Washington

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

$122,054 - $164,133

(STARTING WAGE UP TO $134,722) Plus Excellent Benefits

Apply by

May 16, 2021 (First Review, open until filled)

KITSAP TRANSIT , WASHIN GTON ♦ OPERATIONS DIRECTO R

WHY APPLY? There is lots to see and do in Bremerton, such as

taking a stroll along the Boardwalk, touring the his- Headquartered in the City of toric USS Turner Joy, visiting Harborside Fountain Bremerton, Washington, di- Park and PSNS Memorial Plaza, or spending the rectly across the Puget afternoon browsing through Bremerton's historic Sound from , Kitsap Arts District and unique shops. Bremerton is a Transit offers the right candi- great place to live and offers quality schools, vast date the opportunity to work recreation, a clean environment, 35 beautiful in a positive and stable work parks, cultural programs, convenient shopping, environment that is confirmed with a staff tenure and excellent medical facilities, such as the state- averaging over 14 years, including the General of-the-art Heart & Vascular Center at Harrison Manager who has been with the Agency for 37 Medical Center. Olympic College in Bremerton years. The region offers affordable, quality living provides advanced technical and 7 baccalaureate in a spectacular water and mountain setting where degrees and enriches the community with many the terminal and Bremerton Transportation educational and community services and a Busi- Center at the foot of downtown leads visitors into a ness Relations Center. growing community of galleries, theaters, shops, restaurants, museums, and cafes. If you want to To the south of Bremerton, the City of Port Or- make a difference in a unique community that of- chard serves as the seat of Kitsap County. This fers an outstanding quality of life, and would like to small city is located on the Sinclair Inlet of the Pu- lead a dedicated staff in an agency that places a get Sound and is home to 14,734 residents. As a high value on providing outstanding service, this is waterfront community, the City offers numerous the position for you! marinas that provide all who visit with convenient accommodations and a downtown corridor known KITSAP COUNTY for fantastic shopping, museums, entertainment, galleries, and dining. Kitsap County is located on the in the south-central , directly across Bordering the eastern edge of Kitsap County, the water from Seattle. With a population of ap- Bainbridge Island is just 35 minutes from down- proximately 270,000 residents, Kitsap County res- town Seattle via ferry, and is a vibrant, diverse idents and visitors enjoy nearly 300 miles of scenic community. The island’s 41,000 residents enjoy saltwater coastline, and many friendly, unique, unmatched views of the Olympic Mountains to the laid-back communities. The County’s largest city, west and of Mount Rainier to the east. Bainbridge Bremerton, is home to 42,000 residents, and Island along with the fast ferry to Bremerton pro- serves as the urban center for the Bremerton- vide the closest getaway destinations by ferry from Silverdale Metropolitan Area. For over a century, Seattle. Bainbridge Island has a rich history, an the City of Bremerton has been home to Puget eclectic mix of farms, wineries, multiple parks, Sound Naval Shipyard, which employs over 9,000 numerous hiking trails, golf courses, museums, civilians that service U.S. Navy ships. In addition, local arts, and many community events hosted nearly 6,000 active duty military personnel are year-round. based at this site. To the north of Bainbridge Island, the City of Poulsbo’s 11,200 residents maintain a rich Scan- dinavian heritage, which has earned the small city the nickname “Little Norway”. The city offers a pic- turesque downtown core of traditionally Norwegian painted storefronts and shopping areas at Poulsbo Village, along Viking Avenue, and in the College Market Place. The City also maintains several beautiful parks, a boardwalk along Liberty Bay, the Valborg Oyen Public Library, three marinas, and an abundance of interesting gift shops and locally owned bakeries.

