Metro Transit General Manager
Apply NowCompany: City of Madison, WI
Location: Madison, WI 53711
Description:
Salary: $151,800.44 - $204,931.46 Annually
Location : Madison, WI
Job Type: PERMANENT FULL TIME
Job Number: 2025-00201
Department: Metro Transit
Opening Date: 04/24/2025
Closing Date: 5/26/2025 11:59 PM Central
Comp. Group/Range: 21/23
General Description
The City of Madison is seeking a skilled and empathetic leader to be the next Metro Transit General Manager. Metro Transit is a City department that provides fixed route and paratransit service to the greater Madison region. Our fixed route service, including the recently launched MetroRapid Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, carries 45,000 passengers a day on 24 routes (23 fixed route and one 15-mile BRT route) with 31 BRT stations and 194 buses (132 40-foot buses and 62 articulated all-electric buses). The successful candidate will be a collaborative and effective leader who can manage change and motivate staff as they plan and integrate multiple new systems, including fare systems, route maps, a satellite facility, and electric buses.
Madison is dedicated to providing high quality transit services to our diverse and growing community and to the region via our partner communities. Our next Metro General Manager will lead a growing transit system while supporting staff through process improvement and data-informed practices. Under the policy direction of the Mayor and Transportation Director, the Transit General Manager is responsible for exercising considerable judgment and discretion in meeting program objectives.
Madison is a leader in providing sustainable, equitable and safe transportation choices for all residents. Over the past five years, Madison has made significant strides in transportation, launching Bus Rapid Transit and a Vision Zero traffic safety project, conducting a transit network redesign, implementing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and Traffic Demand Management (TDM), achieving designation as a Platinum Biking and Gold Walking City, and beginning work on a new curb management system. We seek a leader who will collaborate with our Department of Transportation Director and partners to build on and expand this work.
Our Community
The City of Madison is regularly included in lists of top places to live. A thriving food scene, more than 200 miles of trails for hiking, biking and snowshoeing, excellent healthcare, and of course great transit work together to help meet Madison's vision to be inclusive, innovative, and thriving.
Employment will be subject to a five-year employment contract negotiated by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council. A term of the contract requires residency in the City of Madison.
IMPORTANT: THERE ARE TWO (2) SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS ON THE JOB POSTING.
YOU MUST ATTACH YOUR ANSWERS IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION. YOU MUST ALSO ATTACH A COVER LETTER AND RESUME.
(To view the questions, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin)
**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT ATTACHED ESSAY RESPONSES, COVER LETTER AND RESUME WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION.
Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the
Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn't match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications
- AND-
If an applicant does not possess the specific requirements outlined above, HR will review the application materials to determine if the applicant possesses the following equivalent experience:
Four (4) years of experience in applying the following:
Two (2) years of experience in applying the following:
The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural and diverse communities.
For a complete list of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, please see the
Special Requirements
Physical Requirements:
Work is mainly sedentary in nature. The employee will be expected to work at a desk frequently using a computer and monitor and review numerous documents in policy manuals and other formats. The employee should be able to access all areas of the Metro Transit facility. Work involves travel to various City facilities in order to attend various meetings, both during and after regular hours.
The City of Madison offers excellent pay and benefits for employees. City Ordinances, handbooks, and labor contracts provide specifics; the description here is not to be considered a binding statement but offers an informal summary.
Compensation
The City of Madison strives to pay competitive wages. View the current for pay for all classifications.
Benefits
The City offers a competitive benefits package, including a generous leave package, a variety of insurance options, and non-traditional benefits such as optional pet insurance, a bus pass for all employees, and the possibility of flexible work schedules. A brief summary of benefits is listed below and more information can be found on our
Leave
Vacation is earned upon starting employment and can be used immediately. The vacation allotment for a Department/Division Head is negotiable.
Employees earn 3.5 personal days in addition to vacation.
Employees receive eight official paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day), as well as 3 paid leave days (the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve).
Employees also earn 13 sick days annually that may accrue to a total of 150 days.
Retirement
The City of Madison participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System through the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds.
Insurance
The City of Madison offers a variety of optional insurance programs including:
Other Benefits
The City offers numerous other benefits and programs for employees, including:
457(b) deferred compensation plans
Employee Assistance Program
Bus Pass on Madison Metro
Flexible Work Schedules
Employer-paid Training
01
I understand a condition of employment for this position requires residency in the City of Madison.
02
A resume is required to be attached in the Attachment section of your application, in order for you to be considered further for this position.
03
A cover letter is required to be attached in the Attachment section of your application, in order for you to be considered further for this position.
04
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY--YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS AS PART OF YOUR APPLICATION. You can answer the questions using a word processing program and attach as a .docx or .pdf file. You must attach the document in the "Attachments" section of the application or you will not receive further consideration for this position. Your responses will be evaluated on your writing ability including: spelling, grammar and your ability to express your thoughts in a logical fashion. By checking this box, you acknowledge the above and understand that your response is required and failure to attach your essay response will immediately eliminate you from consideration.
