Director of Operations

Position Summary
An Elite Placement is currently representing a respected public transportation organization in the southeast seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Operations. This role will provide executive leadership for all transportation operations, including Fixed Route, Paratransit, Safety and Training, Security, Risk Management, Dispatch, and other operational support functions.

Responsibilities include developing and executing operational strategies that ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and customer-focused transit services while maintaining compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in transit operations, organizational leadership, regulatory compliance, labor relations, and strategic planning.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for all transportation operations, including Fixed Route, Paratransit, Safety and Training, Security, Risk Management, Dispatch, and other operational support functions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and strategic priorities.
• Develop and implement long-range operational strategies, business plans, policies, and performance initiatives that enhance safety, service reliability, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.
• Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, partnering with executive leadership to establish organizational priorities, evaluate operational performance, and support enterprise-wide decision-making.
• Lead and mentor Directors, Managers, and other operational leaders by establishing performance expectations, developing succession plans, strengthening employee engagement, and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Direct the planning, administration, and oversight of operating and capital budgets while ensuring responsible stewardship of financial resources and achievement of departmental and organizational objectives.
• Oversee workforce planning, staffing strategies, labor utilization, and organizational development to ensure operational readiness and compliance with labor agreements, employment regulations, and organizational policies.
• Establish, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs), operational metrics, and service standards to drive performance improvements, operational efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
• Provide executive oversight for safety, security, risk management, workers' compensation, regulatory compliance, and Safety Management System (SMS) initiatives while ensuring compliance with applicable Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other governing regulations.
• Lead emergency preparedness, business continuity, and incident response efforts while serving as the executive liaison with local, state, and federal emergency management agencies during emergencies and critical incidents.
• Partner closely with Human Resources and Labor Relations to promote positive labor-management relationships, resolve complex employee relations matters, support collective bargaining efforts, and foster a high-performing workplace culture.
• Collaborate with Planning, Maintenance, Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Customer Experience teams to ensure seamless operational coordination and successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Provide executive oversight of major operational projects, capital improvement initiatives, fleet expansion programs, technology implementations, and service enhancement efforts.
• Represent the organization with elected officials, regulatory agencies, business partners, community organizations, and industry stakeholders while promoting the organization's mission and strategic objectives.
• Advise executive leadership on operational risks, emerging industry trends, regulatory developments, organizational performance, and strategic opportunities.
• Champion innovation by identifying opportunities to improve processes, modernize technology, optimize costs, and strengthen organizational effectiveness.
• Demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, integrity, accountability, and ethical leadership while maintaining regular and reliable attendance.
• Perform other duties and strategic initiatives as assigned by executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Progressive executive leadership experience overseeing large-scale transportation or public transit operations.
• Demonstrated success leading diverse operational departments in a complex, unionized environment.
• Extensive knowledge of FTA, DOT, OSHA, ADA, and other applicable transportation regulations.
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar operating and capital budgets.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational development, and performance management experience.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships with executive leadership, labor organizations, government agencies, community stakeholders, and employees.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Transportation, Engineering, or a related field is preferred.

Salary is between $100,000 and $110,000. Relocation assistance is provided as well as comprehensive benefits package.

This is a confidential executive search being conducted on behalf of a well-established public transportation organization. Additional information regarding the organization, location, compensation, and benefits will be shared with candidates who advance in the selection process.

For further consideration, please submit your resumes to [email protected]