Learn how Metro connects you with what matters. Are you knowledgeable about what it takes to make “the rubber meet the road” for newly purchased buses? Does the idea of traveling, networking with other industry leaders, and fast-tracking your career development within Fleet Procurement excite you? to help ensure new buses are assembled, tested, and received to the agreed-upon specifications and safety standards. The Hiring Team will be offering two different training programs (1-year track and 2-year track) to provide individuals that successfully pass the recruitment process with the hands-on training and skills needed to attain full Bus Assembly Inspector Competence.
Note: This position requires a significant amount of extended out-of-state travel, with some assignments lasting a year or more.Bus Assembly Inspectors are a representative of King County Metro Transit at the bus manufacturing and assembly plants located across North America. They are responsible for overseeing the assembly and quality assurance program on site during the builds. This role has a direct impact on Metro Transit’s sustainability goals, our ability to meet and expand our services to the community, the safety of our drivers and riders, and the security of our capital investments. Our ideal candidates will have broad mechanical knowledge, knowledge of the procurement process, excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to always maintain positive and professional working relationships with our contractors, independent problem-solving skills, and the flexibility to adapt to non-traditional work schedules and frequent assignment changes on short notice.
TRAVEL-RELATED PAY AND EXPENSESYou may be assigned to work at production plants located in various locations, such as: Minnesota, California, Alabama, New York, and Canada. King County Metro will pay employees a 5% “out-of-state” premium for all time spent working during out-of-state assignments (this premium does not apply to work performed in Washington State.) The County will also pay for eligible travel expenses such as flights, lodging, rental cars, and per diem meals. While in travel status, the inspectors will be responsible for paying state income tax for the state in which the project is taking place.
SAFETY SENSITIVE POSITIONThis 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.
AN EMPLOYER TO BE PROUD OFKing County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this nation's public transportation industry.
This recruitment will be used to fill 4 Career Service positions. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for future Career Service vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. The eligibility pool will be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles (ESJ) that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.DURING BUILDS The responsibilities of the King County Metro Bus Assembly Inspectors include the inspection of buses during all stages of production and assembly at the bus manufacturers’ facilities, with the primary responsibility to ensure buses are manufactured in accordance with King County Metro contract specifications. This includes post-delivery inspections of buses to address any deficiencies arising out of delivery to King County Metro. The Bus Assembly Inspector serves as King County Metro’s representative at the bus manufacturer’s plant during the assembly of all buses; monitors the contractor’s assembly processes and quality assurance program; and provides written reports to the assigned Contract Administrator. Bus Assembly Inspectors conduct local post-delivery inspections of buses at bus manufacturers’ local facilities; determine if the delivered buses pass or fail final inspection; then assess if the buses meet the requirements for official acceptance or rejection by King County Metro. Additionally, the Bus Assembly Inspectors monitor and inspect manufacturers’ repairs and retrofits to new bus fleets prior to acceptance. Assignments change at the direction of the Contract Administrators to include Pilot review, special projects, testing, and support of test programs.
BETWEEN BUILDSWhile not in the field assigned to active builds, the responsibilities of the Bus Assembly Inspector include creating and maintaining new vehicle orientation courses for training Metro’s in-house trainers, assisting with Pilot and demo bus review. This includes driving and testing to ensure new fleets meet the performance requirements outlined in King County Metro’s technical specifications. Inspectors support NRV and Accessible Services with new vehicle inspections at multiple points in the delivery and acceptance process. Inspectors also work with Vehicle Maintenance on Warranty; attend open issues meetings, travel to the bases to attend huddle meetings when needed, supply direct procurement support to bases, and facilitate feedback and communication from the bases to Fleet Procurement.
As a Bus Assembly Inspector, you will also:- Ensure each bus is manufactured in accordance with all (MTD) Metro Transit Department contract requirements and specifications, including all Federal Transit Administration and other federal requirements, through the use of manufacturer’s engineering drawings and build prints to verify conformity of all requirements.
- Serve as Metro Transit Department’s official representative at the bus manufacturer’s plant throughout the bus production process. This includes the post-delivery final inspection process for vehicles delivered to King County Metro Transit
- Conduct inspection and approve vehicles for delivery at bus manufacturer’s plant that triggers the first progress payment milestone if required and conduct inspection including approval of vehicles for acceptance at MTD which triggers second progress payment milestone.
- Identify design problems and inform the Contract Administrator of compliance issues found during the pre-production, production and assembly phases of vehicles.
