Chief Transit Operations

Fairfax County Government; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfax County Government seeks a seasoned Chief of Transit Operations for FASTRAN paratransit, overseeing scheduling, dispatch, budgeting, and route optimization. Leads staff, ensures compliance, and coordinates with human services agencies to serve seniors and residents with special needs.

Responsibilities include grant oversight, performance evaluations, and improving service reliability while managing complex transit operations and customer service issues, reporting to the Transit Services

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, transportation planning, or a related field.
• Two years of progressively responsible professional transit operations experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and administer scheduling activities for Fairfax County's Human Services Transportation Para Transit Bus Services and Head Start Transportation Services.
• Oversee grants supporting human services transportation programs.
• Supervise staff involved in ride scheduling, dispatch coordination, and reimbursement processing for Medicaid transportation.
• Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate staff.
• Monitor contract dispatch operations for compliance and efficiency.
• Oversee vehicle inventory databases with maintenance staff.
• Manage route assignments for optimal ridership and resources.
• Prepare Medicaid and user fee revenue projections; ensure reimbursement collection.

Skills

Transit operations

Paratransit knowledge

Budgeting

Staff supervision

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in public/business administration or transportation planning

Tools

Scheduling software

Call distribution systems

Transportation databases

Job description

Since 1977, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has been at the forefront of transforming our community. We are committed to enhancing mobility, safety, and the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. Our mission is to plan, coordinate, fund, implement, and sustain a cutting-edge multimodal transportation system that meets the dynamic needs of Fairfax County.

FCDOT is seeking a highly motivated, qualified, and experienced professional to join the Transit Services Division (TSD). Serving as the Chief of Transit Operations for FASTRAN bus services, this position provides oversight and administration of special transportation services (paratransit) provided for Fairfax County seniors and residents with special needs.

The position oversees scheduling operations, supervising staff, managing program budgets, optimizing routes, resolving service issues, and ensuring compliance across human services transportation programs. This role plays a key part in promoting reliable services and supporting the county’s commitment to serving vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities include:

• Planning, directing, and administering scheduling activities for Fairfax County’s Human Services Transportation Para Transit Bus Services, and Head Start Transportation Services;
• Overseeing implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of federal, state, and county grants supporting human services transportation programs;
• Supervising transportation professionals involved in ride scheduling, dispatch coordination, and reimbursement processing for Medicaid transportation program; distributing work assignments and reviewing completed work for accuracy;
• Recruiting, training, coaching, discipling staff, and conducting performance evaluations;
• Monitoring contract dispatch operations to ensure compliance and recommending efficiency improvements;
• Overseeing vehicle inventory databases in coordination with the FCDOT maintenance staff;
• Managing route assignments, ensuring optimal ridership, staffing, and resource utilization;
• Evaluating human services transportation policies, procedures, and guidelines; preparing or updating them as needed;
• Coordinating transportation needs and activities with other county human services agencies;
• Preparing Medicaid and user fee revenue projections and ensuring proper reimbursement collection
• Assisting with monitoring budget performance and preparing addendums or impact analysis for service changes for the section chief;
• Analyzing complicated route issues; resolving transportation requests that are not manageable by staff; investigating and resolving complaints from riders, county agencies, and the Board of Supervisors;
• Reviewing Automated Call Distribution (ACD) reports to identify call trends and operational inefficiencies;
• Presenting to senior management or the Board of Supervisors in the absence of the Human Services Transportation Section Chief; and
• Completing other tasks, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:

Graduation from a four‑year college or university with a bachelor's degree in public or business administration, transportation planning, or a related field; plus two years of progressively responsible professional transit operations experience in the transportation field.

Certificates and Licenses Required:

• Valid driver’s license

Necessary Special Requirements:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, child protective services check, and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and methods of transit and paratransit services planning and analysis
• Experience in scheduling or routing transportation services (paratransit, human services, or similar)
• Proficiency with scheduling software, call distribution systems, and/or transportation related database
• Knowledge of and experience managing federal/state transportation grants
• Experience with Medicaid transportation reimbursement processes
• Experience in resolving customer service issues related to transportation programs
• Strong problem‑solving skills and experience analyzing/optimizing complex route structures and operational data for transportation programs.
• Experience managing dispatch operations
• Ability to prepare budgets, projections, and cost analyses
• Experience supervising staff in a transportation or logistics environment
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, governmental officials, and the general public
• Strong communication skills and experience in collaborating across programs and divisions

Physical Requirements:

Work is generally sedentary. However, employee may be required to do some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items under 25 lbs. in weight. Ability to operate keyboard‑driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Ability to operate a motor vehicle. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Selection Procedure:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo‑European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314.

[e-mail] EEO/AA/TTY.