PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson Transit Authority board has selected Nicole Gauthier the permanent general manager.

Gauthier was named interim general manager in April with an annual salary of $102,216, in preparation for Tammi Rubert’s May retirement from the position.

She competed against two other transit management professionals, the Transit Authority said in a press release. The two competitors were recruited by GMP Consulting, which was hired in April to conduct a search for between $18,000 to $23,000.

The board unanimously approved her move to the permanent position last week.

The advertised salary range for general manager was $90,491 to $122,160, according to finance manager Sara Crouch in April. Crouch also resigned in May.

Gauthier is taking the helm of the transit agency that runs buses in east and west Jefferson County as well as routes to Sequim, Poulsbo and, since February, the Kingston Express connecting with ferries to Edmonds and Seattle.

She began her employment with the Transit Authority in January 2017 as a dispatcher.

She quickly moved through the ranks to field supervisor and then as fixed route operations manager.

Gauthier has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Washington University.

“I am excited the Jefferson Transit Authority Board has selected Nicole Gauthier to be our general manager,” said board chair David J. Faber, who also is mayor of Port Townsend.

“I am confident that she will be a great leader and visionary to help decrease our community’s greenhouse gas emissions and move more people safely.”