Green Mountain Transit (GMT) is seeking a highly qualified General Manager for its urban and rural transportation operation in northwestern and central Vermont. The mission of GMT is to promote and operate safe, convenient, accessible, innovative, and sustainable public transportation services that reduce congestion and pollution, encourage transit-oriented development, and enhance the quality of life for all.
GMT, headquartered in Burlington, VT, was chartered in 1973 by the Vermont General Assembly. GMT serves the communities of Burlington, Essex, South Burlington, Shelburne, Williston, Winooski, Milton, and Hinesburg, as well as Washington, Franklin, Lamoille, and Grand Isle Counties and parts of Orange County. GMT also operates LINK Express routes that serve Montpelier and St. Albans commuters. GMT is considered a municipality and is the first and only transit authority in the State of Vermont.
In 2022, GMT will have approximately 2 million boardings and over 2.5 million miles traveled using 117 urban and rural revenue vehicles. The FY23 operating budget was slightly over $24 million with a capital budget of over $8 million. The organization currently has approximately 180 full time employees.
The successful candidate will have the following skills and experiences:
- An ability to be a critical analyst, creative thinker, and imaginative problem solver; in addition to encouraging and empowering employees to find new and better ways to get work done, while applying, maintaining, and respecting the regulatory framework that guides the delivery of public transit.
- Be a positive and flexible team builder who is committed to the well-being of staff by working with staff to identify organizational needs and find solutions which meet those challenges for the entire organization.
- A bachelor’s degree in engineering, management, public administration, planning or a related field from an accredited college or university. 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal and/or transit plant operations and 5 to 7 years supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Assistant Director experience in a larger transit system or any combination of education and experience that will demonstrate the ability to perform the work will also be considered.
The anticipated hiring salary range for the position is $125,000-160,000 with a generous benefit package.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should apply with a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least five (5) professional references.
- Apply online here
- Apply via email: GMRecruitment@RideGMT.com
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Description and Essential Functions:
Serves as Green Mountain Transit’s (GMT’s) chief executive officer.
- Forwards the mission of GMT by carrying out all policies and directives established by the Board of Commissioners
- Responsible for assisting the Board in developing and meeting their goals and objectives, including facilitating organizational support of Board committee work
- Engages in strategic planning in conjunction with the Board and implementation of such plan
- Responsible for fostering a high-performance and professional culture throughout the organization
- Responsible for organizational management and structure
- Supervises, evaluates, and directs all members of the Senior Management team
- Develops and manages GMT’s annual budget in conjunction with the Director of Finance, the Finance Committee, and related staff
- Works with senior staff to manage all risk management functions within the organization.
- Responsible for managing legal issues affecting the Authority.
- Primary responsibility for relationships with member communities and state and local and federal partners.
- Models inclusive and collaborative style of management
- Manages communications and public affairs
- Manages labor relations productively and collaboratively
- Promotes and supports an inclusive and diverse workforce
Other Duties:
- Recommends and implements organizational changes
- Recommends policy changes
- Oversees independent contractors
- Other duties as required
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Qualifications: A degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field, or equivalent experience is required. Transit experience preferred. Must have five (5) years of management experience, including working with a Board. Must possess excellent financial management, leadership, analytical, organizational, public speaking, and internal and external communication skills.
Work Conditions: Operates in a professional office environment; and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Frequent computer use and sitting are required. Requires long hours, and evening and occasional weekend work. Requires up to 50% travel, frequently within the five-county service area and occasional out of state travel. Must be able to perform the essential functions and physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
FLSA Status: Exempt
GMT is committed to providing a workplace that includes people of diverse backgrounds and fully utilizes their talents to achieve its mission. GMT believes that an inclusive and diverse workplace culture enhances the performance of our organization and our ability to fulfill the agency’s mission.
GMT is an equal employment opportunities (EEO) employer to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, crime victim status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, or genetic information in employment or the provision of services. In addition to federal law requirements, GMT complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
GMT is currently governed by a 13-member Board of Commissioners, with two commissioners representing Burlington and one commissioner representing each of the following: South Burlington, Winooski, Essex, Shelburne, Williston, Milton, Hinesburg, Washington County, Lamoille County, Franklin County, and Grand Isle County. Each Chittenden County commissioner is appointed to the GMT Board by the commissioner’s municipality. Commissioners representing Washington, Franklin, Lamoille and Grand Isle Counties are appointed by the Regional Planning Commission in that county. Board seats are held for a 3-year term. Commissioners set Board goals annually.These long-term goals guide the General Manager of GMT and the priorities of the Authority for that Fiscal Year.
The GMT Board has five standing committees: Leadership; Finance; Strategy; Operations; and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI).
Leadership Committee charge:
To develop the effectiveness of the Board and the General Manager and by extension GMT as a whole, through the following:
- Conduct annual evaluation of General Manager and recommend compensation package to the full Board.
- Identify the optimal skill sets needed on the Board to accomplish the goals set forth in GMT’s strategic plan – and cultivate candidates that possess the needed skill sets.
- Act as a Nominating Committee for Board Officer elections.
- Establish and participate in the Board orientation process for all new Board members.
- Work with the General Manager to develop annual Board retreat agenda.
- Organize and execute annual Board evaluation.
- Review and revise the job description for Commissioners.