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KITSAP TRANSIT , WASHIN GTON ♦ OPERATIONS DIRECTO R

THE AGENCY

Operating friendly, convenient public transit since 1983, Kitsap Transit is a medium-size transit agency with one of the most diverse array of modes in Washington state. The Agency prides itself on providing a reliable service to Kitsap County’s commuter base and a sustainable, green travel option for the environmentally con- scious. Kitsap Transit transports more than 3.8 million riders a year across a multi-modal system of routed buses, passenger-only , ACCESS and Dial-A-Ride shuttles, , and Work- er/Driver buses for the Puget Sound Naval Ship- yard. Services are backed by a sales tax of 0.8 percent for transit and 0.3 percent sales tax for passenger-only ferries. As of 2020, Kitsap Transit serves a 395-square-mile area (pop. 270,000), operates on a budget of approximately $58 million, and employs 388.8 FTEs. Kitsap Transit is governed by a 10-member Board that is comprised of nine elected officials and a Kitsap Transit offers routed buses in the County’s non-voting member who represents the agency’s urban corridors; demand-responsive buses in rural labor unions, as required by state law. The nine areas; foot ferry service to downtown Seattle and elected members include three Kitsap County also connecting and Bremerton; commissioners; Bremerton’s mayor; a member of Worker/Driver buses serving the Puget Sound Na- the Bremerton City Council; an elected official val Shipyard; ACCESS buses providing ADA ser- from each of the smaller cities including Bain- vice within the entirety of Kitsap County, Routed; bridge Island, Port Orchard and Poulsbo; and an ; VanLink, a partnership with social- at-large member chosen on a rotating basis from service agencies; and a network of Park & Ride one of the smaller cities. lots across Kitsap County. The Agency is one of only three transit agencies in the state certified to Kitsap Transit has three labor groups with five col- ISO 14001: a global standard for environmental lectively bargained agreements. The collective management. Kitsap Transit’s leadership is com- bargaining agreement negotiations are staggered mitted to the Environmental Sustainability Man- over various years. The Human Resources Direc- agement System and trains operators, mainte- tor is the lead negotiator, assisted by department nance staff and other employees in standard op- directors and contracted legal counsel. erating procedures to meet our goals and continu- ally improve. Kitsap Transit’s Waterman is the first hybrid-electric ferry to operate commercial service on the Puget Sound, and the Agency is exploring infrastructure for a future electric-bus fleet.

Over the past several years, Kitsap Transit has opened modern transit centers in Poulsbo and East Bremerton, launched fast-ferry service to Se- attle from Bremerton and Kingston, and made structural changes to Routed bus service to align with demand. The Agency launched a third fast- ferry route between Southworth and Seattle in March of this year and is working on a new transit center in Silverdale.

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KITSAP TRANSIT , WASHIN GTON ♦ OPERATIONS DIRECTO R

THE DEPARTMENT & POSITION • Monitors and evaluates legislation and other developments related to public transit. Formulates The Operations Department is the largest depart- and directs the administration of appropriate poli- ment of Kitsap Transit, operating with 237.25 cies and procedures including federal require- FTEs including 48.25 staff and 189 operators, on a ments for agency Title VI compliance, Environ- 2021 budget (Transit Fund) of $44.4 million. Ser- mental Sustainability Management System, and vices provided by the Operations Department in- Sustainability Program. clude Routed, ACCESS (Para transit), Work- • Makes presentations to a variety of groups and er/Driver Program (Bangor & Puget Sound Naval organizations; serves and represents the agency Station), and Dial-A-Ride. on the Board-appointed Citizens Advisory Com-

mittee and various other internal and external Under the direction of the Executive Director, the committees, boards and task forces. Interacts Operations Director directs and administers the with Kitsap Transit Board of Commissioners sub- agency’s Routed, Worker/Driver, and committees and makes presentations about vari- services, and reviews and evaluates offered ser- ous topics to the Kitsap Transit Board of Commis- vices and Routed and Worker/Driver service sioners. plans. This position also develops, reviews and evaluates Paratransit service plans, and develops • Participates in labor negotiations; interprets and implements long-range operational plans. The and administers labor contract, meets with union Director additionally ensures services are in com- to resolve grievances. pliance with all ADA regulations, and participates • Directly and through Operations Managers and in Federal Transit Administration Triennial Re- supervisors, hires, trains, assigns work to, moni- views. The incumbent will be replacing the current tors and evaluates staff; provides for and/or con- Operations Director who is retiring after more than ducts staff development; establishes work meth- 25 years with Kitsap Transit. ods and standards; initiates corrective and/or dis- ciplinary action and responds to grievances and Other main responsibilities include: complaints according to established personnel

• Directs and administers contracted services; policies and procedures and relevant collective issues and reviews RFPs pertaining to depart- bargaining agreements.

ment or assigned projects; evaluates contract OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES agency performance; oversees contract expendi-