- Identify contract compliance issues requiring review and approval by Transit Fleet Procurement and Contract Management (TFPCM)’s Contract Administrator.
- Participate in resolution of compliance issues, while ensuring manufacturer compliance with MTD specifications.
- Identify and notify the bus manufacturer of contract compliance deficiencies in writing.
- Request design and/or process solutions to be reviewed with the Contract Administrator that assure compliance with MTD contract requirements and specifications.
- Conduct quality control and production analysis of the entire bus build from the point of raw materials to a final MTD acceptable product. This includes the creation of a Resident Inspector’s Manufacturing Report at the conclusion of every build.
- Establish and maintain partnerships with bus manufacturers, OEM vendors, engineers and others routinely and frequently encountered in the course of this work.
- Work independently in remote locations for extended periods of time with limited supervision.
- Communicate with Transit Fleet Procurement and Contract Management (TFPCM) via telephone, e-mail, interactive video conference.
- Utilize Microsoft Office tools; learn specialty software of the work unit.
- Lead and/or participate in meetings with bus manufacturer’s officials.
- Production meetings; assembly meetings; daily/weekly quality circles; production team meetings; QA meetings; bus builder’s entity-wide team meetings involving production, engineering, contracting and QA teams.
- Participate in key meetings with TFPCM throughout critical stages of contract administration, including but not limited to:
- Participate in design review meetings with TFPCM and bus manufacturer
- Participate in pre-production meetings with TFPCM and bus manufacturer
- Participate in review of Pilot vehicles
- Evaluate Pilot vehicles
- Make formal and informal presentations of TFPCM and to the bus manufacturer on the status of vehicle production progress, and status of resolution of issues of non-compliance.
- Participate in key meetings with Transit Fleet Procurement and Contract Management (TFPCM) throughout critical stages of procurement process, including but not limited to:
- Review of the draft technical specifications
- Review of the final technical specifications
- Review of the Request for Deviations
- Participate in the evaluation of initial proposals
- Participate in technical discussions
- Evaluate demonstration vehicles
- Participate in Best and Final Offer evaluation
- Mentor new bus assembly inspectors in the field.
- Perform other related tasks as required
PLEASE NOTE: Relationship management with our contractors is extremely important in this position and requires a high level of professionalism even during off-hours. Keeping this in mind, in the event the County’s Inspector or a delegate becomes unacceptable to the Contractor, the Contractor will notify the County’s Contract Officer. The County and the Contractor will promptly discuss the matter. Replacement of any County Inspector shall be at the full discretion of the County. REPORTS TO: During builds the inspectors report to the Vehicle Procurement Administrator assigned to manage that build. For personal, personnel or disciplinary concerns the inspectors report to the Superintendent of the Transit Fleet Contract Management Group or their designated representative.
To be considered eligible for this position, candidates must meet the criteria for one of the training program paths listed below: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 2-year Track:Bus Assembly Inspector Training Program 2 Year Track (please click this link to view the training program PDF)
- 21 years of age by start of program
- Completion in one of the following or similar college course
- Mechatronics program, automotive or diesel program.
- Mechanical background or experience not required for 2-year training program
- Ability to act independently and proactively to meet the needs of the Department, to make independent decisions and to provide quality customer service.
- Excellent interpersonal skills that allow you to effectively engage in and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate with members of a diverse community and work effectively with the public and other agencies, and problem-solving processes.
- Skill in comprehending, analyzing and interpreting technical information
- Skill in organizing work assignments, setting priorities, and accomplishing objectives without direct supervision
- Skill in working under pressure and meeting deadlines
- Skill in reading, interpreting and effectively utilizing management informational reports
- Skill in developing, analyzing and implementing procedures
- Basic skill in the use of a computer and appropriate applications
Any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties of the position.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1 year Track:Bus Assembly Inspector Training Program 1 year Track (please click this link to view the training program PDF)- Must meet all minimum qualifications of the 2-year track
- Thorough knowledge of transit vehicle maintenance, preferably in variety of areas including mechanical, electrical, electronic and body/chassis
- Knowledge of quality control, vehicle production, and assembly
- Skill in operating transit buses of various lengths to conduct road testing of new buses is required.
- Ability to be innovative and creative and contribute to the development and implementation of new procedures, practices and policies.
- Ability to manage complex processes, meeting deadlines and achieving goals.
