chief operations officer - Milwaukee - Milwaukee County Transit System

Description

Job Title: Chief Operations Officer

Department: Executive

FLSA Status: Exempt, Non-Represented

Reports to: President & CEO

Annual Salary Range: $129,400 – $161,800

ABOUT MILWAUKEE COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM (MCTS)

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) operates out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy an exceptional quality of life in a thriving cultural scene, with terrific city and county amenities, affordable cost of living, and all the enjoyment of a four‑season climate. Milwaukee County's service area has wonderful neighborhoods, great outdoor spaces, a vibrant music and food scene, including Summerfest, which is the largest annual music festival in America, top‑net museums and attractions, and a warm, welcoming, friendly environment. Milwaukee is centrally located in the Midwest with easy access to Chicago and other major destination locations, and is home to several large universities, including the University of Wisconsin‑Milwaukee (UWM) and Marquette University.

Milwaukee County Transit System plays an essential role in Milwaukee County, driving economic growth, enhancing accessibility, improving the quality of life throughout the county and region, and connecting residents and visitors to jobs, education, life, and opportunity. MCTS provides approximately 25 million rides annually on its fixed route bus network of 49 routes and also provides ADA paratransit services throughout Milwaukee County through an outside vendor, Transdev. With a service area of almost 1 million residents, the opportunities for growth and innovation in how MCTS moves its customers await the next Chief Operations Officer.

The ideal candidate for this position will have extensive experience and understanding of operating within a large urban transit system with an eye on innovation, changing industry practices, AI advancements, and continuous process improvement. Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc., is a quasi‑governmental instrumentality of the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and operates under the name Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS).

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Chief Operations Officer serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and provides support, coordination, visionary leadership, and guidance across several key departments at MCTS, including the fixed‑route bus network, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, Transit Plus ADA Paratransit services including the same‑day paratransit pilot program, Bus and Vehicle maintenance, and the MCTS Safety and Security departments. The direct reports of this position include the Director of Transportation, the Director of Bus Maintenance, the Director of Paratransit, and the Director of Safety, Security and Project Management. The Chief Operations Officer provides strategic leadership and guidance to these departments and ensures proper management staff and methods are in place to ensure company success. This position is expected to identify and implement new approaches, optimize organizational effectiveness, and continually and consistently improve performance, safety, and teamwork in alignment with the organization's mission, vision, and values. The Chief Operations Officer reports to the President & CEO.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for developing and monitoring annual budgets with department leadership.
• Provides oversight and guidance to each department to ensure compliance with company objectives, goals, and vision.
• Ensure labor agreements are followed and interpreted correctly.
• Works closely with labor union leadership to build and foster a collaborative working relationship that is mutually beneficial to all parties.
• Communicate regularly with those in their departments via written and oral communication.
• Participates in contract negotiations with other MCTS team members and labor attorneys to reach an agreement with the labor union (ATU Local 998) on new collective bargaining agreements.
• Collaborates with the executive leadership team to develop policy recommendations regarding a wide range of performance areas for approval by the President & CEO.
• Make recommendations for capital spending to support business goals.
• Creates and encourages a culture of continuous process improvement where data‑driven decisions are made to strategically allocate available resources.
• Sets the example for departments under their purview and jurisdiction on issues of integrity, conduct, attire, and professionalism.
• Helps prepare and ensure MCTS is found to be free of deficiencies with the triennial reviews with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
• Helps ensure MCTS operates in compliance with all regulatory agencies, including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), US Department of Transportation (USDOT), and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).
• Participates in hiring and training employees for key departmental positions; sets goals for departments; ensures best industry practices that improve efficiency are implemented and explored; and commits to understanding how advancements in AI and automation might be utilized at MCTS.
• Develop direct reports to ensure business continuity and seamless operations continue in their absence for planned or unplanned time off.
• Participates in company and community activities to promote transit on off‑duty hours.
• Works closely with other members of the executive leadership team to pursue excellence through investment, development, and innovation.
• Travels within and outside of the service area as needed.
• May be asked to travel for training in or outside of the state of Wisconsin.
• Must be available to respond to emergencies at all times.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President and Vice President.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND WORK QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Transportation, Operations, Logistics, or related field. Master's degree preferred.
• Ten (10) years of progressive management/supervisory experience.
• Eight (8) years of experience in transit operations within a labor union environment, with at least five (5) years of management experience in bus operations.
• Five (5) years of experience in administrative oversight related to budget preparation, payroll, vacation monitoring, and tracking and reducing overtime.
• Five (5) years of experience overseeing exempt non‑represented management personnel.
• Any combination of experience, training, and/or education that provides the required knowledge, abilities, and skills may substitute for the required education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree with prior executive experience, preferably as a department head or division head.
• Five (5) years of experience working with an ADA‑accessible fixed bus route system or paratransit service.
• Five (5) years of experience working in or with law enforcement or security services.
• Five (5) years of experience working with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or some variation of BRT.
• Understanding of US Federal Grant funding programs.
• Obtained TSSP‑Bus certificate.
• ICS qualified – 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of FTA (Federal Transit Administration), ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) laws, and related public transit operations, trends, and needs.
• Knowledge of MCTS areas and departments.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal government funding programs as they relate to public transit.
• Knowledge of bus maintenance best practices for fleet readiness and maintaining equipment in a state of good repair.
• Knowledge and understanding of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) tracked in a fixed bus route and ADA paratransit environment.
• Knowledge of organizational and management practices relating to risk management, procurement, policy development, budgeting, contract compliance, information technology, and staff development.
• Knowledge of financial principles.
• Advanced skills in computer operations and spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software using Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to manage conflict and balance competing interests from multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and execute company strategies to attain outcomes for set goals.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to present information to a board of directors in a public setting.
• Travel as required for training in and outside of Wisconsin.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

• Work is frequently conducted in an office or similar indoor environment or community or outdoor environment with occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts or fumes and airborne particles.
• Physical requirements are those described as sedentary work, exerting 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

The above are general requirements that must be met for consideration. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of job qualifications or job duties.

Milwaukee County Transit System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age; protected military status, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law.