Chief Operating Officer

Salary : $175,000.00 - $200,000.00 Annually
Location : Bakersfield
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Administration
Opening Date: 10/29/2026
Closing Date: 1/29/2027 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

This is an "At-Will/Unrepresented" position in a Public Agency.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) oversees and directs assigned functions and activities related to the effective operation of District services and administration of the delegated business affairs of the District. The incumbent is accountable for assisting the CEO in establishing and implementing the District's strategic goals, objectives, and initiatives; framing and upholding the District's, vision, mission, and values; the COO maintains responsibility for ensuring that the District's service delivery to the general public reflect transit and customer service best practices.

DISTINGISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This classification is distinguished from other Executive-Level Director classifications, in that the Chief Operating Officer is responsible for multiple components of District operational functions, including, but not limited to, oversight of delegated department operations, short and long-range strategic planning, agency policy development, and implementing policy decisions as determined by the Chief Executive Officer.
This classification is distinguished from the Chief Executive Officer in that the Chief Executive Officer is the highest-level Executive position reporting directly to the Board of Directors. The incumbent in the CEO position has full responsibility for all District functions, property, and staff relating to the successful operation and management of the District's transit service and supporting functions.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Planning
• Ethical Leadership
• Communication
• Decisiveness
• Coaching/Mentoring
• Emotional Intelligence
• Technical Expertise in Functional Areas

Examples of Duties

• Oversees and directs the strategic initiatives of the District; demonstrates effective leadership and assumes responsibility for safe, reliable and sustainable transit service provided by the District; develops recommendations for action for the Chief Executive Officer.
• Provides guidance and leadership to delegated functions of the District; plans and directs the selection, professional development, supervision, review, and evaluation of assigned directors, managers, and employees;
• Develops, mentors and guides staff in achieving goals and objectives; coaches and develops employees; provides constructive feedback on performance and behaviors; reviews and evaluates work; counsels and resolves personnel actions as needed; works to strengthen the District through improving morale, team building and implementation of employee professional development programs.
• Responsible for implementation of the District's Strategic Plan including recommended changes, metrics and evaluation systems.
• Identify, promote, and implement policies, goals, and programs to meet established and forecasted community and District transit service needs.
• Collaborates with the CEO on the development of both short and long-range plans and organizational initiatives.
• Analyzes external trends regarding data and demographics of the District's service area to determine the adequacy of current and forecasted community and District needs.
• Implements strategies to ensure sustainability, equity and quality of service to riders.
• Serves as the public face and representative of the District; provides direction, input, and coordination among internal and external stakeholders; works collaboratively and effectively with peers, staff, departments, unions, boards and commissions, media, elected/appointed officials, cities and counties, community organizations, and government agencies to facilitate official District business.
• Represents the District to community groups, service organizations, civic communities, and technical industry organizations.
• As directed by the Chief Executive Officer, coordinates activities and collaborates with staff responsible for labor relations, collective bargaining negotiations, and/or negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
• Directs, through leadership and collaboration with subordinates; the activities and the operations of assigned District's functions.
• Fosters collaborative and productive relationships internally with staff and externally with local, state, and federal governments and, regional funding partners.
• Prepares, or directs the preparation of significant and essential technical reports and correspondence related to assigned operational matters.
• Performs other duties or special projects as assigned, and/or as determined by the Chief Executive Officer.

Typical Qualifications

Education:
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A Master's degree is preferred. Additional years of experience may be substituted for preferred post-graduate education on a year-for-year basis.

Experience:
Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in management for a public or private transit/transportation organization (bus/rail), including five (5) years in an advanced leadership capacity equivalent to a department head or assistant department head or a comparable executive-level position. Supervisory experience over multiple direct-reports required.

