What are the responsibilities and job description for the Bus Operations Manager position at North County Transit District?
The primary responsibilities of the Bus Operations Manager are to assist with the overall management of activities within an operating bus transportation division—including fixed-route, ADA paratransit, and microtransit services—to ensure that all performance and safety measures are met. This role ensures compliance with North County Transit District (NCTD) rules, policies, and procedures, supporting the agency’s goals and objectives, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and fostering positive management-labor relations.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The Bus Operations Manager will assist in the development of training programs, customer service retraining, and addressing staffing needs. Utilizing data-driven decision-making, they monitor key performance metrics—including overtime usage, service reliability, and customer feedback—and respond to crisis situations efficiently and effectively. This position also collaborates with other departments, stakeholders, and the community to ensure the smooth integration of services and the efficient allocation of resources.
Supervision Received and Exercised
This position reports to the Director of Bus Operations, receiving guidance on overall goals, policies, and strategies. When assigned to a fixed route division, they are responsible for overseeing Coach Operators and Road Supervisors, ensuring adherence to procedures, safety standards, and performance expectations. When assigned to Demand Response, they are responsible for managing Supervisors, Dispatchers, Schedulers, and Reservationists ensuring compliance with Federal Regulations, adherence to procedures, safety standards, and performance expectations. The Bus Operations Manager exercises independent judgment in day-to-day operations, making decisions to address issues, optimize service, and improve efficiency while keeping senior leadership informed of major developments and challenges.
Working Conditions
Normal working conditions for this position are in an office, operations facility, and field setting. Business travel may be required periodically between District sites, governmental agencies, consultant’s facilities, and other locations as required.
Essential Functions
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Manages the assignment of operating and supervisory staff and resources to ensure that service objectives are achieved within budgetary constraints including overtime costs; conducts division shake-ups and bidding procedures.
- Assists with developing operating division goals, establishing plans and priorities, and assigning and monitoring work for an operating division.
- Ensures strict compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including ADA requirements, NCTD policies and procedures, and labor agreements. Manages the review and analysis of transit operations and monitors system performance including on time performance goals to identify and resolve problems while ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
- Participates in and manages the investigation and resolution of customer complaints. Also assists in the customer service retraining of assigned operators.
- Provides direction to Coach Operators during accident investigation, schedule and route changes, customer interactions, and emergency situations.
- Manages the administration of workers' compensation program activities for their assigned division.
- Assists with conducting disciplinary investigations, hearings, and counseling sessions; testifies at unemployment and workers' compensation hearings and court cases.
- Supervises the investigation of accidents to minimize recurrence and determine if accidents are chargeable according to labor agreement mandates.
- Oversees vehicle services for seasonal and special events, including projecting equipment and staffing demands, scheduling appropriate personnel, and tabulating related statistics when assigned to Bus Operations.
- Oversees the re-routing of bus lines and detour notices during major road construction projects, civil and tactical emergencies, and other situations affecting street operations; coordinates services with police, fire, road, and flood control agencies when assigned to Bus Operations.
- Prepares written incident reports, correspondence, bulletins, and standard operating procedures.
- Interacts with various departments and outside agencies to coordinate schedules and procedural improvements to ensure quality service.
- Supervises, trains, mentors, and motivates assigned staff.
- Monitors paratransit eligibility status and collaborates with eligibility assessment teams to ensure accurate and up-to-date rider information.
- Manages vehicle scheduling and operator assignments to optimize route efficiency and maximize trip productivity across Demand Response service delivery.
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of operational technology systems used in fixed-route and paratransit services, such as Hastus, Trapeze, Spare, Swiftly, and other scheduling, dispatch, and real-time performance monitoring platforms.
- Other duties as assigned.
A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Public Administration, or a related field.
Experience
- Six years of relevant transit operations experience or three years of relevant supervisory-level experience performing professional-level administrative, instruction, or control activities in an operations environment. This experience must be in a fixed route transit environment.
Certificates/Licenses
- A valid California Class C Driver License, less than 6 points in the prior 36-month period and no DUIs in the prior 7 years.
- 24 hours on-call, weekend/holiday work required when necessary.
- Positions in this job classification are considered safety-sensitive and subject to drug and alcohol testing, including random testing, under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain access to Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton.
General Requirements
Preferred Qualifications (PQ's) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQ's will help support selection decisions throughout recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQ's will not automatically be selected.
The following are the preferred qualifications:
- Experience operating a bus in a public transportation setting.
- Experience supervising personnel in a public bus environment.
- Experience working in a union represented environment by supervising represented staff, processing grievances, and participating in hearings.
- Experience executing customer service and support activities such as special events and route detours due to planned/unplanned service disruptions.
- Exhibits a friendly, professional, and customer-service oriented demeanor continuously.
- Exceptional relationship-building skills to deal competently with individuals at all levels of responsibility and authority.
- Knowledge of California Vehicle Code, California Code of Regulations, and California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) regulations.
- CDL Class B, P2 License
- Familiarity with RTMS radio dispatching system and two-way radio procedures
- IS100 ICS & IS700 NIMS completion certificates or ability to complete within six months of hiring
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Ability to use the phone and computer for extended periods, sitting at a desk or table, type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions, and communicating through speech in the English language is required.
Machines / Tools / Equipment
- Ability to operate a personal computer and Microsoft Office Suite programs.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment, including a fax and scanner machine, copy machine, and telephone.
All applicants must complete and submit an online application at www.gonctd.com/careers. A job offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check. NCTD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Salary : $122,073 - $195,313