Job description

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) is currently seeking a dynamic, experienced and innovative individual to serve as its President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO will work closely with the CapMetro Board, stakeholders and the community to provide connectivity, create economic activity and ensure equitable access to opportunities throughout the Central Texas region. CapMetro provides a variety of transit services, including Bus, Rail, UT Shuttles, Pickup, Access and MetroBike to meet the ever-growing needs of Austin and its surrounding communities.

CapMetro is a system that is always on the move, safely connecting people with jobs, schools, restaurants, shops, festivals and other great places to hang out. CapMetro is proud of its world class, diverse workforce, which is considered one of the best transit agencies to work for in North America. As an employer of choice, CapMetro values its employees, offering comprehensive benefits packages including complete healthcare, a robust pension retirement program, childcare options and the opportunity to join one of the most exciting transit systems in the nation in the unique, thriving and vibrant greater Austin area.

SERVICE AREA AND REGION
As the regional public transportation leader for Central Texas, CapMetro was created in 1985 in accordance with Chapter 451 of the Texas Transportation Code. It was established by a voter referendum on January 19, 1985, to provide mass transportation service to the greater Austin metropolitan area. The agency is funded in part by a 1% sales tax levied by its service area members.

CapMetro is committed to serving the vibrant Austin and Central Texas community and connecting riders to all the city has to offer. Fortune 500 and other major corporations have chosen Austin for their headquarters including Dell Technologies, Oracle, Samsung and, most recently, Tesla. Central Texas is a great place to live for both families and young professionals with an urban-suburban feel. Quality public education, colleges and universities like the University of Texas and Dell Medical School, arts, culture, entertainment, nightlife and many other recreational opportunities, make Central Texas a great place to live, work and explore.

The Central Texas region is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, and mobility and traffic congestion remain top concerns. According to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2040 Regional Transportation Plan, total population in the six-county Central Texas region is projected to increase from 1.7 million in 2010 to more than 4.1 million in 2040. The number of area jobs is also projected to increase from 775,000 to 2.3 million by 2040.The CapMetro service area extends across approximately 542 square miles and includes more than 1.3 million residents. The service area includes the cities of Austin, Jonestown, Lago Vista, Leander, Manor, Point Venture, San Leanna and portions of Travis County and Williamson County. CapMetro has been working with cities outside of CapMetro’s service area who desire transit services but have reached the state sales tax cap and are unable to join the authority. These cities are: Round Rock, Georgetown, Buda, Pflugerville and Hutto. CapMetro is partnering with these cities to identify opportunities for transit service through interlocal agreements where the cities reimburse CapMetro directly for the cost of service to their communities or through other means of meeting their resident’s transit needs. CapMetro will continue with its commitment to provide safe and robust transit services to its customers who rely on transit and who have moved to other parts of the region due to the increases in housing costs.

CAPMETRO STRUCTURE, SERVICES AND PLANS
Project Connect is a transformative, Austin voter-approved investment in new transit services that includes light rail, Rapid bus lines, regional rail (improvements to the existing Red Line and a new line), and Park & Ride facilities. Project Connect also commits $300 million to mitigate the displacement of vulnerable populations affected by transit development and construction. CapMetro and the City of Austin have formed the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), the independent entity accountable and responsible for the financing, design, construction and overall implementation of Project Connect. ATP is governed by a separate board of directors, comprised of a member of the CapMetro Board, a member of the Austin City Council and three community members. The CEO of CapMetro, along with an assistant city manager at the City of Austin serve on the board as ex-officio members. CapMetro will operate assets funded and implemented by ATP.

Today, 100% of all CapMetro’s transit services continue to be operated by private contractors. The equipment and facilities are owned or leased by CapMetro and operated by contractors. As part of this arrangement, CapMetro’s approximately 550 direct employees are responsible for the following functions: radio dispatch; fixed-route and vehicle maintenance training; purchased transportation contract oversight; strategic planning; short- and long-range planning; service planning; capital planning; finance, budget, grants and accounting; internal audit; government relations; legal; procurement; human resources; risk management; safety and security; property and asset management; real estate, transit-oriented development; facility planning; marketing, communications, customer service, community engagement; and technology. The CapMetro team is a diverse, high-performing and motivated group. There are approximately 1,325 contract employees who work directly for the service providers.

