Summary

Metro Transit’s Rail Division is hiring a Rail Activation Manager (Strategic Planning Manager I) to lead Light Rail’s expansion-focused meetings, communications, and reporting, while strategically and effectively overseeing and managing the communication flow for expansion activities, over multiple projects, between multi-disciplinary functions. This role will also support the successful establishment of the Wayside Section through strategic planning, change management and organization development efforts.

This is an opportunity to be a part of one of the largest light rail expansion programs in the country! This role is responsible for a range of activities that support the Wayside Section’s establishment and development as we increase our capacity to operate and maintain future light rail expansions. This role will coordinate with internal staff at the Rail Division and partners at Sound Transit to ensure new light rail expansion projects are designed and built to be supported by the Rail Division’s highly skilled technical and administrative staff.

The successful candidate will have a strong knowledge and background in Rail transportation operations and infrastructure. They will be able to utilize their Rail system knowledge and strategic planning skills in combination with an ability to effectively manage diverse stakeholder relationships and build trust with key contributors in both organizations. This combined skillset will be required to build a successful Wayside Section, support light rail expansion across the region and build on the successful relationship between King County Metro and Sound Transit as collaborative business partners.

We are accepting applications from all qualified candidates. This recruitment will be used to hire 1 Rail Activation Manager (Strategic Planning Manager I).

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of this work. As the Rail Activation Manager, you will also:

Participate as a core Wayside leadership team member and ensure consistency of activities with agency mission and goals, including:

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  Build relationships internally and with our partners at Sound Transit at all levels of the agency to secure lasting improvements in the way the agency operates.
• Build and manage relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and partners at all levels of the organization, enabling a deep understanding of business problems and implementation of lasting solutions.
• Promote a culture of care, inclusion and belonging in the Wayside Section.
• Lead, help develop, and motivate employees across the section, helping them to recognize the important role they play in achieving the overall agency goals and empowering them to perform accordingly.
• Develop and lead an internal communication strategy for the Wayside Section, particularly as it relates to communicating expansion activities both internally and externally.

Build and implement strategies and programs to help effectively establish the Wayside Section, including:

• Lead and manage projects related to Wayside strategic priorities and ensure activities undertaken are managed responsibly and comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and County policies.
• Develop annual objectives, work priorities, work plans and metrics of success for the Wayside Section.
• Support the development and strategy to implement training and onboarding programs for staff across the five lines of business in the Wayside Section.
• Gather, analyze, and interpret data and formulate administrative guidelines and operational recommendations.
• Develop strategies to improve operational efficiency and/or performance.

Maintain and support collaborative design review and the transition process for all light rail expansions, including as a liaison to Sound Transit at various committees and stakeholder groups that support light rail expansion.

• Manage multiple complex programs for the Rail Division that require coordination and communication with internal work groups and our partners.
• Develop systems and processes that allow the Wayside Section to track, manage, document and report feedback as well as flag potential risks during expansion design milestones.
• Route design submittal documents to subject matter experts, gather and document feedback. Example documents include engineering drawings, operations & maintenance manuals, and procedures.
• Collaboratively plan projects, defining project scopes with Sound Transit and ensuring that timelines are defined and adhered to for pre-revenue system testing.
• Represent the Rail Division at various Sound Transit expansion committees, including but not limited to the Rail Activation Committee, Transition to Operations Committee, Pre-revenue Service & Start-up Committee.
• Produce high-quality documents to support the design, communication and implementation of findings and recommendations, including but not limited to business process maps, slide presentations, dashboards, policies, and procedures.
• Advise senior management of the status of all expansion projects, including progress, scheduling, and financial status; identifying problem areas as well as recommending solutions to resolve the problems.

Support other expansion activities

• Coordinate with KC Rail's recruiting liaison to provide Sound Transit expansion leaders with hiring progress.
• Confirm Sound Transit’s timing expectations for having staff in place to support expansion projects. Communicate those schedules with KC Rail hiring managers to manage those expectations.
• Coordinate with KC Rail hiring managers in identifying facility and asset characteristics that may impact staffing needs.
• As a member of the Wayside team, the Rail Activation Manager will work on key strategic projects (such as state-of-good-repair, satellite facilities, etc.) that seek to secure long-term improvements across all Rail Division work groups that support system expansion.
• Perform other related duties as required; may be assigned to special projects.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

We are looking for candidates who have the following Minimum Qualifications:

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  A bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience in strategy development and/or operational planning; preferably within a service delivery environment or any combination of experience/education/training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work.
• Knowledge of change management and organization development.
• Knowledge of and skill in project management techniques and principles.
• Skill in synthesizing information and making recommendations within and outside of established policies and procedures.
• Skill in making timely and quality decisions.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing.
• Skill in working effectively with diverse individuals and populations.
• Ability to work on several projects/tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Ability to handle daily challenges, adjust to adversity and adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
• Skilled in using Microsoft office products like PowerBI, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Word, and PowerPoint.

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Sound Transit and King County Metro agency operations, strategies, and development.
• Knowledge of rail systems elements and their relationships including operations, vehicles, signals, track, power, communications, and facilities. Expertise or proficiency in at least one of these areas a plus.
• Knowledge of Sound Transit light rail expansions.
• Knowledge of industry practice, state of the art technologies and engineering principles related to railroad / rail transit systems equipment.

Supplemental Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Application & Selection Process
Submit an online employment application online at https://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs answer the supplemental questions and attach a resume. All your materials should demonstrate how you meet or exceed the qualifications posted.

Selection Process
All the application materials will be screened for qualifications, competitiveness, completeness, and communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.

NOTE: Please answer ALL questions in the online employment application itself, with each of your jobs during the last 10 years listed (listing each position for each employer separately), duties explained, reasons for leaving etc.

Applications that are not complete, or do not include the required materials, may be rejected as incomplete, and not advanced in the process. Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions under Application Tips and FAQs at: www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.

Work Schedule
This position has a work week that is 40 hours, Monday through Friday. In addition, some of the work associated with this position will be performed in a Hybrid work environment. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and therefore is not eligible for overtime pay. Work outside normal business hours may be required occasionally.

Work Location
The primary location of this position is 3407 Airport Way S. Seattle, WA 98134. This position will be expected to travel occasionally to the Operations and Maintenance Facility – East, located in Bellevue (1925 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005). This is a hybrid position (teleworking and in office). The work associated with this position will be performed or conducted through a combination of teleworking and onsite work and meetings. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.
Class Code: 2452100 Strategic Planning Manager I
Questions about this recruitment? Contact Angela Alcaraz, Sr. HR Analyst, 206-263-2466, aalcaraz@kingcounty.gov