San Gabriel Transit — Corporate Reports to: Vice President /

Chief Operating Officer Classification:

Corporate, exempt, non-executive

Location:

Onsite, greater Los Angeles region, with regular travel between operating locations Position Summary The Special Projects Manager is a corporate position that reports directly to and supports the Vice President/Chief Operating Officer. The role is not assigned to any single contract, project, or operating location. Instead, it extends the COO's reach across the full portfolio — carrying corporate objectives into execution, holding compliance and performance to standard, and strengthening the client relationships those results depend on. This is a role for someone who works well from an objective rather than a task list. The COO sets the goal and the constraints; the Special Projects Manager determines the approach, builds the coordination required to get there, and returns finished work. Much of the direction will be deliberately high-level, and the person in this seat is expected to interpret intent correctly, ask the right questions early, and move without waiting to be told twice. The position also supports affiliated companies on assignment. Those companies operate fully independently of one another, each with its own management, contracts, clients, and regulatory obligations. Work performed for an affiliate must respect that independence while meeting the same standard of execution. Key Responsibilities Corporate initiatives Translate COO direction and corporate objectives into executable plans, timelines, and accountabilities. Lead initiatives end to end — scoping, planning, implementation, and verification that the result holds in the field. Coordinate across operations, maintenance, safety, human resources, and finance without direct authority over those functions. Represent the COO in meetings, reviews, and working sessions as designated. Compliance Monitor contractual and regulatory obligations across service contracts; identify exposure early and drive corrective action to closure. Prepare for and support client audits, site reviews, and reporting deadlines. Verify that operating practice matches what the contract actually requires, not what has become customary. Performance and KPIs Own the reporting cycle for key service metrics; ensure figures are accurate, timely, and defensible. Investigate variance to root cause rather than to symptom, and recommend fixes with a realistic view of cost and operating impact. Build the analysis and briefings the COO needs for executive and client decision-making. Client relations Serve as a senior point of contact for assigned clients and agency representatives. Prepare and lead performance reviews and operational discussions. Manage escalations with judgment about what resolves at your level and what belongs with the COO. Affiliate support Perform assignments for affiliated companies as directed, applying the same standards of compliance, performance, and client care. Maintain appropriate separation between independently operated entities in records, communications, and decision-making. Required Qualifications Ten (10) or more years in transit or contracted passenger transportation operations, including five (5) or more years in a management role. Operating experience broadly commensurate with our service profile — contracted demand-response, paratransit, and related passenger services delivered under public agency and private client contracts. Demonstrated ownership of contract compliance in a contracted-service environment, including agency reporting and audit exposure. Direct accountability for operating KPIs — on-time performance, productivity, missed trips, complaint and safety metrics — with a record of moving them. Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence outcomes without direct authority over the people involved. Client- or agency-facing experience, including performance reviews and escalated issues.

Modern leadership practice:

leads through influence, coaching, and transparency; builds accountability without relying on positional authority; comfortable with candid two-way feedback. High autonomy and sound judgment, with the discipline to escalate the right issues at the right time. Strong written and analytical skills; able to produce executive-ready analysis and recommendations. Willingness to travel regularly among operating locations across the greater Los Angeles region. Valid California driver's license and an acceptable driving record. Ability to satisfy a background check conducted after a conditional offer of employment, consistent with applicable law. Ability to satisfy pre-employment drug and alcohol testing and to remain clear under the company's ongoing testing program. Preferred Qualifications Experience with FTA-funded service, ADA paratransit, or municipal transit contracts. Working knowledge of

DOT/FMCSA

requirements, CHP terminal inspections, and drug and alcohol program administration. Familiarity with scheduling, dispatch, and CAD/AVL systems, including run cutting and driver bid processes. Experience supporting procurements, proposals, or service start-ups and transitions. Bilingual (English/Spanish). Is This You? This position suits an experienced transit professional who wants broader scope than a single project allows and is motivated by the work itself rather than the title. You should expect ambiguity, competing priorities across independent companies, and a direct working relationship with an executive who will give you the objective and the constraints and then expect you to solve the rest. If you need every task defined before you begin, this is not the right seat. If you have been the person others call when something has to get fixed correctly the first time, it likely is. San Gabriel Transit is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pay:

From $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Application Question(s): Have you had direct accountability for operating KPIs such as on-time performance, productivity, or missed trips? Have you managed contract compliance for a transportation contract with a public agency or private client? Have you served as a primary point of contact for a client or transit agency, including performance reviews? Are you able to work onsite and travel regularly between operating locations across the greater Los Angeles region? Have you thoroughly read the job description and do you attest to meeting all required qualifications?

Experience:

transit operations: 10 years (Required) transit operations management: 5 years (Required)

Work Location:

In person