Chief Transit Operations

About the role

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is seeking a highly motivated, qualified, and experienced professional to join the Transit Services Division (TSD) as the Chief of Transit Operations for FASTRAN bus services. This position provides oversight and administration of special transportation services (paratransit) provided for Fairfax County seniors and residents with special needs.

Responsibilities

• Planning, directing, and administering scheduling activities for Fairfax County’s Human Services Transportation Para Transit Bus Services, and Head Start Transportation Services
• Overseeing implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of federal, state, and county grants supporting human services transportation programs
• Supervising transportation professionals involved in ride scheduling, dispatch coordination, and reimbursement processing for Medicaid transportation program
• Recruiting, training, coaching, discipling staff, and conducting performance evaluations
• Monitoring contract dispatch operations to ensure compliance and recommending efficiency improvements
• Overseeing vehicle inventory databases in coordination with the FCDOT maintenance staff
• Managing route assignments, ensuring optimal ridership, staffing, and resource utilization
• Evaluating human services transportation policies, procedures, and guidelines; preparing or updating them as needed
• Coordinating transportation needs and activities with other county human services agencies
• Preparing Medicaid and user fee revenue projections and ensuring proper reimbursement collection
• Assisting with monitoring budget performance and preparing addendums or impact analysis for service changes for the section chief
• Analyzing complicated route issues; resolving transportation requests that are not manageable by staff; investigating and resolving complaints from riders, county agencies, and the Board of Supervisors
• Reviewing Automated Call Distribution (ACD) reports to identify call trends and operational inefficiencies
• Presenting to senior management or the Board of Supervisors in the absence of the Human Services Transportation Section Chief
• Completing other tasks, as assigned

Qualifications

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to: Graduation from a four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in public or business administration, transportation planning, or a related field; plus two years of progressively responsible professional transit operations experience in the transportation field.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and methods of transit and paratransit services planning and analysis
• Experience in scheduling or routing transportation services (paratransit, human services, or similar)
• Proficiency with scheduling software, call distribution systems, and/or transportation related database
• Knowledge of and experience managing federal/state transportation grants
• Experience with Medicaid transportation reimbursement processes
• Experience in resolving customer service issues related to transportation programs
• Strong problem-solving skills and experience analyzing/optimizing complex route structures and operational data for transportation programs
• Experience managing dispatch operations
• Ability to prepare budgets, projections, and cost analyses
• Experience supervising staff in a transportation or logistics environment
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, governmental officials, and the general public
• Strong communication skills and experience in collaborating across programs and divisions

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license
• Criminal background check, child protective services check, and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer

Physical Requirements

Work is generally sedentary. However, employee may be required to do some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items under 25 lbs. in weight. Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Ability to operate a motor vehicle. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.