tures and ensures budgetary compliance with Countywide Covid-19 Impacts: Kitsap Transit’s contract agencies. leadership team will need to continue to manage • Establishes and provides direction and leader- through the current impacts of the virus as well the ship to the operations department staff; monitors future impacts, which may impact public transpor- and evaluates service-related capital facilities; tation indefinitely. This will include COVID re- recommends modifications to transit centers, sponse recovery, and planning for service chang- transfer centers and operating bases; reviews es and increases in the future. performance statistics and formulates methods to improve services; analyzes data and devel- ATU Contract Negotiation: The current ATU 3- ops/recommends solutions; writes reports. year contract expired in February of 2021. Negoti- ations will include bargaining newly represented • Develops the department’s operating and capi- Fixed-Route Dispatchers. Negotiations will be tal budget; monitors expenditures; participates in done in partnership with the Human Resources the development of the agency’s long-range Director. budget; participates with other directors in discus- sions and decisions that affect the agency. Facility, Infrastructure, Land/Space Issues and • Resolves discrepancies or procedural prob- Needs: The Operations Director is instrumental in lems and responds to program and service deliv- determining the needs of the Operations Depart- ery questions ensuring necessary follow-up; con- ment with respect to facility and infrastructure fers with and advises staff and others in resolution needs. This includes not only facilities, but space to problems and complaints, interpreting service needs and relational issues as well as equipment goals and policy. needs and types.

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KITSAP TRANSIT , WASHIN GTON ♦ OPERATIONS DIRECTO R

Recruitment & Retention of Transit Operators: There is a continuous need to recruit and retain operators. Kitsap Transit is looking for new medi- ums to advertise and promote the agency to con- tinually attract and retain a strong workforce.

Alternative Fuel Sources: The agency is re- searching and using alternative fuel sources in compliance with state and federal mandates.

Environmental Sustainability Management System Initiative: Kitsap Transit has worked hard to obtain ISO 14001 certification for Charleston Base, Bremerton Transportation Marine Facility, and North Base. The Environmental Sustainability Management Coordinator reports to the Opera- tions Director and is responsible for agency com- pliance using a multi-department working group to achieve and maintain certification. The certification and re-certification process are very comprehen- Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: sive with audits once a year and re-certification • Strong communication skill both verbally and every three years. written. Ability to maintain effective communication with internal and external staff, and the public. IDEAL CANDIDATE • Strong labor relations skills including negotia-

Education and Experience: tion, collective bargaining agreement administra- tion, and labor relations. A bachelor’s degree in transportation manage- ment, business or public administration or a close- • An understanding of financing. The ability to ly related field; and five (5) years of increasingly develop and manage the department budget in responsible professional transit operations experi- partnership with the Executive Director and the ence including three (3) years of program man- Finance Department. agement and supervisory experience; or an equiv- • An understanding of the benefits of new transit alent combination of education and experience is technology. A willingness to research and initiate required. new technology initiatives within the organization. • Ability to effectively present and implement new The ideal candidate will be innovative, creative, technology with staff who may be unfamiliar with and forward thinking, and willing to explore alter- and resistant to emerging technology. natives for new programs and initiatives. The se- • Strong organization skills, and the ability to lected candidate will be a proven team player who multitask, think quick on one’s feet, and be detail is collaborative within the department and with the oriented. leadership team, and a proponent of staff and pro- • Inspirational leadership skills. Experience moti- fessional development, allowing staff to have pro- vating long and short tenured staff. fessional growth opportunities. The ability to man- • Ability to understand, interpret, and manage in age differing personalities and generations will be compliance with various federal and state transit a skill needed to be successful in this position. The regulations and rules. selected candidate should have a sense of humor, • Skill as a creative problem solver. be fair but commanding respect, and be diplomat- • Ability to be an advocate for the needs of the ic. Candidates should have proven experience operating staff and department. performing well in difficult situations and with diffi- cult individuals, while having the ability to be com- Candidates may possess a combination of rele- passionate, empathetic, and understanding, while vant education and experience that demonstrates maintaining an appreciation of the public’s needs their ability to perform the essential duties and re- and expectations. sponsibilities.

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KITSAP TRANSIT , WASHIN GTON ♦ OPERATIONS DIRECTO R

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

➢ $122,054 - $164,133 DOQ (STARTING WAGE UP TO $134,722) ➢ Subsidized medical insurance for employees and dependents. ➢ Fully paid vision and dental insurance for em- ployee and dependents. ➢ Fully paid disability and life insurance. ➢ Washington State Public Employees’ Retire- ment Plan (PERS). ➢ State administered deferred compensation Please visit: plan. www.kitsaptransit.com ➢ 33.5 days of general leave per year. ➢ 11 paid holidays per year. ➢ Free transportation pass for eligible depend- ents for services provided by Kitsap Transit.

Kitsap Transit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply by May 16, 2021 (first review, open until filled). Applications, supplemental questions, resumes and cover letters will only be accepted electronically. To apply online, go to www.prothman.com and click on "Open Recruitments", select “Kitsap Transit, WA – Operations Director”, and click “Apply Now”, or click here. Resumes, cover letters and supplemental questions can be uploaded once you have logged in.

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