Career Opportunity

Manager VI, Deputy Chief Maintenance Officer - Transit Maintenance of Way - SF Municipal Transportation Agency (9180)

Recruitment: REF50607U

Published: April 02, 2025

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA or “the agency”) connects San Franciscans with their communities to enhance the economy, environment and, ultimately, the quality of life in the city. As an agency within the City and County of San Francisco, the SFMTA is responsible for managing the city’s transportation network. The agency has more than 6,000 employees who are responsible for the management of all ground and some underground transportation in the city. The SFMTA has oversight over public transit, as well as bicycling, paratransit, parking and curb management, street operations, walking, and taxis.

Role description

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent Exempt: This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

Application Opening: April 1, 2025

Deadline to Apply: April 15, 2025

Recruitment ID: PEX-9180-155894

Salary: $176,878.00 - $225,758.00 annually (Range A)

Division:                       Transit

Section/Unit:                Maintenance of Way (MOW)

Work Location:            700 Pennsylvania Ave, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA

Work Hours:                 Monday – Friday, 7AM - 4PM

Please Note: A resume and cover letter must be attached to the online application.

Position Description:

The SFMTA Transit Division’s Maintenance of Way (MOW) Section is seeking an experienced, reliable, and strategic Deputy Chief Maintenance Officer (DCMO) of MOW Operations. The DCMO will oversee and manage the work of eight units within MOW: Cable Car Track Maintenance, Cable Car Propulsion, Motive Power, Light Rail Track Maintenance, Overhead Lines, Signal Maintenance, Mechanical Systems and Digital Systems. The ideal candidate is highly self-motivated, professional, with extensive experience working at a large transit agency with both rail and trolley vehicles.

Under the direction of the Chief Maintenance Officer (CMO), the DCMO, plans, manages, supervises, develops, and conducts essential, complex, and sensitive analytical work that has a substantive impact on Transit operations in the areas of maintenance of wayside, fixed-guideway infrastructure. The (DCMO) may be called upon to act on behalf of the CMO during their absence and cover the operational needs of the MOW section.

The DCMO is responsible for implementation and execution of preventive and defect maintenance activities. The DCMO is responsible for upholding Standard Operating Procedures and regulatory requirements. Instructs and oversees personnel in solving non-routine issues and emergency work situations. The DCMO advises and reports to the CMO on the state of critical guideway systems. The DCMO works closely with SFMTA engineering and project delivery stakeholders on capital projects, including review and recommendations related all aspects of the projects.

The MOW section of the SFMTA Transit Division directly oversees the fixed guideway infrastructure to ensure smooth and safe operations of our rail and trolley-bus lines. MOW is comprised of Cable Car Track Maintenance, Cable Car Propulsion, Motive Power, Light Rail Track Maintenance, Overhead Lines, Signal Maintenance, Mechanical Systems, Digital Systems, Engineering, Compliance and Administration. Together these teams directly support four of the five SFMTA transit modes including trolley bus, light rail, historic streetcar and cable car. The mission of the SFMTA Transit Division is to provide safe, reliable, clean, efficient, accessible and convenient public transportation to any destination in San Francisco. The Maintenance of Way Section works collaboratively with other SFMTA divisions and other city departments to provide services to our customers by operating and maintaining over 100 track miles of railway, 500 miles of electrical overhead and critical supporting systems.

Transportation connects us all. That’s why every single day the SFMTA is working hard to build a safer, more reliable transportation system for our city. We strive to ensure that our community, and the nearly 25 million visitors that our city receives each year, have access to safe and reliable transportation options. Join us to be a part of delivering this mission!

Examples of Important and Essential Duties

• Oversees all day-to-day Maintenance of Way infrastructure functions.
• Provides direction to subordinate managers regarding activities and operations of their functional areas; assumes responsibility for improving the maintenance measures; coordinates with maintenance manager to maintain an effective maintenance program.
• Adjusts plans and programs activities to meet maintenance needs and emerging problems; establishes new programs, while continuing to address major departmental policies; plans, organizes, directs, controls and reviews the operation of major departmental functions and activities.
• Coordinates with MOW Administration Manager to monitor and make recommendations to the CMO on the efficiency and effectiveness of the departmental organization structure, staff assignments and service levels.
• Identifies and analyzes opportunities for improvement and implements those improvements.
• Participates in budget development by providing detailed justification and persuasive arguments for proposals or initiatives; implements and closely monitors budget expenditures of the operating budget for a major area of responsibility typically including multiple divisions; provides executive management with an early warning and practical options to potential cost overruns.
• Plans, assigns, and directs the activities of a large group of subordinate personnel engaged in the maintenance and repair of transit infrastructure.
• Coordinates and directs subordinate supervisory personnel in the maintenance and repair of a variety of MOW fixed guideway facilities including metro subway and surface facilities, track and wayside structures, overhead line infrastructure, and traction power systems.
• Prepares and approves requisitions for materials and supplies; prepares and checks cost estimates and makes recommendations for repairs.
• Directs investigation of complaints and makes recommendations as to their adjustment; investigates fieldwork in process for compliance with proper procedures and methods; ensures that all facilities of the SFMTA MOW unit are inspected at regular intervals for compliance with safety laws, rules, regulations, and fire protection safeguards; confers with engineering personnel, Transit Division management, consultants, contractors and vendors on maintenance and repair projects, methods and procedures.
• Assists in the development and advancement of subordinates through training and effective use of employee development program; through subordinate supervisory personnel directs the work of janitorial, maintenance and repair crews and related support staff.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; AND
2. Eight (8) years of full-time experience at a mass transit agency in the operation, maintenance and repair of any of the following: power generating and related distribution systems; and/or electronic systems; and/or buildings, stations or passenger infrastructure; and/or use of heavy construction equipment; and/or track work; and/or maintenance engineering. Four (4) years of the above must include supervising staff; AND
3. Possession of a valid driver’s license.

Education Substitution:

Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the baccalaureate degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. One year (2,000 hours) of qualifying experience will be considered equivalent to 30 semester units/45 quarter units.

Notes:

1. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

2. One (1) year full-time experience is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify candidates advancing to the interview process and/or to identify job finalist(s) at the end of the selection process when referred for hiring.

• Ability to plan, assign and direct the maintenance and repair activities of a large group of subordinate personnel.
• Ability to supervise the preparation of important and detailed operating records and reports.
• Ability to deal effectively and courteously with subordinate personnel, other departmental officers and the general public.
• Ability to contend with changing priorities, emergencies and conflicting demands.
• Well-rounded leader, with substantial successful leadership experience in a senior level position within a complex organizational environment.
• Experience working with a Board of Directors is highly preferred.

What else should I know?

Verification:

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification. Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Process:
Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be used to determine candidates' qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Agency will be invited to move forward in the selection process.

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

This recruitment may be utilized to fill similar positions in this classification at SFMTA.

For questions or inquiries, please contact: Noel Chieng, Human Resources Analyst at Noel.Chieng@sfmta.com.  

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.