Through private service providers, CapMetro operates fixed-route bus service, modified bus rapid transit, commuter rail service, on-demand app-based micro transit, ADA paratransit service and vanpools with a fleet of 425 diesel and electric heavy-duty buses, 10 diesel trains, 124 vanpools and 230 cutaways. CapMetro also directly operates a bikeshare system with 850 bicycles and 950 docks. Annual system ridership is approximately 16.9 million trips. CapMetro also owns a 162-mile freight rail line and receives revenue from the freight carrier that uses the line. CapMetro is in the process of transitioning to a zero-emission fleet and is committed to operating a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035.

The FY23 operating budget is approximately $381 million and the FY23 capital budget is approximately $443 million. CapMetro is governed by an eight-member board of directors. Three board members are appointed by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), with one appointee required to have a finance background, one a business background and one required to be an elected official. Travis and Williamson counties have one appointee each; the small cities have one appointee; and the City of Austin has two appointees with one required to be an elected official.

SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The next CEO will need to serve as an engaging, capable, energetic and supportive manager to CapMetro’s employees. They will also work to secure key external relationships in order to develop, build and obtain diverse public and stakeholder support so that transit is well positioned to address the fast pace of growth in the region. The next CEO will earn respect and forge partnerships in areas such as new and existing public and private infrastructure, development, land use and public policy. Ensuring transit is an integral part of local land use and transportation plans is critical.

Additionally, it is imperative to CapMetro’s success that the next CEO continue to ensure that CapMetro not only maintains its existing funding, but identifies, seeks and secures new and creative funding sources to secure the agency’s viability.

The CEO is responsible for shaping and leading the agency’s strategic long-term vision as well as overseeing contractors who provide the daily operations of CapMetro’s bus and rail service, special services including paratransit and ridesharing. The CEO will work closely with the disability community to implement solutions that meet their unique mobility needs, including commitment to 100% accessible public transit services in and around the Central Texas region.

The new CEO will have strong business and financial management skills to ensure cost-effective operation and growth. This individual will have outstanding abilities to interact with the board, employees, the community, stakeholders and elected officials.

The board of directors and staff are dedicated to working together to ensure the continued success of CapMetro as it strives to provide the highest quality of service possible with an emphasis on identifying and implementing solutions to address traffic congestion, ridership, exceptional customer service and system safety.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated background, skills and abilities as grouped in the following areas:

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

Leadership

• A visionary who is forward thinking and willing to take calculated risks without preconceived opinions.
• Leads with a safety-first mindset, recognizing customers’, employees’, CapMetro’s safety priorities, and overall community safety as a core value and supportive of a modern approach to public safety that includes transit ambassadors, social workers and transit-focused police officers.
• Have demonstrated success managing and providing executive-level guidance to a highly educated, experienced and technical workforce, thereby empowering management to implement and execute their departmental business plans in alignment with the strategic plan.
• Have extensive experience planning and implementing new projects, programs and initiatives to build a more effective, sustainable and sound organization.
• Successfully execute and manage service contracts while also building and fostering a strong and positive working relationship with the agency’s transit service providers and their employees.
• Have the ability to think outside the box and recognize that transit is transforming rapidly, emerging technology has transformed mobility, and that transit needs to embrace these changes and adopt alternatives to remain relevant.
• Address major ongoing challenges, including labor shortages and service reliability.
• Identify and meet the needs of existing CapMetro riders including interactions with operators, lack of information, affordability and safety.
• Provide a dignified public transit experience for all riders.
• Provide leadership and vision for transit-oriented development (TOD) centered around equity, smart growth, land use planning and development, and regional anti-displacement initiatives.
• Provide strategic vision for developing innovative programs to address transportation needs in less dense areas where traditional transit services are not effective.
• Have the ability to push the agency to become more technologically advanced and lead the continued development and implementation of the technology strategic plan.
• Embrace and advance innovative and alternative technologies that address climate change, better customer service, reduce fares and increase accessibility.
• Have the ability to direct the agency to develop and maintain an effective marketing plan to support the planning process, maintain and promote existing ridership, increase ridership and maintain CapMetro’s image.
• Have the ability to build a brand and negotiate on behalf of the organization.
• Provide leadership and strategic vision regarding environmental, social and governance standards for CapMetro.
• Experience leading a transit system through communications strategies that result in critical long-term investment in high-capacity transit.

