Transit Director

Interview Questions - 2015

Applicant

  1. Why are you seeking this position with the Town of Jackson?
  1. Why do you want to leave your current position?
  1. After reviewing the START website and meeting with members of the community, what are your thoughts about our system? Give us one area where you can see that improvements need to be made.
  1. Tell us about your experience and success with writing and obtaining federal and state grants for transit.
  1. Briefly describe the major funding sources for past transit systems you have worked with. Was the majority federal funding? Were any portions of the service you managed free to the riders?
  1. Please describe your budgeting experience and your role in preparing the budget for past systems you have worked with.
  1. What are some of the biggest obstacles your organization/department (whichever they are responsible for) hit in the last few years? What did you do to address them?
  1. Most of us have 1 or more new ideas, projects, or innovations we are especially proud of creating, Can you describe 1 such innovation of your own?
  1. Tell us about a time where you felt you were engaging your employees.
  1. In past transit systems you have worked with, please describe the administrative structure – ex: Was there a director with an operations manager underneath, supervisors, etc.
  1. This position works closely with an advisory board but reports to the Town Manager. Please tell us about past experience with advisory boards and your view of their effectiveness.
  1. We want the Transit Director to play an active role in all aspects of Town government, including input for the Town Council and County Commissioners on projects such as the Land Development Regulations, the Integrated Transportation Plan, etc. Describe your experience in making public presentations or your experience at Council or Board meetings and the role you’ve played. Tell us about your experience working with professionals from other disciplines such as planning, police, finance, etc.
  1. Have you ever had to cut positions or lay off employees for one reason or another? The reasons may have been just for efficiencies or due to budgeting shortages. How did it go, and in hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently?
  1. Tell us about a difficult decision you had to make recently. Walk me through the problem and what your thought process was, and how you ultimately handled it.
  1. Describe your management style? Have you ever worked with a team that had a morale issue or had to work with someone who was the cause of the morale issue? Tell us about your experience managing people.
  1. There are times where the Council’s direction to the Town Manager or the Town Manager’s direction may end up being different from your recommendation. How will you separate your personal opinions from your municipal obligations? Describe any problems you’ve had in the past with this issue.
  1. Describe your experience working with organizational values.
  1. In terms of the Values, you will be setting an example as a member of the senior management team and will be expected to immediately address issues that might arise from your team. Are you up to this challenge, and why do you feel you will excel in this area? Describe anything similar from your past experience.
  1. Tell us how you plan to maintain a balanced lifestyle in this position or how you have maintained a balanced lifestyle in the past.
  1. If we called your current employer, what would they tell us about you? Past employers?
  1. How would you describe your reputation in your current community. What do the elected officials or community leaders think of you?
  1. What part of government service in general gives you the most satisfaction and why? What is it you would tend to like least about this job?
  1. If you were selected for this position, when would you be able to start, what kind of notice do you need to give your current employer? What are your salary expectations? What kind of a commitment do you feel you could give? Are you familiar with the cost of living in Jackson?
  1. Have we answered all of your questions? Do you have any other questions for us or is there anything else you would like us to know before we make any decisions? If you have questions after you leave, don’t hesitate to contact Roxanne DeVries Robinson or Bob McLaurin.

Transit Director 2015

Interview Questions

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