05
The City of Madison is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and empathetic leader to move our Metro Transit system forward. Describe in detail your mass transit experience which highlights: a) The type of business or organization in which this experience was gained and dates of employment, and number of employees in the organization. b) Your leadership approach in a large organization and the strategies you used to motivate, engage and build trust with staff.c) Strategies you have used to build and/or transform a healthy work culture while implementing complex projects. d) Your role and experience related to public finance and budgeting.
06
This role requires you to actively collaborate and engage various internal and external impacted parties such as transit dependent residents, staff, and policymakers to find equitable, sustainable and safe solutions. Describe in detail a time when you successfully managed change with conflicting interests in a complex project.
Required Question
Location : Madison, WI
Job Type: PERMANENT FULL TIME
Job Number: 2025-00201
Department: Metro Transit
Opening Date: 04/24/2025
Closing Date: 5/26/2025 11:59 PM Central
Comp. Group/Range: 21/23
General Description
The City of Madison is seeking a skilled and empathetic leader to be the next Metro Transit General Manager. Metro Transit is a City department that provides fixed route and paratransit service to the greater Madison region. Our fixed route service, including the recently launched MetroRapid Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, carries 45,000 passengers a day on 24 routes (23 fixed route and one 15-mile BRT route) with 31 BRT stations and 194 buses (132 40-foot buses and 62 articulated all-electric buses). The successful candidate will be a collaborative and effective leader who can manage change and motivate staff as they plan and integrate multiple new systems, including fare systems, route maps, a satellite facility, and electric buses.
Madison is dedicated to providing high quality transit services to our diverse and growing community and to the region via our partner communities. Our next Metro General Manager will lead a growing transit system while supporting staff through process improvement and data-informed practices. Under the policy direction of the Mayor and Transportation Director, the Transit General Manager is responsible for exercising considerable judgment and discretion in meeting program objectives.
Madison is a leader in providing sustainable, equitable and safe transportation choices for all residents. Over the past five years, Madison has made significant strides in transportation, launching Bus Rapid Transit and a Vision Zero traffic safety project, conducting a transit network redesign, implementing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and Traffic Demand Management (TDM), achieving designation as a Platinum Biking and Gold Walking City, and beginning work on a new curb management system. We seek a leader who will collaborate with our Department of Transportation Director and partners to build on and expand this work.
Our Community
The City of Madison is regularly included in lists of top places to live. A thriving food scene, more than 200 miles of trails for hiking, biking and snowshoeing, excellent healthcare, and of course great transit work together to help meet Madison's vision to be inclusive, innovative, and thriving.
- #11 Best Places to Live in the Nation -
- #1 Best Places to Live -
- #1 Best Cities for Families -
- #2 ranked among top 30 mid-sized US cities for green commuting -
- More Madison rankings and accolades can be found on the and on .
Employment will be subject to a five-year employment contract negotiated by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council. A term of the contract requires residency in the City of Madison.
IMPORTANT: THERE ARE TWO (2) SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS ON THE JOB POSTING.
YOU MUST ATTACH YOUR ANSWERS IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION. YOU MUST ALSO ATTACH A COVER LETTER AND RESUME.
(To view the questions, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin)
**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT ATTACHED ESSAY RESPONSES, COVER LETTER AND RESUME WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION.
Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the
Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn't match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
- Leading, managing, and developing a comprehensive staff team responsible for:
- Directly operating fixed route service for the Madison Metropolitan Region; this includes routing and stations, bus operation, transit maintenance, dispatch, and contracting for the paratransit service.
- Managing regional service partnership contracts, service needs, and financial terms with surrounding cities and educational institutions, including (but not limited to) the University of Wisconsin, the Madison Metropolitan School District, and the communities of Sun Prairie, Monona, Fitchburg, Verona, and Middleton.
- Coordinating with regulatory oversight agencies, including the Federal Transit Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
- Leading and implementing Metro's capital budget initiatives, including facilities, fleet replacement, charging systems, and Bus Rapid Transit.
- Engaging in and supporting public engagement, including customer relations, media relations, and expansion of sales initiatives such as employer and ridership recruitment.
- Developing and implementing area-wide transit plans that interface with land use and transportation planning elements.
- Applying for and administering Federal and State grants in compliance with regulations.
- Managing the administration of systems that use key performance indicators to track transit performance, operations, and budget.
- Developing, maintaining and supporting systems that promote continuous improvement and service delivery.
- In partnership with Human Resources, directing all aspects of labor relations, including collective bargaining negotiations, agreements, and implementation.
- Working closely with other Transportation Department managers and City officials in developing and administering the City's integrated transportation program.
