Operations Director: Transit Excellence & Community Impact

SouthWest Transit; Oak Terrace (MN); Sur place; USD 120 000 - 170 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

SouthWest Transit is seeking a Senior Manager of Operations to shape day-to-day operations and drive organizational excellence within a community-focused agency.

You will lead a diverse team, optimize processes, analyze data, manage budgets, and partner with stakeholders to improve service, safety, and reliability, delivering measurable impacts for riders.

This role requires strategic vision, hands-on leadership, and a commitment to SWT values and mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, operations, or related field.
• 7+ years progressively responsible experience in Operations Management with at least 5 years leading teams.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor teams.
• Demonstrates initiative, continuous improvement, and is a self-starter.
• Excellent planning and follow through.
• Embraces the SWT Values of purpose, integrity, innovation, learning and belonging.

Responsabilités

• Lead, coach, and develop a team to ensure continuous communication and smooth daily operations.
• Manage daily transit operations ensuring system-wide adherence to KPIs.
• Analyze ridership trends and operational data to improve service efficiency, reduce cost, and identify service gaps and opportunities.
• Prepare operational reports, service performance metrics, and grant proposals for transit development funding.
• Partner with internal departments, vendors, and external stakeholders to improve public transit services and implement new technologies.
• Assist in incident investigations, respond to difficult and sensitive issues, identify and report findings and take necessary corrective action as needed.
• Manage budgets, staffing resources, and operational priorities while continuously identifying opportunities for process improvement.
• Develop and implement short- and long-term operational strategies that align with agency goals and community needs.
• Monitor and improve on-time performance, productivity, service reliability, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Utilize data analytics to support operational decision-making and continuous process improvement.
• Prepare and manage operating budgets and monitor expenditures to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Safety and Risk Specialist to minimize incidents and improve safety in and around the facilities and vehicles.
• Partner with Transit Planning to align operations and deliver efficient services.
• Be the liaison between SWT and the driver contractors. Establish regular meeting cadence to ensure open communications, clear expectations, and alignment with KPI's and contract requirements.
• Manage fleet performance metrics, fuel consumption, and operational costs using maintenance management software.
• Ensure all vehicles comply with federal, state, and local safety and regulatory standards.
• Manage the Vehicle Maintenance Manager and oversee all operations and processes in the shop including but not limited to stock levels, PMs, third-party repairs, etc.
• Manage the Facilities Manager and oversee routine and preventative maintenance for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc. for facilities.
• Manage the dispatch to ensure effective delivery of dispatch services with an eye to continuous improvement in processes.
• Develop a 10-year CIP to address long-term facility growth, space utilization, renovations, and/or new construction.
• All other duties as assigned.

Connaissances

Operations leadership

Team leadership

Continuous improvement

Planning & execution

Self-starter

Formation

Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, operations, or related field

Outils

FTA regulations knowledge

Description du poste

SouthWest Transit is seeking a Senior Manager of Operations to shape day-to-day operations and drive organizational excellence within a community-focused agency.

You will lead a diverse team, optimize processes, analyze data, manage budgets, and partner with stakeholders to improve service, safety, and reliability, delivering measurable impacts for riders.

This role requires strategic vision, hands-on leadership, and a commitment to SWT values and mission.