Chief of Staff
POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief of Staff serves as the strategic advisor and trusted partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Capital Area Transit System (CATS). Acting as an extension of the CEO, this executive-level position leads enterprise initiatives, advances organizational priorities, strengthens Board governance, coordinates cross-functional execution, and ensures accountability for achieving the Agency's strategic objectives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Executive Leadership & Strategy
• Serve as the CEO's principal strategic advisor on organizational priorities, governance, regulatory, operational, and policy matters affecting the Agency.
• Direct implementation and monitoring of the Agency Strategic Plan through executive initiatives, performance dashboards, KPIs, and cross-department accountability measures.
• Conduct executive-level research and analysis.
• Prepare executive reports, presentations, and recommendations.
• Identify organizational risks, barriers to execution, and opportunities for continuous improvement, recommending corrective actions as needed.
• Monitor progress of key projects and ensure accountability across all departments.
Board Governance & Executive Administration
• Coordinate the preparation of Board agendas, meeting materials, resolutions, executive briefings, and supporting documentation for the CEO and Board of Commissioners.
• Monitor and track action items resulting from Board meetings through to completion.
• Support governance, transparency, and organizational accountability initiatives.
• Coordinate executive review and routing of legal matters involving outside counsel, ensuring timely communication among executive leadership, the Board of Commissioners, and legal advisors.
Transit Strategy & Regulatory Compliance
• Serve as executive advisor on Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, regulatory compliance, grant administration, and emerging transit policy affecting Agency operations.
• Coordinate Agency responses to FTA Triennial Reviews, State Management Reviews, Drug and Alcohol Program Reviews, Procurement System Reviews, Civil Rights Reviews, and other regulatory audits.
• Monitor federal and state transportation legislation, regulatory developments, and industry best practices affecting public transit operations.
• Oversee compliance with ADA, Title VI, Title VII, EEO, DBE, Buy America, 49 CFR Parts 40 & 655, procurement, charter service, school bus, NEPA, and grant requirements.
• Serve as the executive advisor on collective bargaining strategy, labor negotiations, grievance administration, arbitration, labor-management relations, and workforce stability.
• Advise executive leadership on transit service planning, capital investment, fleet modernization, legislative initiatives, organizational transformation, and long-term system sustainability.
Executive Coordination & Stakeholder Relations
• Coordinate executive priorities and facilitate collaboration among Operations, Maintenance, Human Resources, Finance, Safety, Planning, and Administrative Services to ensure Agency-wide alignment with strategic objectives.
• Lead executive project teams, special assignments, consulting engagements, and organizational change initiatives.
• Represent the CEO before governmental agencies, elected officials, community organizations, labor representatives, and regional partners as assigned.
• Coordinate executive response during emergencies, service disruptions, labor actions, and other critical incidents, including continuity of operations planning.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education
• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Political Science, Transportation, Communications, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Transportation, or a related field preferred.
Experience
• Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with executive leadership in a senior advisory or staff capacity.
• Minimum five (5) years of executive leadership experience within public transportation or another highly regulated governmental or public-sector organization.
• Experience supporting governing boards,
• Experience leading enterprise strategic initiatives
• Experience organizational performance management
• Experience labor relations strategy and regulatory compliance.
• Proven track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and organizational initiatives.
• Experience in public sector, governmental, or transit environments strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, grant administration, and public transportation governance.
• Knowledge of labor relations, collective bargaining, and public-sector regulatory compliance.
• Strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and project management.
• Executive communications, report writing, and presentation development.
• Public sector governance, administration, and regulatory compliance.
• Relationship management, community engagement, and stakeholder outreach.
• Change management and process improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage highly confidential information with discretion.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills across diverse audiences.