Transit Equipment Dispatcher

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.

This position is open to current employees in the Vehicle Maintenance section of King County Metro.
 
The responsibilities of this classification include ensuring operational readiness and efficient use of transit coaches and trolleys, assigning coaches to routes and maintaining coach availability for scheduled maintenance.
 
The Vehicle Maintenance section operates three shifts (day, swing and graveyard) seven days a week at various locations throughout King County. Openings may occur on all shifts. Swing and graveyard shift employees receive a shift differential. Employees work a 40 hour per week schedule with two consecutive days off, but not necessarily Saturday and Sunday. Work schedules and locations are based on a seniority system, which occurs three times a year. Graveyard and/or swing shift vacancies will be the most likely openings.
 
Who may apply: This position is open to current career service employees in the Vehicle Maintenance section of King County's Transit Division.

Forms and materials required: Applicants for this position are required to submit the complete online application form and answers to the attached supplemental questions. 


This recruitment process will be used to fill Two vacant position and may be used to create an eligibility list for upcoming vacancies as they occur. Eligibility lists are valid for 12 months at the hiring authority's discretion.

Work schedule: This position is non-exempt and is overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval. Vehicle Maintenance repair facilities operate on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis. Vacancies may be available on day, swing, and graveyard shifts. Work schedules and locations are based on a seniority "pick" system that occurs three times a year. Therefore, you must be able and willing to work any shift and at any location.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Troika Braswell
Senior Human Resource Analyst
Tbraswell@kingcounty.gov

JOB DUTIES:
 
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. You will:

Using a computerized dispatching system, assign coaches to runs and routes in a timely fashion and track all coaches on the road and in the bus yard. Primary duties require considerable use and knowledge of personal computers.

• Assign coaches to runs as necessary to meet Metro's service requirements and maximize coach availability. Check written and/or online records to make sure that all coaches leaving the base have been properly fueled and any scheduled maintenance has been completed. Assign coaches so they remain within inspection mileage, including verifying VIB is reporting daily and manually tracking inspection miles when needed. Maintain mileage records as necessary.
• Assign coaches to runs on a daily basis, ensuring that available equipment is utilized efficiently to meet service needs. Forecast mileage accumulations for up to seven days in the future. Schedule, plan and balance coach inspections by forecasting mileage and assigning coaches to ensure a balanced workload that matches assignment of mechanics and coach inspections.
• Fill special route assignments with appropriate coaches, such as camera equipped, APC, or other special equipment coaches.
• Ensure coaches are available for scheduled preventative maintenance, cleaning, and other repairs. Maintain updated lists as required to ensure work can be completed with a minimum disruption of service.
• Take a physical inventory of the base yard several times during a shift to determine equipment availability and location. This will require considerable walking in all kinds of weather conditions.
• Provide general assistance to operators to ensure that coaches are able to leave the base on time. Such assistance might include performing minor repairs, fueling and servicing a coach, or the assignment of a new coach when necessary.
• Coordinate the transfer of coaches at shake-up from one base to another as directed by the Chief of Base Maintenance. Additional coaches at the base may require reorganizing the layout of the bus yard to provide a logical and easily accessible arrangement.
• May be responsible for checking base fuel supplies and other supplies as necessary and contacting the supplier to reorder when stocks are low.
• Input and extract data from several sources using a computer terminal as required.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:
At least one year of experience as a Transit Equipment Service Worker, including relief dispatcher experience OR previous dispatch experience to include:

• Knowledge of the inventory of coaches available and routes operated out of assigned bases, including sign in and sign out procedures
• Knowledge of preventative maintenance, servicing schedules and intervals
• Knowledge of base operating policies, practices and procedures
• Knowledge of basic equipment servicing
• Communication skills
• Customer service skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Driving skills to include a Class B License
• Basic computer skills required to enter and extract information from automated vehicle maintenance systems and related software applications
• Skill in basic mathematics
• Skill in working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships

Desirable qualification:

Candidates with experience in transit dispatch will receive first consideration.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: A valid Washington State Class B commercial driver's license is required.
PHYSICAL: The job requires physical skill and may require bending, crouching and crawling, occasional lifting of heavy material such as paper boxes up to 50 pounds is required. Requires climbing stairs into and out of coaches (3 or 4 stairs) up to twenty or more times in an eight-hour shift.
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS: The job requires ordinary conversation skills and courtesy to exchange or provide routine information. Contacts are primarily with other Metro personnel. Requires the ability to work independently as a part of a team and interact appropriately with others.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed both inside and outside in all types of weather conditions, with frequent exposure to grease, dirt and high concentrations of carbon monoxide and diesel fumes. Many calls and issues that come to the Equipment Dispatcher require immediate action resulting in some stress on the job. Work assignments are picked by seniority; shifts available may be at any time of the day.
 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Applications will be screened for minimum qualifications. Those who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be scheduled for an interview. Candidates who successfully complete the interview process may be placed in an eligibility pool that will be used to fill future vacancies as they occur. Employment offers will be finalized only after candidates have successfully completed physical examinations with drug screens. Record reviews and reviews of driving records will also be conducted prior to any final offer of employment. Positions in this classification are considered safety-sensitive and subject to random drug testing.
 
UNION REPRESENTATION: Positions in this classification are represented by Local 587 of the Amalgamated Transit Union.
 
Class Code: 9330100
 
King County is an equal employment opportunity employer.  We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workplace and workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding values--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, we are responsible stewards. We welcome and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.