License/Certificate:
Possess and maintain a valid California drivers' license and driving record acceptable to the District.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Transportationtrends, needs, and requirements within a diverse (multi-cultural) community;
• Local, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations as they relate to the transportation industry and the impacted local business environment;
• Collective bargaining and labor negotiations;
• Business, organizational and management practices as applied to a transit organization;
• Principles and practices of budgeting, procurement, and public funding;
• Principles of negotiation, collective bargaining strategies and best practices;
• Special district policy development, and organizational change;
• Computers and current business office software programs for email, virtual collaboration, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, business writing;
• Report and presentation writing; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and syntax;
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively working with the public, Board of Directors, vendors, contractors, and District staff.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate unquestioned ethics and integrity in the performance of work and organizational leadership;
• Exercise sound and exceptional ingenuity, judgment, and analysis regarding specialized and complex management problems;
• Build effective teams, foster open dialogue, collaboration and effective problem solving amongst cross-functional and inter-dependent work groups;
• Support an inclusive workplace by valuing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; inspiring, motivating, and developing others with meaningful coaching;
• Exercise strong fiscal oversight and develop and implement budgetary and operational programs to further the District's short and long-range objectives within budgetary constraints and shifting public priorities; identify new funding options to supplement existing revenues;
• Quickly and appropriately assess large and complex amounts of technical, financial, and administrative data and information to foresee potential obstacles and adopt effective courses of action;
• Develop an understanding of the local political environment;
• Evaluate performance based on established guidelines and ensure accountability from others within the organization;
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Provide leadership, motivation and work direction to District staff and functional teams;
• Meet, confer and negotiate effectively with elected and appointed government officials, funding partners, officials and staff from transit industry organizations, service organizations, and community groups;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work using principles of excellent customer service.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL TASKS & ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
Work involves light to moderate work in an office setting. There is some exposure to the elements and potential personal harm when working outdoors. There is a frequent need to sit, to stand, to walk and occasional need to lift objects. Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light to moderate weight. There is frequent need to stand, sit, stoop, walk, and perform other similar actions during the course of the workday.

Regular use of computer monitor and keyboard required. Sit to operate the computer, and have telephone conversations. (F) Stand to operate the laminator and while working at the counter. (O) Walk to move from one office to another. (F) Squat to retrieve stored materials. (O) Use pens and pencils to write - lift, grasp, push. (F) Operate the computer while reading written information. (F) Use a computer to produce documents - push keys. (F) Use a copy machine to copy documents - insert, push. (F) Bend at the waist while lifting materials. (O) Talk on the telephone while taking notes or while working on the computer. (F)

Exposure to cold, 40-60 degrees, up to 8 hours duration, during winter.(O) Exposure to extreme heat, 90-110 degrees, up to 8 hours duration, when working outside during community events.(O) (District requires employees to wear appropriate light clothing and to drink liquids to prevent dehydration). (O) Work outdoors to attend community events, ride buses, attend other public service agency-related events, etc. (F) Work indoors to operate computer, use telephone and perform office and administrative functions. (F) See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents. Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction; hearing sufficient to utilize telephone and/or two-way radio equipment.
Reasonable accommodation(s) for an individual with a qualified disability will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Supplemental Information

A background check will be conducted for this classification.

The District offers an excellent benefits package. You will be permitted to select from the following menu of benefits, in accordance with our policies (that may change from time to time) and after meeting the applicable eligibility requirements, if any:

• Group Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision) the District pays 100% of the health premiums for employee, spouse, and dependents.
• Vacation Benefits
• Sick Leave Benefits
• Contributory Savings Plan (optional enrollment in a contributory savings retirement plan. 6% employee contribution with a 6% employer match).
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Holiday Benefits (8 holidays)
• Life Insurance Policy for employee, spouse and dependents.

01

Are you a current Employee at Golden Empire Transit District (GET)?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you know anyone employed at Golden Empire Transit District?

• Yes
• No

03

What is your highest level of education?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree or Higher

04

How many years of full-time work experience do you have in an executive-level leadership role at the level of department director (or higher) in a public transit agency?

• No directly related experience
• One (1) to five (5) years of directly related experience
• More than five (5) years of directly related experience

05

Have you attached a complete current professional resume, and comprehensive cover letter to your District application?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you able to perform the essential functions of the role of Chief Operating Officer with or without reasonable accommodation?

• Yes
• No

07

I hereby certify that I have read the Job Duties/Description for the position of Chief Operating Officer and all the information that I have provided in my application is accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and I understand that purposely providing false information may be grounds for disqualification from the process.

• Yes
• No

Required Question