Finance and Accountability

• Be experienced in ensuring effective cost-control measures and key performance metrics are in place at all levels of the organization.
• Be experienced in developing and implementing metrics used to evaluate individual and company performance, budgets, cost effectiveness and return on investments to improve operational performance and financial management.
• Experience leading an organization through difficult choices that ensure financial sustainability while creatively addressing community needs.
• Strong business and financial management skills to ensure cost-effective operation and growth, maintain long range financial plans and identify opportunities for new revenue.
• Have a demonstrated track record of success during varying economic and business cycles.
• Capable of identifying opportunities for cost savings and ability to work collaboratively with ATP and other stakeholders to ensure that all voter-approved projects are built and completed.
• Have the ability to responsibly manage agency assets in order to optimize the utilization of grant allocations, farebox revenue and sales tax revenue.
• Maintain and update the long-range financial plan and high-capacity transit plan to ensure that programs, projects and budgets are financially sustainable for the long term.
• Have experience creating additional or new sustainable revenue streams including public-private partnerships, grants and innovative financing for business operations and planned growth.
• Have a proven record of successfully implementing complex capital projects including scope, schedule and budget.
• Have a demonstrated track record of delivery quality services on-time and on-budget.
• Financially efficient executive capable of rolling up their sleeves and identifying alternative cost savings approaches to delivering transit without compromising safety or customer service.

Customer Focus

• Keen understanding and affirmation that many of CapMetro’s customers heavily rely on the agency to provide excellent, reliable and affordable service because it is their only means of transportation.
• Maintain, promote and advance CapMetro’s commitment to providing 100%-accessible public transit services to the Austin and Central Texas community including the disabled and senior community.
• Review and revise service plans with recommendations focused on increasing ridership.
• Ensure focus on board adopted Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy statement.
• Providing equitable transit services and accessible infrastructure to a widely diverse community that is committed to treating all people fairly and equally.
• Demonstrated track record working and being involved with communities to understand transit needs.
• Capability to integrate high-capacity transit programs (Project Connect) into existing services.
• Understanding of displacement risks for individuals and businesses due to transit expansion plans and a commitment to proactive and collaborative approaches to mitigating displacement.

INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Be a proactive leader who encourages, mentors and motivates employees and teams to think critically, strategically and creatively while developing solutions to problems.
• Provide leadership to ensure successful succession and employee development plans across all functions of the agency.
• Empower senior management and employees to lead their departments and function effectively and efficiently.
• Engage senior management as much as possible as a partner in decision-making processes.
• Manage the agency’s human resources to assure responsiveness to the public while maintaining high productivity for the taxpayers.
• Ensure the maintenance of healthy working relationships.
• Maintain a competitive total rewards program and work to creatively implement programs that recruit and retain valuable employees.
• Be an effective leader who is approachable and open-minded, and who encourages employees and teams to challenge ideas in order to develop the most effective solutions.
• Recognize the value of frontline employees and have a demonstrated history of developing positive working relationships with labor representatives.
• Possess strong management and team building skills and excellent problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Establish, build and maintain strong positive working relationships and forge partnerships with ATP, the City of Austin, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and all other stakeholders involved in successfully delivering Project Connect.
• Be experienced in working effectively and persuasively with elected officials; local, state and federal agencies; the business community; public constituencies; the press; community leaders; local advocates; and other stakeholders.
• Have the ability to proactively work in a variety of community settings to maintain CapMetro’s credibility and enhance its public image in a fast-growing urban area.
• Enhance and strengthen relationships with suburban and rural communities and identify various financial tools that can be utilized to increase service for transit dependent riders that are outside of the urban core service territory.
• Be comfortable with maintaining a high public profile to develop solid relationships; educating various constituencies on CapMetro’s value, successes and progress; and raising the profile of the agency.
• Maintain ongoing effective communication with the City of Austin, other governmental agencies, and elected officials (local, state and federal) to assure maximum cooperation and to achieve the best possible transportation system for the region.
• Work with large, medium and small communities with a fair and balanced approach that furthers regional growth beneficial to support a comprehensive transportation program for all customers.
• Ability to engage community leaders to address transit challenges across the community and build consensus to address these challenges through a regional transportation solution.

