Transit Supply Chain Chief (SDA)

*This internal recruitment is open to current King County Metro Employees who have passed their probationary period in their current career service position.* King County Metro Transit’s Vehicle Maintenance Division is seeking a service-driven leader to become our next Transit Supply Chain Chief. This leadership role oversees materials management and inventory control within the division, guiding the work of Transit Parts Specialists, Transit Purchasing Specialists, Leads, and Information Processing specialists. Together, these teams form the backbone of Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance supply chain. Their work ensures that our maintenance professionals have the materials and supplies they need to safely maintain a fleet that serves hundreds of thousands of riders every day. The Supply Chain Chief provides leadership, coordination, and strategic oversight that keeps this system running sustainably. Transit Chiefs provide policy direction, create a culture of customer service, work collaboratively with union leaders and others within the organization, and are a resource to employees at the worksite. They demonstrate support for organizational goals by providing quality service, working collaboratively with other sections and departments, and valuing diversity of opinion, culture, and perspective. Learn how Metro connects you with what matters Safety Sensitive Position This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment, and subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols. Recruitment information: This recruitment will be used to fill a Special Duty Assignment as a Transit Supply Chain Chief, with an expected end date in February 2027 with the possibility of extension. This recruitment may be used to create an eligibility list to fill future SDAs in this classification (Transit Chief- Vehicle Maintenance) and Supply Chain workgroup. If created, the list would be retained for 12 months from the date of posting, and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority. Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. Lead and supervise teams of skilled Purchasing and Parts Specialists, and other staff responsible for the full materials management and parts inventory lifecycle, ensuring work meets standards and operational needs. Oversee procurement, storage, distribution, parts room operations, cycle counts, logistics; authorize purchases within delegated limits. Plan, forecast, and maintain cost-effective inventory levels to support continuous fleet maintenance; monitor labor and operational costs and adjust operations to meet performance targets and service levels. Coordinate timely responses to service disruptions, weather events, emergencies, and critical incidents in collaboration with the Superintendent, Transit Operations Center and other agencies. Ensure accuracy and integrity of data in automated fleet maintenance, scheduling, inventory, and information systems; review work orders, warranty and rebuild information, completed repairs, and material usage for quality assurance. Maintain a safe and compliant work environment, including proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials and adherence to all safety-sensitive regulations and safety programs for the assigned work area. Investigate and respond to customer complaints related to maintenance operations and staff. Identify, evaluate, recommend, and implement improvements to service delivery, quality assurance, workflow efficiency, and business processes. Foster effective and collaborative labor relations; ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements; address and resolve workplace issues and participate in grievance processes and hearings as required. Interview, select, train, and develop assigned staff; provide coaching, counseling, and performance feedback to support growth and development. Schedule staff effectively, manage employee attendance, vacation requests, leave administration (ADA/FMLA/KCFML/WFLA). Review, correct, and approve payroll for assigned staff. Apply Vehicle Maintenance, Metro Transit Department, and King County policies/procedures fairly and consistently. This includes administering safety-sensitive drug and alcohol testing program for assigned employees. Conduct performance evaluations, address performance concerns, and lead investigations into misconduct, harassment, negligence, and policy violations; determine appropriate follow-up actions, including counseling, training, or discipline, in consultation with the Superintendent, Human Resources, and Labor Relations. Collaborate with other partners across King County and Metro Transit, participate in committees and project teams, and coordinate operational needs with internal partners to support seamless service delivery. Perform other duties, including acting as Superintendent, as assigned. At a minimum, to qualify for this position you will need: At least one (1) year of leadership or supervisory experience leading diverse teams in a vehicle maintenance or supply chain environment, including assigning work, monitoring performance, coaching, counseling, setting expectations, and recommending corrective or developmental actions. Increasingly responsible experience in parts or materials management, inventory control, warehousing, parts room operations, logistics, procurement, and/or warranty processes—preferably in a relevant transit, large fleet, or industrial setting. OR any equivalent combination of experience that provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the duties of this position. Additional minimum qualifications include: Technical and fleet maintenance knowledge: Familiarity with transit vehicle parts, systems, preventive maintenance practices, and interpreting technical specifications, schematics, and parts catalogs. Safety and compliance knowledge: Solid understanding of safety-sensitive regulations, hazardous materials handling, and workplace safety requirements, and the ability to enforce federal, state, and local compliance standards. Systems and Data Skills: Proficiency with enterprise asset management and inventory (e.g., M5, PeopleSoft, SharePoint) and the ability to ensure data accuracy and use system information for decision-making. Critical thinking and forecasting skills: Skill in forecasting material needs for upcoming projects, able to proactively plan for retrofits, recalls, projects, and secure parts to ensure fleet readiness and prevent downtime. Operational judgement: Able to respond effectively to service disruptions and emergencies, prioritize tasks, and make