Chief Operations Officer

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections!

When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD's values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community.

RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits

(RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) serves as the agency’s primary operations executive for transit service delivery, overseeing all core functions including bus and rail operations and maintenance, paratransit and microtransit services, service planning and scheduling, maintenance of way, as well as capital vehicle procurement. This role is responsible for optimizing the agency’s performance in delivering public transit services in support of customers.

The COO drives organizational success through strategic management of daily transit operations, guiding long-term service planning with functional insight, and overseeing operating resources and capital assets. Further, the COO ensures services are efficient, equitable, and future-focused by championing innovative technologies and transit delivery initiatives.

As a key member of RTD’s executive leadership team, the COO plays a pivotal role in advancing the agency’s “People Power” strategic objective by fostering an employee-centric culture that drives excellence in community value and service delivery. The COO exemplifies RTD’s core values while actively supporting fellow members of the executive leadership team in cultivating productive and collaborative relationships with internal teams and external partners. The COO reports directly to the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer (GM/CEO).

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILTIES:

Executive Leadership and Consultation

Directs and is accountable for the outcomes of the following departments/divisions:

• Bus and Rail Operations: provides strategic leadership and direction to Bus and Rails Operations. Reviews, develops and directs the implementation of policies and strategies to continuously improve services and the safety of all RTD employees and customers. Ensures all resource levels are optimized for maximum operational efficiency.
• Paratransit and Microtransit Services: provides leadership, administration and direction for all aspects of the organization's ADA complementary and supplemental paratransit services (i.e., Access-a-Ride, Access-on-Demand) and Microtransit programs (FlexRide).
• Service Development: responsible for planning, scheduling, implementing and evaluating transit services, responding to requests for new and redesigned services; policy and strategic analysis; overseeing run cutting, GIS, APC and other analytical support systems; coordination of data sharing with various departments and divisions.

Leads the development and implementation of annual business plans that support the strategic objectives of a multi-modal transit agency.

Serve as an official agency representative and/or spokesperson as delegated by the GM/CEO.

Fosters a safety culture internally and externally liaising with the state safety oversight agency, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and other applicable regulatory agencies to ensure a mechanically safe deployment of services.

Consults with the GM/CEO and other members of the Leadership Team on policy and operational matters serving as a strategic thought partner by engaging in exploration, deliberation, and determination of matters as required.

Works collaboratively with internal stakeholders to identify, design and execute on strategic initiatives in support of the Agency’s strategic plan.

Serves as a senior lead in the annual budget planning process an actively engage with department budget holders to ensure accurate forecasting and expense management for areas of accountability.

Establishes, within District policy, appropriate service, and staffing levels; monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures and allocates resources accordingly.

Cultivates a culture of excellence, engagement,