Transit Vehicle Maintenance Chief (SDA)

King County•Multiple locations in King County, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) opportunity for qualified King County Employees who have passed their probationary period. The Vehicle Maintenance division at King County Metro Transit has two SDA opportunities available for the role of Transit Vehicle Maintenance Chief. These SDAs have an expected duration of 6 months, with the possibility of extension. Transit Vehicle Maintenance (VM) Chiefs are responsible for ensuring Metro’s fleet remains safe, reliable, and ready for service. They act as subject matter experts, leading and overseeing day-to-day maintenance and repair operations at an assigned base. They lead skilled trades and craft employees who inspect, diagnose, and repair coaches, trolleys, and other fleet equipment. Chiefs also anticipate and resolve operational challenges before they affect service delivery. By maintaining fleet readiness and effectively guiding the workforce, Chiefs help Metro deliver consistent, dependable service to riders across King County. VM Chiefs foster trust, respect, and a culture grounded in safety, inclusion, customer service, and teamwork. Success requires fairness, integrity, consistent management practices, and adaptable communication skills. Qualified candidates will have demonstrated leadership experience, including the ability to influence, coach, and elevate team performance, even without formal supervisory authority. Candidates should understand performance documentation, supervision, and working within a unionized environment. The ideal candidates are operations-minded individuals with strong judgment, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and efficient maintenance operations. This position is considered safety sensitive and requires drug testing and adherence to Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

Requirements

Increasingly responsible vehicle maintenance experience, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or lead capacity.
Experience leading and motivating teams, coaching employees to improve their performance, and addressing performance and/or conduct issues.
Skill in training and developing employees’ skills and abilities.
Knowledge of transit vehicle maintenance operations and the principles, practices, and methodologies involved in the delivery of mass transit services.
Skill in inspecting craft-level vehicle maintenance work for quality assurance, repair accuracy, and to enforce safety and reliability standards.
Knowledge of the regulatory and statutory requirements that apply to transit vehicle maintenance, such as the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC).
Demonstrated experience managing competing priorities, multiple projects, and daily responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner.
Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills including the ability to listen carefully to others with an open mind while giving and receiving feedback.
Demonstrated proficiency with standard computer software and business applications, such as Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, and Outlook), and automated maintenance management information systems.
Ability to use fleet maintenance management information systems to make data-driven decisions.
Ability to lead a diverse workforce and prioritize safety, respect, fairness, and care for employees in a unionized setting.
Skill in conflict resolution, problem solving, negotiation, and the ability to attain mutually beneficial solutions.
Skill and ability to help employees understand how their work directly supports Metro’s goals, expectations, and the customers we serve.
Valid Washington State Driver's License with an acceptable driving history.
Work requires remaining available 24 hours as on call during rotational assignments.
Work may require reporting for extended duty during adverse weather events and other emergencies.
Must be willing to work any shift assigned, as any of Metro's VM base locations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with large-scale fleet maintenance operations and effective preventive maintenance principles, practices, and techniques.
Demonstrated knowledge, experience, and/or ability to effectively manage transit operational, in-service, real-time situations, and emergencies.
Demonstrated ability to research and utilize multiple sources of information to draw logical conclusions and make defensible determinations as they relate to conducting investigations, customer complaints, employee misconduct, employee complaints, and external regulatory agency complaints.
Knowledge of effective supervisory and management principles and practices as well as federal, state and local laws related to employment, civil rights and affirmative action
Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of labor relations including interest-based or collaborative labor negotiations, grievance, and arbitration processes.
Skill in establishing effective working relationships and communicating successfully with senior management, labor representatives, customers, and staff.
Ability to apply the principles, practices, and techniques of performance management to improve efficiency, safety, and reliability within Transit Vehicle Maintenance programs.
Project management training and/or experience.
Knowledge of the policies and procedures of the Transit Department, the Vehicle Maintenance division, and applicable County policies.

Responsibilities

Direct day-to-day shop activities of a vehicle maintenance base, ensure work is completed on time to the expected standards, resolve operational issues, and coordinate with Chiefs across shifts to maintain continuity of work.
Oversee preventive maintenance, enforce safety protocols, monitor hazards, and ensure all work/repairs meet VM and industry standards.
Ensure the operational readiness, safety, and efficiency of assigned fleet vehicles.
Build a collaborative, equitable, and inclusive work environment that supports employee engagement, professionalism, accountability, safety, and high service standards.
Lead, develop, and evaluate employees, address performance issues, resolve conflicts, provide feedback, and coordinate technical, safety, and operational training, including hands-on instruction.
Plan, allocate, and adjust staffing and resources to meet operational needs and fluctuating service demands.
Ensure that defective or faulty parts are handled according to established warranty protocols.
Ensure equipment readiness through oversight of tool and diagnostic equipment maintenance, calibration, and availability.
Assess and prioritize repairs based on urgency, safety, and service impact.
Monitor work order creation and completion, audit documentation accuracy, and ensure tasks align with and accurately follow the base work plan by proposing corrective actions as necessary.
Monitor performance, track maintenance metrics, use data to proactively identify trends and address delays, conduct quality assurance checks to verify repair quality, and ensure compliance with safety, cleanliness, and reliability standards.
Verify accurate documentation of maintenance logs, inspections, and part replacements for compliance and fleet tracking.
Resolve customer concerns related to service disruptions or vehicle issues, and represent the division professionally in public interactions while upholding King County’s values of service and equity.
Promote sustainability by enforcing environmentally responsible maintenance practices, such as proper disposal of hazardous materials.
Leverage the expertise of Fleet Engineering, other Vehicle Maintenance workgroups, and agency partners as appropriate to resolve technical issues, support cross-functional initiatives, and maintain effective working relationships.
Lead emergency responses to breakdowns, accidents, and service disruptions, coordinating rapid dispatch, directing incident management, and delivering clear documentation and findings to leadership to minimize service impacts.
Consistently and fairly apply, HR, safety, and labor contract provisions.
Drive operational improvement by identifying efficiency opportunities, integrating new technologies (including electric-bus and diagnostic systems), and collaborating across workgroups and project teams to implement updated tools, procedures, and policies that strengthen fleet performance and service delivery.
May be assigned to participate in internal and external work groups, project teams, committees, and task forces to coordinate operational needs and service delivery with appropriate staff throughout the Metro Transit Department as required.
Participate in internal and external work groups, project teams, committees, and task forces as assigned.