Transit Operations Supervisor

General Description

Metro Transit is looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. In this role, you’ll oversee the daily operation of our fixed-route and paratransit bus services — making sure operators have what they need and riders get where they’re going safely and on time.

You’ll stay connected throughout the day using radios, computer systems, and on-the-ground observations to coordinate service, solve problems in real time, and support our bus operators. When challenges come up — traffic delays, service changes, or rider needs — you’ll be the calm, steady presence helping keep everything on track.

We’re looking for someone who leads by example and is committed to delivering service that’s welcoming, equitable, and focused on the needs of our community.

Metro Transit serves a growing region that includes neighborhoods throughout Madison’s Isthmus, as well as businesses, schools, and universities across Madison and surrounding communities like Middleton, Fitchburg, Verona, Monona, and Sun Prairie. Every day, our work connects people to jobs, education, healthcare, and each other.

If you’re ready to play a key role in keeping our community moving, we’d love to hear from you.

Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn’t match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor the daily operation of the transit and paratransit system primarily as it relates to operator and contractor activities. Dispatch personnel and buses, applying the union contract when assigning work. Observe operator performance relative to safe operation, adherence to schedules, customer relations, and established department procedures. Ensure operators comply with drug and alcohol misuse policies.
• Supervise the complete activities of the operations department at night, on weekends or in the early morning. Make all decisions necessary to keep buses on time and servicing the public in a safe and courteous manner.
• Utilize radio and data communications to direct bus operations in critical or non-normal situations. Coordinate responses to driver or other types of emergency services. Coordinate repair calls. Work with police to find lost persons or criminals.
• Handle student discipline problems. Perform related coordination and/or assistance.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with operators, supervisors, maintenance crews, 911 dispatchers, and the police and fire departments relative to equipment failures, service disruptions and delays, accidents, road hazards, acts of vandalism, assaults on operators or passengers, and all other events or circumstances which impede safe and efficient operations. Dispatch supervisors, maintenance crews, wreckers, and/or substitute buses and/or operators.
• Direct the establishment of emergency detours for buses due to unanticipated and emergency situations. Request extra service to handle overloads, special events, or service disruptions. Monitor school service at points of heavy loading and assist in loading of buses at schools.
• Investigate road accidents or complaints in person, obtain relevant information and submit a complete report regarding each incident. Work with insurance companies, attorneys, and the public to resolve claims against Metro.
• Investigate customer service complaints. Monitor and resolve written and telephone complaints, compliments, and suggestions from the public and operations. Prepare detailed written responses.

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please reference the Transit Operations Supervisor classification specification online.

For more information about Metro Transit, please visit: http://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/

Minimum Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience leading people or projects in a supervisory, training, or coaching role.
• One (1) year of experience with basic computer skills.

• One (1) year of experience in the Transit industry may be substituted for one (1) year of leadership experience.
• One (1) year of experience with basic computer skills is still required.

Special Requirements

Ability to cover a variety of shifts 7 days per week between the hours of 3:30 AM to 12:30 AM.

At the start of employment a Transit Operations Supervisor must have a valid Wisconsin driver's license, a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) class B permit with P (passenger) endorsement and no airbrake restriction. Candidates must have passed all job-related tests, including a pre-employment physical exam.

Metro will train the successful candidate to pass the road test for a Commercial Driver's License. A condition of continued employment is passing the skills portion of the test and obtaining the required operator's license by completion of the initial training period. The CDL must be maintained while employed as a Transit Operators Supervisor.

Employees must be able to perform all the physical activities of a Transit Operator and must be able to drive throughout the City responding to issues that arise. In addition, employees will be expected to work at a computer and answer phones/radio as required.