Pierce Transit CEO Recruitment Announcement ABOUT PIERCE TRANSIT Pierce Transit was founded in 1979 when local Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Pacific, Puyallup, Ruston, voters approved a 0.3% sales tax to fund public Steilacoom, Tacoma, University Place and portions of transportation. Since then, the agency has grown to unincorporated Pierce County. become the second largest transit agency in Washington State. The agency serves 292 square miles of urban Pierce Transit is governed by a nine-member Board and rural Pierce County, providing local and express of Commissioners. The Board is currently made bus service, specialized SHUTTLE transportation up of elected officials representing Pierce County, for people with disabilities, and ridesharing services Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, University Place and including a large vanpool fleet. the smaller cities and towns in Pierce County. The governance structure allows for a tenth, non-voting The agency provides a vital link in the regional union representative, however, this right is currently transportation system by making connections with King not being exercised and the position is vacant. The County through express bus services. Pierce Transit is a Board is responsible for adopting policies that govern municipal corporation, not part of the City of Tacoma, the operation of the transit agency and its services and Pierce County or Sound Transit. employs the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to carry Pierce Transit serves the following jurisdictions within out the day-to-day management and administration of Pierce County: Auburn, Edgewood, Fife, Fircrest, Gig the agency. 1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET Pierce Transit CEO Recruitment Announcement ABOUT THE POSITION The CEO oversees an organization comprised of 881 RIDERS budgeted positions, most of whom are represented by and where they are going two labor unions; Amalgamated Transit Union, Local #758 and the International Association of Machinists. 40% The 2015 preliminary budget is more than $160 Have been riding 10+ years million. The current executive team consists of the Chiefs of Operations, Finance and Administration. 45% This position reports to and serves at the pleasure of Have no working vehicle the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners. 53% The CEO develops broad policy and communicates Use ORCA card the agency’s mission, vision and organizational values 56% locally, regionally and statewide. Strategic management From households with annual incomes decisions are made daily that affect transit and the below $20,000 traveling public. These decisions require understanding 45% of all aspects of a situation, analyzing options for To work & appointments effective solutions and the ability to negotiate and advance legislative, management and public relations 36% issues and processes. The CEO must be able to identify Shopping, recreation and social and understand the near and far-term implications of 20% program and project decisions. School/college PARTNERSHIP with State Highway System • Buses operate on 9 state highways • Pierce Transit provides nearly 2 million boardings annually on state highways • 18,000 annual SHUTTLE paratransit boardings along state highways • 32% of all trips made by Pierce Transit are made on a state highway • Over 70,000 revenue miles are operated on state highways by Pierce Transit 1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET Pierce Transit CEO Recruitment Announcement THE IDEAL CANDIDATE Pierce Transit is seeking a talented and unifying leader to bring innovative ideas and management to the agency, and translate big picture transit vision and goals into realistic plans. Candidates should be dynamic, decisive, and excel in balancing both high-performing internal management and external relations. The overarching core competencies of this position are: CORE-COMPETENCIES Leadership: Constituent Relations and Collaboration: • Inspiring and Courageous Leadership: Ability to • Partnering: Builds alliances and collaborates across inspire, persuade, engage, speak straight-forwardly boundaries to build strategic relationships. Brings about complex transit issues, make tough decisions diverse leaders together to discuss and resolve regional and take difficult actions. Display balanced thinking transportation issues. Inspires action without relying that combines analysis, wisdom, experience and solely on authority. Good listener. Perceives the perspective. Produce data-driven decisions that complexity of situations quickly. withstand the “test of time.” • Drive External Communications and Relationships: • Creativity and Innovation: Ability to generate new, Develop and nurture mission-critical relationships innovative and visionary approaches to transit funding with labor, the media, business, political leaders, issues that are effective and responsive. Brings a community groups, advisory groups and the public. perspective on emerging and leading transit trends and • Cultural Competency: best practices. Focus on racial equity in ways that enable effective working relationships • Build a Talented, Effective Staff Team: Hire, mentor, in diverse communities and cross-cultural situations. develop, retain, and manage a diverse staff. Assemble Creates transit solutions for traditionally and reinforce a cohesive, dedicated, highly effective underserved communities. inter-disciplinary team. Ability to lead team through Values: change processes. • Business and Management Acumen: Ability to • High level of integrity, ethics, transparency manage human, financial and information resources and responsiveness. strategically. Brings innovative approaches and • Commitment to the Environment: Dedicated to solutions, including grant sources and public/private creating a sustainable transit system that focuses on partnerships, to transit funding challenges. Streamline prevention, mitigation and adaptation. and remove processes that do not bring value. Measure success based on results. Set high standards • Commitment to Safety: Dedication to a transit of performance, using accountability measures and system that is safe, efficient and accessible to all ages benchmarks to track progress. and abilities. 1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET Pierce Transit CEO Recruitment Announcement DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS APPLICATION PROCESS A bachelor’s degree with at least seven years experience in a senior leadership role within a Persons interested in this position must submit a cover publicly accountable transportation organization that letter, salary history and a current resume. involves leading a diverse staff and management of If you have questions regarding this announcement, significant funds. An advanced degree is a plus. please call Marissa Karras at 360-956-1336. The position will remain open until filled; however the screening process will move quickly. Please submit your application materials as soon as possible but COMMITTED TO no later than December 29th, 2014 to marissa@ karrasconsulting.net. The salary for this position ALTERNATIVE FUEL is competitive and depends on experience and qualifications. Pierce Transit offers a generous benefit • Since 1986, compressed natural gas package including medical/dental, retirement, life and (CNG) buses have been transporting disability insurance, paid holidays, vacation and sick Pierce Transit customers. leave and optional deferred compensation. • Renegotiated CNG fuel contracts in Pierce Transit is an equal opportunity employer, values 2013, reducing CNG fuel costs by 21%. workplace diversity and seeks to create an environment As a result, Pierce Transit pays $0.20 per and culture that embraces employee differences. All gallon equivalent for CNG, a significantly qualified applicants are considered in accordance with lower cost than other fuels. applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis • 2013 Pierce Transit Won the Western of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, Washington Clean Cities’ Alternative sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, marital Fuels Sustainable Commitment Award. status or veteran status or any other legally protected status. We will provide assistance in the recruitment, • In 2013, first in nation to use landfills to application and selection process to applicants with adopt Renewable Natural Gas “the natural disabilities who request such assistance. next step” in the Agency’s long history of innovative and environmentally-friendly fueling practices. • 15 hybrid-electric buses achieving 25-30% better fuel mileage than standard clean diesel fueled buses. • 2014 10 gasoline SHUTTLE Paratransit vehicles will be replaced by CNG vehicles. 1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET.