Vice President, Operations and COO

at  BC Transit

We acknowledge with respect that BC Transit delivers our mission on the ancestral territories of Indigenous Peoples across British Columbia, and their historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
In Victoria, where our Corporate Office is located, our people are privileged to live and work on the unceded traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, and the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.
Location: Victoria, BC
Employment Type: Regular Full Time

CLICK HERE TO READ FURTHER ABOUT THIS POSITION AND APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH LEADERS INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE SEARCH.

We’re passionate about people and creating sustainable, safe and affordable public transit solutions to residents across BC. We are an organization that has a people-first approach and considers people first in every business decision that we make. We are part of the solution and what we do matters; from fighting climate change with battery electric buses, to affordability through cost effective transportation, to connecting remote communities, we bring the heart, soul and innovation to public transportation.
It’s an exciting time to be in public transportation sector and we’re looking for a creative and passionate leader to join our team. Not only would you be joining an engaged organization but you’d also get to enjoy flexible work arrangements, extended benefits and a pension plan as just a few of the benefits BC Transit employees are eligible for. Keep reading to find out if this role is meant for you!

Guided by the organizational Vision of being Your best transportation solution and Mission of Delivering transportation services you can rely on, the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) reports to the CEO and is a is a key contributor to the Senior Leadership Team. The COO is responsible for leading and managing the delivery of conventional, custom and para transit services to communities throughout BC, outside the Greater Vancouver regions, while planning and executing on strategies and furthering the strategic corporate agenda for BC Transit.
The COO provides leadership and direction to the Operations Division, applying strategic thinking and results orientated leadership to ensure that the business plan objectives are achieved, and that the division is successful in meeting the targets of its business objectives. The COO provides leadership in resource management and in mentoring, coaching, and developing a management team to deliver safe and reliable Transit services. This is achieved through a team of approximately 900 transit professionals in Victoria and partnerships with local governments and private sector operators throughout BC. Relationship-building is key in working with diverse internal and external stakeholder groups, as the COO develops service standards according to the needs of customers and within the realm of government policies and available resources. As a member of the organization’s executive team, the COO shares responsibility for policy development, planning, and implementation of cross-division initiatives, and contributes to achieving the corporate goals of government. Representing the division and the province on various committees, task forces, and teams, the COO provides input on program initiatives as required.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a progressive, values-based operations executive to take a dynamic, complex organization to the next level. With an ongoing initiatives focused on electrification and automation; challenges with human resources, maintenance, and procurement; coupled with increased service demands from the broader public, it is a time of sustained transformation in the transit sector. The COO should serve as a mature and calming presence in the “eye of the storm”, balancing day-to-day contingencies with longer term initiatives. With a cohesive and supportive executive team, and an engaged operations division, the COO role will provide a meaningful challenge for leaders aligned with BC Transit’s important mission, addressing key issues such as climate change, affordability, and making lasting impacts in communities across the Province.
At BC Transit, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace; if you’re excited about this role and you have a combination of education and experience that you feel would fulfill its requirements, we encourage you to apply. In keeping with this belief, we do not discriminate on any basis. Should you require any accommodation or have questions, please let us know.