Closing Date:  October 13, 2021　

The Division of Transit Services coordinates transit services in Montgomery County. Transit accomplishes an essential mobility mission of the County, connecting people, communities, workplaces, educational institutions, recreational opportunities and many other essential destinations.　 The Division plans, schedules and manages the County's own Ride On bus system consisting of County owned and operated buses. The Ride On system is designed to complement the service provided by the other transit providers in the County and provides almost 30 million trips per year.

The Department of Transportation is seeking Full Time or Substitute Transit Bus Operators.  This recruitment will establish an eligible list to fill current and future vacancies. Current and future vacancies are located in our depots in Silver Spring, Gaithersburg and Nicholson Court.

Bus Operators are considered Essential Employees. Essential employees must report to work during a period of general emergency or liberal leave. Bus Operators MUST also adhere to a strict Attendance Policy and be available to work a flexible schedule that includes nights, weekends, holidays, working split shifts, and a reasonable amount of overtime. Ride On operational hours start at 3:30 am, and the last bus returns to the depot at 1:50 am. We are a 22 hour, 7 days a week transit operation.

OHR reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position/IRC.

Montgomery County Government is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email to OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

Montgomery County Government also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, please refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for interview.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Experience: Three (3) years minimum driving experience as a motor vehicle operator with a current Class C (or equivalent) driver's license from applicant's state of residence and a current safe driving record as determined by the Department/Agency to which the position is assigned, and one (1) year of direct customer service experience.

Education: Sufficient education to understand and express instructions, descriptions and ideas (such as bus route/schedule information, customer service policies and bus condition information) in both spoken and written English, and to make basic arithmetic calculations (such as addition and subtraction to keep to schedules).

Equivalency: None.

Physical Ability: Ability to operate all transit buses in the County's inventory (currently from 30-40 feet in length), which requires, but is not limited to, physical abilities needed to operate a transit bus throughout a shift.　 They include, but are not limited to, the abilities to (a) conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections, (b) operate hand controls, (c) operate foot controls, (d) help passengers with disabilities who use assistive devices and other passengers who need help 'negotiating' the bus, (e) announce stops and route information and exchange other types of information face-to-face and use a public address system, a radio-telephone and other equipment, and (f) attend to multiple work inputs and outputs simultaneously using vision and hearing.　

OTHER:　 Applicants must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the first day of employment in this job class.

LICENSE:

At Time of Employment Application:

• Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid (non-provisional and non-probationary) Class C (or equivalent) driver's license from applicant's state of residence.

First Day of County Employment:

• Possession and maintenance at all times of either a valid Class B (or equivalent) Commercial Driver's License (CDL), with Passenger and Air Brake Endorsements, or an Instructional Permit for a Class B (or equivalent) CDL, with Passenger and Air Brake Endorsements, issued by applicant's state of residence.

Upon Completion of Bus Operator Training by Montgomery County:

• Possession and maintenance at all times of a Class B (or equivalent) CDL, with Passenger and Air Brake Endorsements, issued by the employee's state of residence

Medical Exam and Background Investigation:　 All bus operator positions filled under this recruitment require a County administered medical exam with drug/alcohol screen and a criminal background clearance.

All applicants will be reviewed by OHR for minimum qualifications.　 Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated "Qualified", placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for an interview.　Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are same grade or higher will be placed on Eligible List as a "Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.　　

Preference in scheduling interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following areas:

• Possession of Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class "A" or "B" with passenger endorsement issued by the local jurisdiction in which you reside.
• One (1) year experience as a bus operator operating medium to heavy duty passenger buses (i.e., 30-60 feet buses in length), transporting passengers between designated bus stops, while adhering to an established time schedule and route.
• Three (3) or more years of customer service experience.　
• Five (5) or more years of driving experience with no moving violations.

NOTE:　 APPLICANTS SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS MUST PROVIDE A CERTIFIED DRIVING RECORD INDICATING ONE (1) POINT OR LESS TO COMPLETE THE INTERVIEW.　 NO EXCEPTIONS.

Driving Record:　 You MUST provide an Original Complete Certified Driving Record when you are scheduled for an interview.

If your driving history is less than 2 years in your current state of residence, then you must obtain an Original Complete Certified copy from your prior state of residence.