- Evaluating bus route prioritization to ensure efficient, high quality and equitable service.
- Performing related work as required.
Minimum Qualifications
- Four (4) years of senior management experience in mass transit system work which includes a variety of the following responsibilities: Managing a multi-level organization, long range planning, managing operations including route structuring, collective bargaining/labor management, managing work culture, and fiscal services.
- AND-
- Bachelor's degree in transportation, urban planning, business administration, public administration or related field.
If an applicant does not possess the specific requirements outlined above, HR will review the application materials to determine if the applicant possesses the following equivalent experience:
Four (4) years of experience in applying the following:
- Principles, practices and procedures associated with mass transit related system management, including strategies and long-range planning, finance, collective bargaining and related disciplines.
- Principles, techniques and practices of management, various elements of mass transit related systems and their inter-relationships, trends in regional transportation issues.
- Principles and practices of public/business administration consistent with the management of a city department, including the dynamics of policy development, sustainability, budgeting, resource planning, etc.
- Full range of supervisory principles and practices, labor relations and staff management.
Two (2) years of experience in applying the following:
- Computers and related computer software applications used in management, scheduling, and planning.
- Managing operations of transit system including route structuring, managing workplace culture, or another transportation initiative.
- Sustainability principles and practices as it relates to operating a large fleet.
The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural and diverse communities.
For a complete list of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, please see the
Special Requirements
- Ability to meet transportation needs of the position.
- This position will be expected to attend meetings and events outside the normal work schedule, including evenings and weekends.
- Employment will be subject to a five-year employment contract negotiated by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council and a term of the contract requires residency in the City of Madison. Non-residents will be given time to establish residency if necessary.
Physical Requirements:
Work is mainly sedentary in nature. The employee will be expected to work at a desk frequently using a computer and monitor and review numerous documents in policy manuals and other formats. The employee should be able to access all areas of the Metro Transit facility. Work involves travel to various City facilities in order to attend various meetings, both during and after regular hours.
The City of Madison offers excellent pay and benefits for employees. City Ordinances, handbooks, and labor contracts provide specifics; the description here is not to be considered a binding statement but offers an informal summary.
Compensation
The City of Madison strives to pay competitive wages. View the current for pay for all classifications.
Benefits
The City offers a competitive benefits package, including a generous leave package, a variety of insurance options, and non-traditional benefits such as optional pet insurance, a bus pass for all employees, and the possibility of flexible work schedules. A brief summary of benefits is listed below and more information can be found on our
Leave
Vacation is earned upon starting employment and can be used immediately. The vacation allotment for a Department/Division Head is negotiable.
Employees earn 3.5 personal days in addition to vacation.
Employees receive eight official paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day), as well as 3 paid leave days (the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve).
Employees also earn 13 sick days annually that may accrue to a total of 150 days.
Retirement
The City of Madison participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System through the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds.
Insurance
The City of Madison offers a variety of optional insurance programs including:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Income Continuation Insurance (for short and long-term disability)
- Long Term Care Insurance
Other Benefits
The City offers numerous other benefits and programs for employees, including:
457(b) deferred compensation plans
Employee Assistance Program
Bus Pass on Madison Metro
Flexible Work Schedules
Employer-paid Training
01
I understand a condition of employment for this position requires residency in the City of Madison.
- Acknowledged
02
A resume is required to be attached in the Attachment section of your application, in order for you to be considered further for this position.
- My resume is attached in the Attachment section of my application.
03
A cover letter is required to be attached in the Attachment section of your application, in order for you to be considered further for this position.
- My cover letter is attached in the Attachment section of my application.
04
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY--YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS AS PART OF YOUR APPLICATION. You can answer the questions using a word processing program and attach as a .docx or .pdf file. You must attach the document in the "Attachments" section of the application or you will not receive further consideration for this position. Your responses will be evaluated on your writing ability including: spelling, grammar and your ability to express your thoughts in a logical fashion. By checking this box, you acknowledge the above and understand that your response is required and failure to attach your essay response will immediately eliminate you from consideration.
- Acknowledged
05
The City of Madison is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and empathetic leader to move our Metro Transit system forward. Describe in detail your mass transit experience which highlights: a) The type of business or organization in which this experience was gained and dates of employment, and number of employees in the organization. b) Your leadership approach in a large organization and the strategies you used to motivate, engage and build trust with staff.c) Strategies you have used to build and/or transform a healthy work culture while implementing complex projects. d) Your role and experience related to public finance and budgeting.
- My one (1) page essay response is attached in the Attachment section of my application.
06
This role requires you to actively collaborate and engage various internal and external impacted parties such as transit dependent residents, staff, and policymakers to find equitable, sustainable and safe solutions. Describe in detail a time when you successfully managed change with conflicting interests in a complex project.
- My one (1) page essay response is attached in the Attachment section of my application.
Required Question