President/CEO

Project Description:

• The client is seeking a President & CEO to continue the transit system s work towards enhancing the quality of life through great public service.
• The client connects the community with essential transit services in an endeavor to achieve racial equity.
• President & CEO candidates will have detailed knowledge of principles, policies, and practices of operating a large urban transit system, along with a deep understanding of mass transit strategies and the role of operations-related performance metrics.
• The successful candidate will have the ability to communicate complex concepts about objectives and achievements for multiple audiences: employees, labor unions, transit passengers, elected officials, and other stakeholders.
• The ability to understand and influence political operatives in the furtherance of transit needs is also a must.
• The President & CEO will use their experience of leading teams through problem-solving processes to analyze issues.
• In addition, experience evaluating talent, holding staff accountable for performance, and evaluating whether the right person is in the right seat will contribute to organizational success. Finally, a demonstrable commitment to racial equity with respect to employees and engagement with community members will be a key to success for the individual candidate.

Job Summary:

• Provides overall strategic leadership for the organization to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies. Cultivates a culture of customer service, regulatory compliance, safety, performance management, and fiscal responsibility.

Essential Functions:

• Provides leadership and management to the client organization.
• Establishes expectations in line with mission and vision and fosters a bias towards action.
• Meets with managing personnel, Deputy Director, Chief Officers, and Department Heads.
• Ensures expenses keep in line within budgets.
• Works with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to develop the annual operating and capital budgets.
• Presents budgets to Board of Supervisors.
• Monitors ongoing budget performance.
• Manages relationships with external stakeholders.
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Graduate Professional Degree or Master s Degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Business Administration, or related field required. Related experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirement.
• Ten (10) years of progressively more responsible professional-level public transportation-related experience.
• Seven (7) years supervisory experience required.
• Contracts and negotiation experience preferred.
• Experience in public transportation planning or similar government structure preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of transit industry trends and best practices.
• Federal and state transit laws and regulations.
• Local and regional transit issues.
• Transit safety and security issues.
• Knowledge of client s operations and policies.
• Knowledge of non-profit or quasi-governmental organizational structures.
• Knowledge of financial management strategies, key performance indicators, and operations-related performance metrics.
• Knowledge of best practices in management and governance.
• Knowledge of public policy and board relations principles.
• Knowledge of external environment, community and the role of mass transit.
• Knowledge of multi-faceted business operations.
• Knowledge of essential human resources management and best practices including team building and optimizing staff performance.
• Knowledge of labor relations principles and applicable labor agreements.
• Skilled in computer operations, spreadsheets, word processing, presentation and related software.
• Ability to manage conflict and balance competing interests from multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to determine overall company goals.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships.
• Ability to set organizational strategy.
• Ability to manage others.
• Ability to present to others.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors:

• Work is frequently conducted in an office or similar indoor environment relatively free from unpleasant conditions or hazards. Work may sometimes be conducted in the community, at a construction site or in a vehicle.
• Physical requirements are those described as sedentary work exerting 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently.

Top Skills & Years of Experience (6 or more years of experience in the following):

• Graduate Professional Degree or Master s Degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Business Administration, or related field required. Related experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirement.
• Ten (10) years of progressively more responsible professional-level public transportation-related experience.
• Seven (7) years supervisory experience required.
• Contracts and negotiation experience preferred.
• Experience in public transportation planning or similar government structure preferred.

Nice to Have:

• Knowledge of transit industry trends and best practices.
• Federal and state transit laws and regulations.
• Local and regional transit issues.
• Transit safety and security issues.