Transit Equipment Dispatcher (Vehicle Maintenance)

* This is an internal recruitment for King County. Only applications from qualified King County Employees will be considered.*

Reliable transit service in King County depends on well-planned, well-maintained equipment, and the Transit Equipment Dispatcher is at the center of making that happen. 

In this role, you will help ensure every coach that leaves the base is safe, ready for service, and aligned with maintenance and inspection schedules. You’ll manage coach assignments and dispatch flow within the bus yard, track mileage, schedule inspections, schedule washes, and support operators so they can locate their coach and start their routes on time. 

This position plays a critical part in keeping the fleet moving and maintaining compliance with federal reporting standards. Your attention to detail and planning abilities directly influence service reliability, maintenance workflow, and the accuracy of information reported to the FTA. You’ll work with multiple systems, evaluate coach availability, forecast mileage, and help maintain a balanced flow of equipment through service and repairs. If you are analytical, coachable, goal-oriented, and take pride in accuracy, this role offers the chance to make a visible impact on service reliability and the community every day.

Safety Sensitive Position: This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment, and subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

Recruitment Information: This recruitment will be used to fill two (2) career service Transit Equipment Dispatcher positions within the Vehicle Maintenance Division. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility list for future Special Duty Assignment (SDA), Term Limited Temporary (TLT), and Career Service (CS) vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. If created, the eligibility list would remain active for 12 months, and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who may apply: This is an internal recruitment, and we are only accepting applications from qualified King County Employees. Please refer to the "Supplemental Information" section of this job bulletin for the required application materials.

Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Transit Equipment Dispatcher, you will:

• Use computerized dispatching tools and systems to oversee daily coach assignments and equipment statuses for buses in service and in the yard, ensuring reliable coverage for scheduled bus routes and runs. 

• Make strategic decisions about equipment placement and route pairing, including assignments requiring specialized onboard features. 

• Monitor fleet usage and maintain accurate mileage records, anticipating upcoming maintenance needs and adjusting plans as needed to support timely inspections and continuous service. 

• Review operational information to confirm vehicles are prepared for service and meet any required readiness standards before sign-out.

• Coordinate equipment availability for maintenance, cleaning, and repairs, keeping records aligned with established servicing workflows. 

• Maintain awareness of coach locations and readiness by completing multiple physical inventory counts of the base yard each shift in all types of weather conditions. 

• Support operators during vehicle sign-out and resolve issues that could delay departure (such as refueling/servicing a coach, or reassigning equipment as needed.). 

• Assist with fleet movements between bases and help maintain an organized yard layout that supports efficient daily operations.

• Use multiple software applications to record, retrieve, and update information needed for dispatching, maintenance coordination, and fleet oversight.

• Provide professional and service-oriented support to operators, maintenance teams, and other employees involved in the delivery of daily bus services at Metro Transit. ork independently and collaboratively as part of a team to uphold service requirements and maintain effective working relationships across operations.

Physical requirements: The job requires physical skill and may require bending, crouching, and crawling, occasional lifting of heavy material such as paper boxes up to 50 pounds is required. Requires frequent walking, standing, and climbing stairs into and out of coaches (3 or 4 steps) up to twenty or more times in an eight-hour shift.

Work Environment: Work is performed both inside and outside in all types of weather conditions, with frequent exposure to diesel exhaust fumes and moving buses. Many calls and issues that come to the Equipment Dispatcher require immediate action, which can result in some stress on the job. 

We are looking for candidates who have the following minimum qualifications: 

• At least 1 year of intermittent Relief Transit Equipment Dispatcher experience at King County Metro. 

• Knowledge of coach types and sign-in/ sign-out procedures.
• Strong understanding of how vehicle inspections work, including preventative maintenance servicing schedules and intervals.
• Knowledge of base operating practices, and procedures.
• Safe driving skills and the ability to maintain a Class B CDL.
• Basic computer skills are required to enter and extract information from automated vehicle maintenance systems and related software applications.
• Math and problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze and solve complex mileage-based equations.

• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy to avoid errors in documentation and record keeping. Demonstrates strong coachability skills, including the ability to accept constructive feedback and make immediate and sustained improvements in performance.

• The ability to communicate effectively and professionally with diverse employees. Strong customer service and interpersonal skills are required.
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team, interact appropriately with others and maintain effective working relationships across all levels of staff involved in the delivery of daily bus operations. 

• Requires skill in the use of personal computer programs, using data software, and multiple computer programs on a daily basis.

Desirable qualifications include (but are not required):

• Hands-on experience with any fleet or maintenance scheduling tools.
• Any past experience where accuracy in data reporting and tracking information was critical.

• Experience as a Transit Equipment Service Worker, including knowledge of equipment servicing and refueling tasks.

 Necessary special requirements

• Applicants must be willing to work any shift (day, swing, graveyard) and at any base location assigned. 
• A valid Washington State Driver License and acceptable driving record.
• Within 90 days of hire, a candidate must be able to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) with a passenger endorsement, and with the air brake restriction removed. All candidates without a current CDL must have a Class B Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), with correct endorsement and restriction removed, prior to receiving a formal offer. After hire, King County Metro Transit will provide you with paid training on our equipment so that you can earn a Class B CDL, which is required for this position.

Please note: to obtain a CLP in Washington State, you must be able to provide your current license, Social Security number, and proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency. For more information visit the official Washington State Department of Licensing official website at: http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense /cdlcdip.html

To Apply
The following application materials are required: 

1. Submit an online King County application at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. Be sure to list your full work history including your current job, accurate job titles and employment dates, and all relevant work experience and detailed job duties.
2. Thoroughly respond to all required supplemental questions.

Note: Additional attachments, such as resumes or certificates, will not be reviewed. Please ensure all relevant information is included in the application materials listed above. Professional development resources (including trainings, tips, templates, and examples to help you prepare your application materials) can be found on King County's Workforce Development website.

For intermittent, acting, unofficial, “fill-in”, or “relief” roles at King County: Do not combine multiple job classifications/job titles into one ‘Work Experience’ entry. Create a separate work experience entry for each intermittent role you worked and list the estimated average weekly hours worked during the dates provided. Include the specific job duties you performed while filling in / acting in the role. Combining multiple job classifications into one work experience entry, or misrepresenting intermittent roles as full time, multi-year positions prevents us from validating your direct experience and may result in your application being removed from consideration.

Example 1: If you have typically filled in as Relief Dispatcher about 8 hours every two weeks for 5 years, you would create a separate Relief Dispatcher work experience entry reflecting the 5 year date range, with an average of 4 hours worked per week, and the specific Dispatcher duties you performed when working that role. 

Example 2:  If you filled in as a full time 40-hours-per-week Relief Dispatcher for a consecutive 3 week period while someone was on vacation, list the specific date range, average hours worked, and specific job duties performed).

Please contact Emily Clark with any questions about this guidance: [email protected]

Selection Process
Applications that are submitted without all of the required materials listed above will be removed from consideration. Application materials will be screened for completeness, competitiveness, and responsiveness to the instructions within this job announcement. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in other selection process steps, such as testing and/or interviews. Final offers will be provided once the selected candidates pass any pre-employment screening steps, including: a King County personnel record review, a physical examination, drug and alcohol screening, a driving abstract review, and providing proof of your CDL or CLP.

Shift and Location Details 
This position works onsite every day at a King County Metro Transit Vehicle Maintenance base location. Our Vehicle Maintenance repair facilities operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and work assignments are picked by seniority multiple times per year so applicants must be willing to work any shift or location assigned. Shift differentials of 5% (swing shift) and 7.5% (graveyard) are applied if working these shifts. This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is eligible for overtime with supervisor approval.

Safety Responsibilities: Employees 

• Responsible for understanding the Metro Transit Safety Policy and their role in safety. 
• Report all safety concerns. 
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training. 
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system.

Union Representation: This position is represented by Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587. 

Classification Code: 9330100 Transit Equipment Dispatcher

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Application Process
If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Emily Clark at [email protected]. 

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.
King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.