting.
OR any equivalent combination of experience that provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the duties of this position.
Technical and fleet maintenance knowledge: Familiarity with transit vehicle parts, systems, preventive maintenance practices, and interpreting technical specifications, schematics, and parts catalogs.
Safety and compliance knowledge: Solid understanding of safety-sensitive regulations, hazardous materials handling, and workplace safety requirements, and the ability to enforce federal, state, and local compliance standards.
Systems and Data Skills: Proficiency with enterprise asset management and inventory (e.g., M5, PeopleSoft, SharePoint) and the ability to ensure data accuracy and use system information for decision-making.
Critical thinking and forecasting skills: Skill in forecasting material needs for upcoming projects, able to proactively plan for retrofits, recalls, projects, and secure parts to ensure fleet readiness and prevent downtime.
Operational judgement: Able to respond effectively to service disruptions and emergencies, prioritize tasks, and make timely decisions in a 24/7 operational setting.
Labor Relations knowledge: Experience working in a unionized environment, and interpreting (or applying) collective bargaining agreements.
Communication and collaboration skills: Able to listen openly, give and receive feedback, resolve conflicts, address customer concerns, and work effectively with diverse staff, leadership, vendors, and partner agencies.
Equity & Inclusion: Experience fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace that values people’s differences. Able to apply equity and social justice principles to leadership, decision-making, and daily operations.
A valid Washington State driver license and acceptable driving record.
Must pass drug and alcohol testing provision for safety-sensitive positions as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655.
Willingness and availability to work varying shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays as required for shift assignment and consistent with negotiated agreements
Work may require remaining available for work 24 hours per day during rotational assignments as on-call Vehicle Maintenance Chief.
Work may require reporting for extended duty during adverse weather events and other emergencies.

Nice To Haves

At least three (3) years of parts management experience, preferably for transit.
Direct supervisory or management experience that included managing attendance, writing and delivering performance appraisals and evals, and administering progressive discipline as needed.
Public-sector procurement and vendor management experience, including familiarity with FTA and County purchasing rules, contract processes, and sourcing strategies.
Advanced knowledge of transit fleet parts, systems, and maintenance operations, including diesel, hybrid, electric, and trolley components; preventive maintenance practices; and cost-effective stocking strategies for large, diversified fleets.
Ability to guide complex parts identification, sourcing challenges, and cross-functional coordination between maintenance, procurement, and operational teams.
Experience with budgeting and financial systems (e.g., Oracle/EBS) and monitoring operational costs.
Foundational understanding of supervisory best practices and the federal, state, and local employment laws governing civil rights and equal opportunity.
Experience, education, or training in project management or continuous improvement methods, such as Lean or similar process-improvement approaches.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise teams of skilled Purchasing and Parts Specialists, and other staff responsible for the full materials management and parts inventory lifecycle, ensuring work meets standards and operational needs.
Oversee procurement, storage, distribution, parts room operations, cycle counts, logistics; authorize purchases within delegated limits.
Plan, forecast, and maintain cost-effective inventory levels to support continuous fleet maintenance; monitor labor and operational costs and adjust operations to meet performance targets and service levels.
Coordinate timely responses to service disruptions, weather events, emergencies, and critical incidents in collaboration with the Superintendent, Transit Operations Center and other agencies.
Ensure accuracy and integrity of data in automated fleet maintenance, scheduling, inventory, and information systems; review work orders, warranty and rebuild information, completed repairs, and material usage for quality assurance.
Maintain a safe and compliant work environment, including proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials and adherence to all safety-sensitive regulations and safety programs for the assigned work area.
Investigate and respond to customer complaints related to maintenance operations and staff.
Identify, evaluate, recommend, and implement improvements to service delivery, quality assurance, workflow efficiency, and business processes.
Foster effective and collaborative labor relations; ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements; address and resolve workplace issues and participate in grievance processes and hearings as required.
Interview, select, train, and develop assigned staff; provide coaching, counseling, and performance feedback to support growth and development.
Schedule staff effectively, manage employee attendance, vacation requests, leave administration (ADA/FMLA/KCFML/WFLA).
Review, correct, and approve payroll for assigned staff.
Apply Vehicle Maintenance, Metro Transit Department, and King County policies/procedures fairly and consistently. This includes administering safety-sensitive drug and alcohol testing program for assigned employees.
Conduct performance evaluations, address performance concerns, and lead investigations into misconduct, harassment, negligence, and policy violations; determine appropriate follow-up actions, including counseling, training, or discipline, in consultation with the Superintendent, Human Resources, and Labor Relations.
Collaborate with other partners across King County and Metro Transit, participate in committees and project teams, and coordinate operational needs with internal partners to support seamless service delivery.
Perform other duties, including acting as Superintendent, as assigned.