Chief Operating Officer (Assistant Director of Transportation)

Salary: $155,771.77 - $248,612.45 Annually
Location : Government Center West - 1 North University Dr, Plantation, FL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Transp Ops Bus Operations
Opening Date: 09/29/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

REQUIREMENTS AND PREFERENCES

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners, Transportation Department is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Chief Operating Officer (Assistant Director of Transportation) in its Operations Division.
The Position

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides leadership and direction for the Transportation Department's Operations Division, including bus, rail, paratransit, on-board systems, and fleet services. Responsibilities include executive oversight, operational management, financial performance, strategic planning, employee development, safety promotion, customer advocacy, and coordination of assigned division activities. This is a 24/7 operation.
This is an executive leadership position. The incumbent will advise the Transportation Director on strategy, issues, and resolutions. The COO will review and analyze policies, procedures and practices and work with key stakeholders for recommendations/assistance. The COO will be well versed in industry standards and stay abreast of current best practices. Customer service is paramount and special focus must be placed on KPI trends and response. It is critical that the COO develop productive, collaborative relationships with Broward County leaders, Transportation Department leaders, union representatives, employees, customers, and the community. The COO must manage in a manner that ensures Broward County Transportation is viewed favorably by customers and employees.
The incumbent will work under limited direct supervision, leading the development and implementation of programs within organizational policies and reports major activities directly to the Department Director through verbal, written, and virtual communications. The COO must be able to respond to emergency incidents 24/7.
The Ideal Candidate

The COO is an essential member of the BCT senior leadership team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of analyzing data and developing solutions to improve performance. This individual will forecast for future resource needs as they relate to the current structure and upcoming PREMO expansion, while developing and maintaining solid relationships with key internal and external partners.
The COO will participate in union negotiations and union/management relations, playing an instrumental role in developing collaborative, professional, and growth-oriented cultures across all levels of the Operations sections.
As a leader grounded in servant and transformational leadership, the selected candidate will foster a nurturing, employee-focused environment centered on staff development and job satisfaction. By actively engaging staff at all levels, the incumbent will ensure every team member feels heard and appreciated. Additionally, the COO will develop strategic plans to advance entry- and mid-level management skill sets, building a robust leadership pipeline from the ground up. This approach supports BCT's commitment to a Just Culture environment, where mistakes are treated as learning opportunities while team members maintain accountability for their errors.

The COO will collaborate with section leaders to assess current operations for Bus Operations, Bus Maintenance, Paratransit, On-Board Systems, Fleet Services, and Rail to determine immediate and future strategies for optimum performance.

Other top priorities include:

• Networking with peers across the country for determining best practices for BCT.
• Ensuring current operations and preparation for the PREMO expansion.
• Determining KPIs and tracking analytics to measure success and identify areas for improvement.
• Networking and developing key partnerships in all areas of assignment.
• Developing plans and operational goals that further the BCT mission.
• Maintaining communication with staff regardless of the shift. Operations runs 24/7, evening and overnight shifts must be regularly engaged by leadership.
• Formulating plans for rail maintenance for commuter and light rail projects.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university, with major course work in Transportation, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.

(One year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education.)
Six years progressively responsible experience in the operational management and strategic direction of a public transportation organization providing executive oversight of service delivery, operating budgets, and total fleet operations, or closely related experience.
The ideal candidate will have a master's degree and at least 10 years of senior level management experience in a multi-modal transit agency including rail. Other areas of preferred experience are at least 10 years in a leadership position managing bargaining units and developing and implementing high capacity transit programs.
The selected candidate will have strong emotional intelligence and be able to pivot quickly to address emergent issues effectively.
Special Certifications and License

Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License for duration of assignment.
Other Requirements

Available for 24/7 emergency incident response and operational needs.
Compensation and Benefits

Compensation for this job classification is governed by a specific salary range, with the starting offer aligned within the range to match the successful candidate's qualifications, knowledge, and experience. The State of Florida does not have a state income tax. The County's benefits include:

• Florida Retirement System (FRS) - Employees have the choice of two retirement plans: the traditional pension plan with eight years of vesting or the investment plan with one year of vesting.
• Deferred Compensation - The County offers a voluntary 457 plan offered through three providers: Mission Square, Brighthouse Financial, and Nationwide Retirement Solutions.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Eligible health expenses and dependent care accounts.
• Health Savings Accounts - When you elect either of the High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) and you and your enrolled spouse/domestic partner (if applicable) complete the County's 2026 Engagement Incentive, Broward County will contribute to your Health Savings Account.
• Vacation and Sick Leave - Leave is accrued biweekly for vacation and sick time; annualized at two weeks of vacation and 12 days of sick time; additionally, 40 hours of job basis leave is granted annually for employees exempt from overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Holidays - Eleven (11) holidays and two (2) personal days.
• Insurance Coverage - The County offers a variety of benefit plans that employees can purchase including Health, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Long-Term Disability, and Pre-Paid Legal. The County subsidizes enrollment in Health and provides a waiver credit if applicable.
• Life Insurance - The County offers $50,000 of group term life insurance. Employees can purchase additional life insurance for themselves and their dependents and spouse/domestic partner.
• Additional Benefits - Employee Development and Personal Income Protection Plans are available.

For additional information on benefits, please visit:

SCOPE OF WORK
The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the job as necessary.
Directs the strategic vision and operational execution for all assigned operating sections within the Transportation Department.

Oversees the management of all service delivery, including rolling stock maintenance, to ensure service commitments are met.

Champions a culture of safety and ensures its continuous promotion and implementation throughout the organizatio