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Chief Executive Officer

Mid-South Transportation Management

Memphis, Tennessee

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Best Practices, Budget Management, Business Administration, Business Strategy, Capital Budgeting, Change Management, City Administration, Communication Skills, Customer Service Operations, Economic Development, Federal Government, Federal Laws and Regulations, Financial Management, Financial Strategy, Follow Through, Funding, Industrial Relations, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Local Government, Maintain Compliance, Mentoring, Nonprofit, Organizational Culture, Performance Management, Performance Metrics, Performance Tuning/Optimization, Public Administration, Public Finance, Public Transport, Regulations, Relationship Management, Sales Management, Service Delivery, State Laws and Regulations, Stewardship, Strategic Planning, Team Lead/Manager, Time Management, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning
LOCATION
Memphis, Tennessee
POSTED
30+ days ago

Description

Job Title:        Chief Executive Officer

Location:        Memphis, TN

JOB FUNCTION:  Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) seeks a visionary, ethical, and results-driven CEO to lead the organization into a new era of accountability, performance, and public trust. The CEO will serve as the agency’s top executive and report directly to the Board, providing leadership, operational oversight, financial stewardship, and strategic guidance for MATA’s services across the Memphis metropolitan area.
This role requires a transformational leader who brings deep transit experience, a strong record of financial and organizational leadership, and the interpersonal acumen to rebuild trust with employees, the public, and critical stakeholders including the City of Memphis Administration, Memphis City Council, and state and federal oversight agencies.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Turnaround 
  • Lead MATA through a comprehensive transformation—building a high-performance, accountable culture focused on safety, reliability, customer service, and operational excellence.
  • Design and implement strategic plans that modernize transit services, optimize performance, and improve the rider experience.
  • Serve as the public face of MATA and a passionate advocate for the role of public transit in regional economic development and equity.
Financial Management & Resource Stewardship 
  • Direct the development of annual operating and capital budgets with clear performance measures and internal controls.
  • Ensure responsible stewardship of local, state, and federal funding while pursuing additional funding opportunities.
  • Present financial and strategic updates regularly to the Board, City of Memphis Administration, Memphis City Council, and other key stakeholders.
Stakeholder Communication & Relationship Management 
  • Serve as a trusted and proactive communicator with local government partners, transit advocates, business leaders, and riders.
  • Build strong relationships with union leadership, ensuring a balanced and respectful approach to labor relations.
  • Actively engage with federal and state regulatory agencies to ensure compliance and secure support for long-term priorities.
Board Engagement & Oversight 
  • Partner closely with the MATA Board of Commissioners, ensuring regular communication, strategic alignment, and high levels of transparency.
  • Prepare and present timely, data-informed reports and proposals to enable effective Board oversight.
  • Respond professionally and ethically to all Board directives and demonstrate consistent follow-through on commitments.
Culture, Ethics, and Team Leadership 
  • Model the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and accountability.
  • Build an inclusive, respectful, and performance-oriented organizational culture.
  • Mentor and lead a high-performing executive team; drive internal collaboration and cross-departmental effectiveness.
Core Competencies & Attributes:
  • Ethical Leadership: Demonstrates unwavering integrity, transparency, and professionalism.
  • Turnaround Experience: Proven ability to stabilize, restructure, and rebuild struggling organizations.
  • Financial Acumen: Strong grasp of public finance, budget planning, and fiscal accountability.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Engages credibly with elected officials, regulators, and the public.
  • Cultural Transformation: Skilled in workforce engagement, organizational alignment, and change management.
  • Accountability & Oversight: Understands and embraces the role of the Board in ensuring performance.
  • Equity & Access Orientation: Champions equitable service delivery for all communities.
  • Transit Sector Knowledge: Deep understanding of transit systems, regulations, and best practices.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
  • Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior executive role in transit, transportation, or a closely related public or nonprofit sector.
  • Demonstrated success in leading large, complex organizations through transformation and in building trust with public stakeholders.
  • Experience working closely with governing boards and elected officials.
Additional Expectations:
  • Must be a visible and regular user of MATA services and a strong regional advocate for public transportation.
  • Must reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the Memphis area and be available for frequent community engagement.
  • Must possess the physical ability to attend off-site meetings and represent MATA locally and nationally.
  • Must be willing to operate with full transparency and frequent communication with the MATA Board and public.

About the Company

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Mid-South Transportation Management