REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT
CHIEF ADMINISTRATION OFFICER

ABOUT RTD

Located in Denver, Colorado, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) is the region’s public transit agency created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly, connecting Denver residents through an affordable, safe, clean, reliable, accessible, and customer friendly community-oriented transportation network. As a nationally recognized leader, RTD provides public transit services, including rail, bus, access, and shuttle services across 2,400 square miles to 40 municipalities (3.1 million people) within eight counties including Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson and parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Weld counties. RTD is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of Directors each serving a four-year term.

The region prides itself on innovation, inclusion, multi-culturalism, diversity, and environmental sustainability and RTD’s vision is to further enhance the region’s quality of life as well as to augment the pattern of urban development throughout the region. RTD continues to develop dynamic programs to benefit both business and the community it serves, making RTD an important cornerstone for the Denver community.

In 2004, RTD embarked upon the nation’s largest public transportation capital expansion program. RTD has been steadily working on its commitment to deliver on this voter-approved program, known as FasTracks. While, circumstances have changed and budgets have been stressed with economic events occurring such as the 2008 recession, in 2019, RTD embarked upon a two-year “Reimagine RTD” effort. Even with this effort underway, uncertainties still exist with COVID-19 and other unforeseen factors arising.

As such, RTD is continuously listening to its communities’ needs and striving to find necessary funding and cost savings that will support creative transit solutions to uphold its commitment to provide safe, timely, affordable, convenient, accessible and equitable transit solutions to the entire region. By reimaging transit and creating a new vision, RTD is committed to supporting the economic engine that the greater Denver region has become while also being a key partner in social, economic, environmental, and sustainable development programs.

More details about RTD can be obtained by visiting the Agency’s website at www.rtd-denver.com.

SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Administration Officer (CAO) provides leadership and strategic direction to administrative areas of the business including but not limited to human resources, procurement, audit, civil rights, and information technology. The CAO is a member of the senior leadership team and is responsible for encouraging a creative, innovative, and transformative environment by leading and directing the business and administrative operations of the agency. The successful candidate will collaborate with other leaders to challenge the status quo, implement new ideas, strategies, systems, technologies, and best practices, and ensure strategic alignment across the organization.

The responsibilities of the CAO include the following:

• Partner with senior executives and department managers to conduct detailed assessments of RTD’s business and decision-making processes, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships.
• Evaluate and assess current and future needs, identify areas for improvement, and develop a strategic plan to address and implement new technologies, tools, internal and external policies, and best practices.
• Empower departmental leaders to implement creative solutions and deliver the best possible services.
• Provide expertise across policy, administration, and personnel-related issues.
• Plan and implement large-scale organizational change efforts on behalf of the General Manager/CEO.
• Conduct and direct the preparation of analytical studies and special projects to improve the performance and operations of assigned departments.
• Foster, instill, and encourage an agency-wide culture that prides itself on performance improvement and excellence in internal and external operations and customer service.
• Serve as a liaison to facilitate interdepartmental communication and ensure the alignment of strategic priorities across the agency.
• Assist in the preparation, evaluation, and administration of a large, complex budget.
• Monitor and continually reevaluate best practices, technologies, methods and procedures for staffing and service delivery to maximize efficiency and maintain excellent services.
• Advocate on behalf of assigned departments to ensure the appropriate allocation of resources in order to effectively conduct business.
• Negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues thoughtfully and diplomatically.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to the General Manager/CEO as well as Boards, commissions, and committees on all administrative aspects of the agency.
• Make clear, concise, effective, and engaging presentations to the General Manager/CEO and the Board on agency performance, objectives, and operations; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings and stay abreast of new trends, legislation, and innovations in the field of transit, administration, human resources, procurement, and information technology.
• Recruit, empower, mentor, and manage a diverse and inclusive staff that reflects the community and RTD’s customers.
• Conduct performance reviews and hold employees accountable for their performance.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned or directed.

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities:

• Experience leading administrative departments in a large, complex organization which may include human resources, procurement, audit, civil rights, and information technology among other areas.

• Experience analyzing, assessing, and reviewing existing programs and practices, determining operational needs, and encouraging and leading change as needed.

• Ability to collect, utilize, and analyze data and metrics to evaluate and communicate the effectiveness of departmental and agency-wide programs, services, and operations.

• Experience leading strategic planning, internal and external policy development processes that result in the development of new programs, procedures, and technologies that challenge the status quo with the goal of maximizing efficiencies and improve processes.

• Knowledge of advanced principles, best practices, and the latest technologies utilized in the administration of a public agency that include human resources, procurement, audit, civil rights, and information technology management.

• Experience and understanding of compliance with all related Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulation including: Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Environmental Justice (EJ), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Small Business and Non-Discrimination Program for Subcontracting.

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of contract administration, the preparation of administrative and financial reports, and the preparation and administration of a large, complex budget.

• Experience hiring, supervising, training, mentoring, and developing staff, and working effectively with labor unions in a participatory management environment.

• Experience representing an organization before Boards of Directors, public officials, external stakeholders, and the public to better understand community concerns and communicate organizational programs and services.
  
  
• Demonstrate skills in analyzing problems, identifying creative solutions, making projections for the consequences of proposed actions, and implementing recommendations in support of agency-wide goals for administration and operations.

• Demonstrate an understanding how administrative processes result in better operational support of new and innovative multimodal service delivery methods and techniques.

• Exhibit excellent communication skills and the ability to present information to the executive team, board members, and external stakeholders in a way that is concise, clear, and engaging.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels and to work across departments to achieve agency-wide goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration or a closely related field from an accredited college or university is required, as well as, at least six years of executive management experience in the areas of general business administration, human resources, procurement, audit, civil rights, or information technology. A master’s or other advanced degree is preferred.

TO APPLY

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