BOARD INTERACTION

• Develop a strong working partnership with the eight-member board of directors, including effective two-way communication and transparency on all issues.
• Provide information to the board in a timely manner, proactively apprise the board on any and all information that is necessary for them to fulfill their duties as a policy making board and respond to the community.
• Assist the board in its policy-making duties; furnish information to include options and potential consequences; enable the board and its committees to make informed decisions.
• Anticipate problems, difficulties and other sensitive situations that might arise and raise those with the board as early as possible to address those situations as quickly as possible.
• Implement board policy via actionable management plans and provide direction to senior management that will enable the effective execution of these plans.
• Assist and advise the board in its short- and long-term planning responsibilities.
• Listen to, meet with and use feedback provided by advisory committees to advance CapMetro.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• High integrity, professional, mature, honest, fair, transparent, trusting and personable individual with a high energy level.
• An executive who values, is committed to, has a background in, and can apply knowledge to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within CapMetro and our community.
• An executive who makes equitable decisions, embraces differences, avoids prejudices, favoritism and toxicity.
• An executive who leads and manages with a safety-first mindset.
• An executive who supports their team and promotes a positive work environment and work-life balance.
• An accessible, charismatic, calm, collected and approachable CEO.
• Thoughtful and capable of making timely decisions that are well researched and not impulsive.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, presentation and writing skills.
• Ability to communicate and engage with a multi-lingual community.
• Professional and executive presence to stand on behalf of the organization as the leader and champion of the agency and transit in general.
• Results-oriented individual with a dedication to accuracy, quality, cost effectiveness and on-time delivery and an appropriate sense of urgency.
• Intelligent, persuasive and creative manager who has the ability to solve problems and provide realistic solutions.
• A financially savvy leader who is able to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization through the support of the long-range plan and identification of alternative means of funding.
• An executive who is willing and capable of listening, understanding and collaborating within the organization and the community and their needs when making strategic changes.
• Strategic leader, open-minded communicator and critical thinker who looks at challenges as opportunities for innovation.
• Executive with exceptional professional judgment who can take appropriate risks and leverage resources to lead the agency through its next phase of growth.
• Individual with a proven ability to effectively build alliances, communicate with, listen to, interact with, and work with the board, senior management, business partners, elected officials, the community, stakeholders, regulatory agencies and customers.
• Capable of holding themselves, their team and all staff accountable for any decisions made or actions taken.
• Verifiable track record of identifying, negotiating, and solving complex and challenging issues.
• Demonstrated ability to unify boards, teams, communities and people to address complex issues.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10 years’ executive management experience with a major transit agency or another public or private entity of comparable nature, complexity and size to CapMetro. Experience leading or serving in an executive level position at a public transit agency (bus, rail, paratransit or multimodal) is highly desirable. Prefer experience planning, constructing and operating a public transit network including light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit and demand response services that are safe, reliable, accessible and efficient as CapMetro is a key partner in Project Connect and has operational responsibility. A bachelor’s degree in transportation, transportation management, engineering, business management or equivalent is required. An equivalent combination of education and experience consistent with the required qualifications will also be considered.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Capital Metro is deeply committed to building a workplace where inclusion is not only valued but prioritized. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating a welcoming and diverse environment. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, pregnancy, age, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state or local laws. Capital Metro makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and organization needs at the time.

For additional information or to submit a resume, please contact Gregg A. Moser at gmoser@kapartners.com.

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