General Manager

General Manager

The General Manager reports directly to a seven-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor from sub-districts within the system's boundaries. The General Manager is responsible for the overall planning, organizing, and directing of all services of the district, including staff support to the Board, general administrative functions, operations, and maintenance. The General Manager must effectively direct the district within the laws of the State of Oregon and the policies adopted by the Board of Directors.

This individual is held accountable for the financial integrity of the district. As the designated employee responsible for overseeing the EEO program, the General Manager is committed to upholding our Equal Employment Opportunity policies and ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. The General Manager will lead efforts to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace by monitoring EEO initiatives, addressing complaints, providing guidance on non-discriminatory practices, and ensuring that all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic alongside the EEO Officer.

Location: Salem, Oregon

Salary Range: Expected hiring range: $240,000-$280,000 depending on qualifications, education, and experience. Exceptional candidates may be considered above the range.

Why Cherriots: At Cherriots, "we create community connections." As the public transit agency, Cherriots provides bus service over a 78 square mile area in Salem, Keizer, and the mid-Willamette Valley. Local property taxes, as well as state and federal money, provide funding for the transit agency. With these funding sources, Cherriots provides local bus service in Salem and Keizer, as well as regional express service to towns in Marion and Polk counties.

The Cherriots Local fleet consists of sixty-four 35-and-40-foot buses. The Cherriots Regional fleet is made up of a dozen buses. Cherriots also operates the LIFT paratransit service for those who can't safely and independently use the fixed route bus service.

General Responsibilities

• Have full charge of the acquisition, construction, maintenance and operations of the transit system of the district.
• Have full charge of the administration of the district's business affairs.
• Enforce all ordinances adopted by the Board.
• Administer the personnel system adopted by the Board and, except for officers appointed by the Board, appoint, discipline, or remove all officers and employees, subject to Oregon statutes and the Board's rules.
• Prepare and submit to the Board within 30 days after the end of each fiscal year a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the district for that preceding fiscal year.
• Keep the Board advised as to the needs of the district.
• Prepare all plans and specifications for equipment acquisition or construction of improvements or facilities for the district.
• Cause to install and maintain a system of auditing and accounting that shows completely and at all times the financial condition of the district.
• Devote the entire working time of the General Manager to the business of the district.
• Perform such other duties as the Board requires by resolution.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated backgrounds in strategic planning, transit operations, labor relations and collective bargaining contract negotiation, property and lease management, and government finance mechanisms are preferable.
• Prior experience working for Boards, Commissions, or councils of elected/appointed officials is preferred.
• Demonstrated background working with Federal and State agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, and equivalent state organizations should be evident.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices involved in public transportation operations, including organization, routing, scheduling, and customer service principles.
• Comprehensive knowledge of public management principles and practices. Extensive knowledge of federal laws, regulations, and mandates about public transportation operations, ability to rapidly learn local and state laws and regulations as well as District policies and guidelines related to the operation of the district's public transportation systems.
• Extensive knowledge of transportation-related safety and security hazards and safety and security precautions involved in public transportation systems.
• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of public-sector labor relations and the administration of labor contracts.
• Extensive knowledge of budget formulation and administration.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelors degree; Master's degree desired.
• Ten (10) years of senior management experience that includes financial management, business administration, and leadership training sufficient to acquire the knowledge, ability, and skills necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position, Public Sector employment a plus.
• Must present the district with a valid Oregon driver's license and must maintain a driving record that demonstrates adherence to safety and traffic laws and regulations, only if driving district vehicles
• Candidates with any satisfactory combination of related experience and training that equips them with the required knowledge, abilities, and skills for this position are encouraged to apply. The district reserves the right to determine the equivalences of education and experience.