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The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is seeking a Deputy Director to assist the Managing Director with the transit system’s work towards enhancing the quality of life in Milwaukee County through great public service. MCTS connects our community with essential transit services in an endeavor to achieve racial equity and become the healthiest County in Wisconsin. Deputy Director 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 an 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 new Deputy Director will use their experience of leading teams through problem solving processes to analyze issues at MCTS and lead working groups from idea generation through concept assessment, plan development, and implementation consistent with established timelines. 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 and MCTS.

JOB SUMMARY:
Serves as a member of the Executive Team and provides support and coordination across all corporate departments. The Deputy Director has overall responsibility for Operations, Administration and Labor Relations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Ensure that MCTS services are safe, reliable and customer focused.

2. Benchmark MCTS against transit industry trends and best practices.

3. Establish and enhance relationships with MCTS Management, and employees/union.

4. Support informed recommendations for Milwaukee County officials/administrators.

5. Uphold the transit system’s mission, vision and values consistent with Milwaukee County’s Mission and Vision.

6. Execute the annual business plan for transit and provide regular and timely reporting on plans, progress, issues, and results.

7. Assist in establishing strategic direction for MCTS and refining short-term goals, objectives and priorities.

8. Shape recommendations for policies and practices using key statistics, valid projections and appropriate fiscal estimates.

9. Use performance measures and key statistics to encourage actions that produce positive trends, while seeking ways to mitigate negative trends.

10. Foster innovation and provide support to ensure that new activities are tested, considered and implemented.

11. Manage relationships with executives and department heads within the organization.

12. Perform other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Ten (10) years of experience in Public Transit or similar government structure.

2. Five (5) years of supervisory experience required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. Knowledge of principles, policies, and practices of large urban transit system operations.

2. Knowledge of transit industry trends and best practices.

3. Knowledge of MCTS operations and policies.

4. Knowledge of multi-faceted business operations.

5. Knowledge of public policy and board relations principles.

6. Knowledge of external environment, community, and the role of mass transit.

7. Knowledge of key performance indicators, and operations-related performance metrics.

8. Knowledge of best practices in management and governance.

9. Knowledge of essential human resources management and best practices including team building and optimizing staff performance.

10. Knowledge of labor relations principles and applicable labor agreements at MCTS.

11. Skilled in computer operations and spreadsheet, word processing, presentation and related software.

12. Ability to lead, manage and support senior-level executive staff.

13. Ability to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships.

14. Ability to manage conflict and balance competing interests from multiple internal and external stakeholders.

15. Ability to lead a team through problem solving processes; capable of analyzing issues and leading a group from idea generation through concept assessment, plan development, and implementation consistent with timelines.

16. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

17. Ability to present to others.

18. Ability to understand and influence others including political operatives in the furtherance of transit needs and requirements.

19. Ability to communicate complex concepts about objectives and achievements to summarize overall system effectiveness measures for multiple audiences.

20. Ability to understand the external environment/community

21. Ability to take an organizational perspective and think strategically

22. Ability to determine overall company goals.

23. Ability to set organizational strategy.

24. Ability to implement strategic plans.

25. Ability to implement large-scale policies and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:

1. Work is frequently conducted in office or similar indoor environment relatively free from unpleasant environmental conditions or hazards. Incumbent may sometimes be in the community, at a warehouse or in a shop environment and may sometimes be exposed to hostile or irate individuals.

2. Physical requirements are those described as sedentary work, which includes exerting ten (10) pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently and/or constantly having to lift, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

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. A physical exam and Pre-Placement Functional Test may be administered prior to job award, allowing applicants to demonstrate their ability to the minimum requirements for this position.

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 veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law.