- Identify the Board development opportunities for individual Commissioners and the Board as a whole.
- At the request of the General Manager or the Chair of the Board, serve as a sounding board for substantive staff concerns.
Finance Committee charge:
To oversee the financial planning and management of the organization by ensuring that all fiscal aspects of operations are in order through the following:
- Review GMT’s financials in detail at least once a quarter.
- Budget development with staff. Recommend strategies to strengthen GMT’s financial health and pursue alternative funding sources in collaboration with staff and stakeholders.
- Oversee the annual audit process:
- Recommend auditor selection to full Board Review audit with auditor.
- Ensure that appropriate internal controls are in place.
- Present audit findings, reportable conditions, and advisories to the Board.
- Monitor implementation of management findings.
- Oversee GMT’s investment strategy.
- Report to the full Board as necessary.
Strategy Committee charge:
To set the vision and broad goals for GMT by:
- Periodically re-evaluate GMT’s vision and mission statements.
- Guide a periodic strategic planning process for the Board of Commissioners that produces recommended Board and organizational goals.
- Identify, evaluate, and prioritize new ventures (service expansion, new technology implementation, capital projects, etc.) for the Board’s review and approval.
- Develop GMT’s Transit Strategic Plan.
Operations Committee charge:
Review established maintenance and operations policies and review proposed new policies where deemed appropriate by the committee. Oversee the human resource, maintenance, and operations management of the organization by ensuring the relevant policies serve the best interest of the organization. Ensure that adequate measures are in place to assure and monitor accountability to those policies, all through the following:
- Review operating policies for consistency with industry standards, identify the need for revision of these policies, and recommend appropriate revisions to the full Board.
- Develop, with the help of staff (union and non-union), key elements of a maintenance, human resources, and operational reporting process including the content, format, and frequency of performance reports to Board, and oversee implantation of the process.
- Review GMT Human Resources policies, procedures, and outcomes.
- Review the operation and maintenance of all facilities and properties owned and/or operated by GMT and make recommendations for improvements to the Board.
- Assess GMT’s maintenance and operational performance improvement relative to forecasts, action plans, and industry standards to improve efficiency, effectiveness, access to services, safety, and sustainability of operations.
- Present an overall assessment of the past year’s maintenance and operational performance at the annual strategic planning work session(s) involving the full Board of Commissioners and lead discussions in regard to performance improvement strategies.
- Meet monthly to address JEDI issues at GMT and ensure ongoing growth and integration of JEDI focus within all aspects of the organization.
- Propose policies and best practices to advance equity and diversity.
- Identify and work with experts to advance the JEDI mission.
- Ensure all GMT staff, Board and Alternate Board members participate in annual anti–bias training.
- Ensure all GMT Drivers and public facing staff participate in annual de–escalation training.
- Hold at least one (1) committee meeting per year specifically focused on equity in public transportation.
- Oversee data collection and analysis on diversity and equity at GMT and review it annually to ensure continual progress is being made.
- Upon closure of any GMT JEDI related complaints or incidents, review the process and work with the GM and GMT Board to implement any directives and improve future outcomes. (This cannot include anything that would violate or supersede our labor contracts.)
- Identify, review and select applicants for the Advisory Committee.
- Identify community partners and create opportunities for collaboration on JEDI related activities.
- Hold one (1) public forum per year to gather public input on diversity, equity and inclusion of GMT riders.
Located in Northwestern and Central Vermont, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, and Washington Counties collectively have an estimated population of over 300,000 residents and land area of 2400 square miles. The Green Mountains run the entire length of Vermont and are part of the Appalachian Mountains that stretches from Canada to northern Alabama in the United States. Burlington, Montpelier, Waterbury and St. Albans are the larger areas served by GMT. The area is consistently listed in many publications as the “Top places to see Fall Foliage”.
Burlington is Vermont’s largest city. It is beautiful and home to a thriving arts scene, creative entrepreneurship, great shopping, three colleges and a university, and a full range of four–season outdoor pursuits. This friendly city consistently earns national awards. Festivals are held all year long with events like New Year’s First Night Celebration and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival attracting visitors from throughout the northeast. The city harbors great museums and galleries too. The waterfront offers ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center to learn about the history and ecology of Lake Champlain. Nearby Pine Street and downtown are full of contemporary galleries, and the University of Vermont’s eclectic Fleming Museum.
Montpelier is the nation’s smallest state capital. Montpelier is located in a remarkable valley along the Winooski River. Montpelier’s intimate size, historic neighborhoods and diverse community make it a wonderful city to visit, live, and do business. The Waterbury–Montpelier Region is also known for its many institutions of higher learning, its historic and architectural riches, and its world class ski resorts.
Waterbury is the home of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory. The area is home to many retail shops including Lake Champlain Chocolates, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Waterbury serves as a launch point for recreational and cultural adventures along the Green Mountain Byway. The entire Waterbury–Montpelier Region is rich in Vermont quality and tradition.
St. Albans is the county seat of Franklin County and is the Islands & Farms region of Vermont. The City of St. Albans is only 15 miles from Vermont’s border with Quebec and is the northern terminus of the “Vermonter” Amtrak route. St. Albans, known as the “Maple Syrup Capital of the World,” is home to the Vermont Maple Festival.