Operations Assistant Jobs in Rhode Island (NOW HIRING)

A large public transportation organization seeks an experienced operations leader to oversee the daily operation of complex public-facing facilities and transportation access systems. This position serves as management's on-site operational authority, ensuring safe, efficient, secure, and customer-focused operations across public facilities, transportation access areas, parking systems, roadways, and other operational environments.

The Assistant Director is responsible for leading operational staff, coordinating day-to-day activities, overseeing contractor and tenant operations, supporting emergency response, and ensuring compliance with applicable organizational policies and regulatory requirements. The position requires strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple operational priorities in a dynamic, 24-hour environment.

Schedules:

Sunday-Wednesday: 1:30PM-12:00AM

Wednesday-Saturday: 3:30AM-2:00PM

Wednesday-Saturday: 1:30PM-12:00AM

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and direction to operations staff, supervisors, and frontline personnel.
• Ensure daily operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and exceptional customer service throughout the operation.
• Monitor operational performance and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support workforce scheduling and resource deployment to maintain operational effectiveness.

Facility and Transportation Operations

• Manage the daily operation of public-facing facilities, including customer flow, access-controlled areas, transportation access points, parking facilities, curbside operations, and roadway systems.
• Coordinate operational resources to maximize efficiency while minimizing service disruptions.
• Oversee transportation access operations, including commercial vehicle activity, passenger pick-up and drop-off areas, parking operations, and roadway circulation.
• Respond to operational issues and implement timely solutions to maintain continuity of operations.
• Coordinate operational activities during service interruptions, emergency situations, and other unusual operating conditions.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as the primary operational liaison with tenants, contractors, transportation providers, vendors, public agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate operational activities associated with tenant operations, special events, and service changes.
• Foster collaborative relationships that support efficient daily operations.

Contractor and Project Oversight

• Monitor contractor and vendor activities occurring throughout operational facilities.
• Coordinate construction projects, maintenance activities, and capital improvements to minimize impacts on operations.
• Review operational impacts associated with planned projects and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Document operational issues associated with contractor activities and ensure timely resolution.

Compliance and Operational Oversight

• Conduct routine operational inspections to ensure facilities remain safe, functional, secure, and compliant with applicable standards.
• Monitor operational conditions and recommend corrective actions when deficiencies are identified.
• Maintain operational documentation, reports, logs, and records.
• Prepare reports, analyses, and operational summaries for leadership.

Emergency Response

• Participate in emergency response activities involving operational disruptions, severe weather, infrastructure failures, security incidents, and other emergency events.
• Coordinate operational resources during emergencies to support continuity of operations.
• Participate in emergency planning, preparedness activities, and post-incident reviews.

Customer Experience

• Promote a customer-focused operational environment.
• Respond professionally to customer concerns, operational inquiries, and stakeholder issues.
• Support initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and the overall customer experience.

Emergency Operations (Contingency Responsibilities)

Within three months of hire, the successful candidate must be capable of performing specialized operational responsibilities during emergency or contingency situations, including:

• Conducting operational inspections and facility condition assessments.
• Preparing and distributing operational notifications.
• Coordinating operational impacts associated with construction and maintenance activities.
• Documenting incidents, accidents, and significant operational events.
• Monitoring and enforcing operational procedures governing restricted-access areas and authorized vehicle movement.
• Supporting regulatory compliance activities during emergency operations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing operations within a complex, high-volume transportation, infrastructure, public safety, or similarly regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of facility operations, transportation logistics, customer service, and operational planning.
• Experience coordinating operational resources and responding to rapidly changing operational conditions.
• Demonstrated supervisory or management experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to prioritize competing operational demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing operations in a 24-hour public infrastructure, transportation, or similarly complex operational environment.
• Experience coordinating construction or capital improvement projects while maintaining ongoing operations.
• Familiarity with emergency management principles, incident response, and operational continuity planning.
• Experience working within a highly regulated operational environment.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Transportation, Operations Management, Emergency Management, or a closely related field.
• An equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible operational management experience may be considered.
• Experience using operational management systems is preferred.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to obtain all required organizational credentials and operating authorizations.

Security Requirements

Candidates must successfully complete all required background investigations, including fingerprint-based criminal history checks, employment verification, and any other security screening necessary to obtain access to restricted operational areas.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in both office settings and active operational environments.
• Frequent interaction with customers, tenants, contractors, transportation providers, public agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Exposure to high-volume public activity, changing operational priorities, and emergency situations.
• Frequent walking, standing, climbing stairs, and outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and irregular hours as operational needs require.