timely decisions in a 24/7 operational setting. Labor Relations knowledge: Experience working in a unionized environment, and interpreting (or applying) collective bargaining agreements. Communication and collaboration skills: Able to listen openly, give and receive feedback, resolve conflicts, address customer concerns, and work effectively with diverse staff, leadership, vendors, and partner agencies. Equity & Inclusion: Experience fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace that values people’s differences. Able to apply equity and social justice principles to leadership, decision-making, and daily operations. Desirable qualifications include (but are not required): At least three (3) years of parts management experience, preferably for transit. Direct supervisory or management experience that included managing attendance, writing and delivering performance appraisals and evals, and administering progressive discipline as needed. Public-sector procurement and vendor management experience, including familiarity with FTA and County purchasing rules, contract processes, and sourcing strategies. Advanced knowledge of transit fleet parts, systems, and maintenance operations, including diesel, hybrid, electric, and trolley components; preventive maintenance practices; and cost-effective stocking strategies for large, diversified fleets. Ability to guide complex parts identification, sourcing challenges, and cross-functional coordination between maintenance, procurement, and operational teams. Experience with budgeting and financial systems (e.g., Oracle/EBS) and monitoring operational costs. Foundational understanding of supervisory best practices and the federal, state, and local employment laws governing civil rights and equal opportunity. Experience, education, or training in project management or continuous improvement methods, such as Lean or similar process-improvement approaches. Necessary Special Requirements: A valid Washington State driver license and acceptable driving record. Must pass drug and alcohol testing provision for safety-sensitive positions as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655. Willingness and availability to work varying shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays as required for shift assignment and consistent with negotiated agreements Work may require remaining available for work 24 hours per day during rotational assignments as on-call Vehicle Maintenance Chief. Work may require reporting for extended duty during adverse weather events and other emergencies. Who may apply: This internal recruitment is open to current King County Metro Employees who have passed their probationary period in their current career service position. TO APPLY: If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have questions, please contact Emily Clark (she/her), Senior Talent Advisor, at View email address on click.appcast.io . Required application materials: Submit an online King County application at . Be sure to list your full work history including your current job, accurate job titles and employment dates, and all relevant work experience and detailed job duties going back at least 5 years (or more, if you have additional relevant experience). All required supplemental questions must be thoroughly responded to. Write and attach a cover letter that explains why you are interested in this specific position, what you hope to achieve in this special duty assignment, and how you meet or exceed the qualifications for the role. No other attachments will be reviewed so please do not include them. Applications that are not complete, or do not include the required materials mentioned above may be deemed incomplete and removed from consideration. The work history section of your application must validate and support any experience mentioned in the supplemental question responses or cover letter. Selection Process: Applicants meeting the posted qualifications will be screened for completeness, competitiveness, and written communication skills within their application materials. The selection process used to identify the most qualified candidates may involve a review of application materials only and/or an interview. One or more qualified candidates may be selected to serve for the full SDA duration, or for part of it. Formal offers are contingent upon successfully completing all pre-employment requirements, which may include a drug and alcohol screening, a pre-employment physical, driving record review, and a King County Personnel Record Review. It is important to note that you must get approval from your current supervisor/manager to accept a Special Duty Assignment. Pay for SDAs will be in accordance with the Personnel Guidelines and/or the selected employee's collective bargaining agreement. Work Schedule This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay. Work is performed on site every day at the Component Supply Center: 12200 E. Marginal Way South, Tukwila, WA 98168. Typical schedules are Monday through Friday, 6:00 am through 2:30 pm, 40 hours per week. Employees in this position may be required to remain available for work 24 hours per day during rotational assignments, and work may require reporting for extended duty during adverse weather events and other emergencies. Union Representation: Represented by Professional and Technical Employees Local 17 - Chiefs Unit. Classification / Class Code/ Pay Grade: Transit Chief- Vehicle Maintenance / 8730500 / 69 Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. Guided by our " True North ", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention are how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native Americans, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans. King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. Need help with your application? Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQ’s- King County. For technical support related to accessing or completing your application, contact the Government Jobs' applicant support team for assistance during regular business hours: View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io . The King County Workforce Development page offers free guidance, resources, and checklists to help candidates present their skills and experience competitively for King County recruitments. We encourage you to visit the General Career Resources section on their website for more tips. For questions regarding this recruitment please contact the recruiter, Emily Clark (she/her), Senior Talent Advisor: View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr King County