- Demonstrated ability to read, comprehend and interpret vehicle procurement contracts, technical specifications, and engineering drawings
- Knowledge of vehicle production and assembly techniques and methods
- Knowledge of in-plant inspection in a bus manufacturing plant environment
- Knowledge of Federal, State and local regulations and standards regarding vehicle production
- Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control principles and techniques in a manufacturing environment
- Ability to effectively present complex technical information to a wide variety of audiences
- Demonstrated skill in successfully advocating a position and achieving a desired result through negotiation and facilitation.
- The ability to foster positive, proactive work relations in a diverse, collaborative work environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite tools including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
- Skill in taking the initiative to identify improved and/or more-effective design strategies
LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS- Residency: Candidates must be residents of Washington State
- Within 2 weeks of receiving a conditional offer for hire, we require proof of:
- Application for a US Passport
- An acceptable five-year driving record
- A valid Washington State driver's license
- Obtain CDL permit within 30 days of hire
- Ability to obtain a CDL with the following CDL endorsements as outlined in the training program:
- Passenger Endorsement
- No air brake restriction
- Current and valid CDL health card
- Interstate CDL license (and maintenance of this license)
- King County Metro will perform testing and training of the individual to obtain their CDL during work hours.
- Within 90 days of hire, we require proof of:
- Possession of a valid US Passport
Required Application Materials:- An online employment application with updated contact information, and relevant work history going back at least 10 years. All duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained must be explained clearly. Do not state “see resume”—detailed information about each position, termination reasons, and full job duties are a requirement for consideration.
- Resume
- Cover letter/Letter of Interest addressing the following prompt:
- Explain how you are qualified for the training program track you are applying for.
- Answers to all supplemental questions
Selection Process: Applications will be screened for qualifications, clarity and completeness. The most competitive applicants may be invited to one or more interviews and a hands-on practical test. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any pre-employment processes such as:- Pre-employment physical examination (if required)
- Driving abstract review
- Drug and alcohol testing provisions (for safety sensitive positions as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655)
- Reference checks
- Work Record Reviews for internal candidates (see below)
Work Record Reviews for Internal Candidates: Candidates will be required to meet these work record criteria at the time of appointment:
- Calculation Criteria :Calculations will use the candidate's most recent 18 months of County employment. One month is defined as a calendar month in which the employee has worked 15 or more full or partial days.
- Screen-out Threshold: Applicants scoring 15 or more points will be screened out of the selection process.
- Points Assignment and Screen-out Threshold :Points will be assigned within the work record categories below.
- Misses:
- Unexcused Absences - 6 points each
- Absences and Late Reports - 3 points each (purged absences and late reports will be counted)
- Major Infractions - 18 points (previous 36 months)
- Suspension or decision-making leave - 10 points
- Written reminder - 5 points
- Oral reminder - 3 points
- Accidents (includes all preventable accidents)
- Severe accidents - 18 points
- Major accident - 9 points
- First minor accident - 5 points
- Each successive minor accident - 7 points
Work Environment: Work is generally performed in a bus manufacturing/assembly plant environment. Road tests involve operating transit buses on city streets, urban and rural highways and the Bus Assembly Inspector will encounter the typical hazards associated with driving a bus in those environments. The transit buses may vary in length, handling characteristics, and powertrains. Incoming post-delivery inspections may be performed at Metro or the bus manufacturer’s local contracted facilities. This position is based in Seattle, WA, but requires the ability to travel up to 100% of the time, for extended periods in sometimes extremely cold/hot climates.
Work Schedule and Location:Work is normally performed Monday through Friday, although the demands of the position may require shift work, or weekend hours. Inspectors often need to flex their hours to mirror the working hours of the production plant.
This position is exempt from the provisions of the FLSA and is not eligible for overtime hours. Bus Assembly Inspectors may be required to execute a Telecommuting Agreement given the duties of their role are performed predominantly out of state in a production plant work environment.
- You will be assigned to work at production plants located in various locations, such as: Minnesota, California, Alabama, New York, and Canada.
- When working locally, this position is based out of the King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA) although the receipt and inspection of vehicles occurs at various sites across King County.
Union Representation / Classification / Job Code / Pay Grade: PROTEC17: Professional and Technical Employees, Local 17 / Bus Assembly Inspector / Job code: 240104 / Pay Grade: 61
To Apply:
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact: Kam Kaur, kakaur@kingcounty.gov.Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
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Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office. King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. 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. 
