Summary
- This position is open to all King County employees and the general public *
King County Metro Transit’s Rail Division is seeking to hire a collaborative and process-oriented Non-Revenue Vehicle (NRV) Project/Program Manager III. This Project/Program Manager (PPM III) role will lead the development of a holistic program that supports an existing fleet of nearly 200 Sound Transit-owned Non-Revenue Vehicles (NRVs) operated by King County Metro staff. This PPM III will apply project and program management skills to create a sustainable cross-agency NRV Program that has clearly defined roles, responsibilities, expectations, processes, and procedures for maintaining the NRV fleet. Reporting into the Performance Strategy Team, this PPM III will collaborate with Sound Transit and internal Rail teams, including Operational and Maintenance Crafts, Finance and Administration, Asset Management, Senior and Executive Leadership, and Contract-Support, to establish a cross-agency NRV Program with the purpose to advance operational efficiency and on-time expansions, along with cultivating healthy partnerships between King County Metro Rail and Sound Transit. This recruitment process will be used to fill one (1) Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or one (1) Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position. This PPM III SDA/TLT opportunity is anticipated to last until January 2028.
About King County Metro Transit's Rail Division King County Metro's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link Light Rail, a growing network spanning 60 miles and serving 38 stations across the Puget Sound region. Together with Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services, the Link Light Rail system is the backbone of an integrated regional transit network that gives people real freedom of movement. As Puget Sound transit agencies work together to build a seamless, connected system, our light rail system plays a central role in expanding access, reducing barriers, and ensuring that everyone across our region can get where they need to go.
Joining Metro's Rail Division means joining an organization that is shaping the future of public transportation in the Pacific Northwest and setting the standard for modern rail operations nationwide. This is a division that values strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to the people we serve, both our riders and our teams. Whatever your role, your work here contributes to something that matters, a light rail system that thousands of people count on every day. Who May Apply This position is open to King County employees and the general public.
King County Employees applying for the SDA need to have passed their six (6) month probationary period (or will complete it by the closing date of this posting) in their current career service position.
Job Duties Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Project/Program Manager III, you will:
Program and Project Management:
- Ideal future state: Identify all the processes, procedures, and roles and responsibilities necessary to develop a best-in-class NRV fleet management program; Utilize program management and change management tactics to successfully implement new processes and approaches across all the teams utilizing NRVs.
- Current State: Address backlog of projects and processes and determine what processes and documentation exist and where there are gaps for efficient NRV maintenance and procurement.
- Develop roadmap: Create a prioritized roadmap and plan for how to implement the ideal state processes and procedures over the course of this one-year assignment; Manage the projects identified in the prioritized roadmap.
- Stakeholder alignment: Establish and align agencies/teams on expectations for roles and responsibilities of NRV processes; Deliver plans and proposals outlining permanent placement and responsibilities for projects along with ongoing tasks and needs.
- Collect NRV requirements from work groups and establish processes to sustainably and permanently support the ongoing needs; identify necessary permanent resources for ongoing NRV management; Establish criteria for aligning usage expectations across agencies.
- Create a clear budget process that is agreeable to both agencies and identify a timeline that aligns with both Sound Transit and King County’s budget processes.
- Apply a lens of innovation and continuous improvement to all programs and projects, with a focus on sustainability and system improvement.
- Manage a combination of in-person and virtual work spanning 4+ base locations across the Link Light Rail service area.
Stakeholder Management:
- Align stakeholders: Work in partnership with senior leadership in Maintenance and Operations units, Line level Craft employees, Sound Transit Oversight and Finance partners, and the Rail Strategy teams to identify and align on program needs.
- Develop, nurture, and advance strategic relationships across King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other Rail stakeholder groups.
- Negotiate roles and expectations with Sound Transit partners.
- Utilize communication skills to develop, nurture, and advance strategic relationships.
- Create transparent communication pipeline around how to share information on NRV order status and arrival date.
- Serve as a system of support and a critical problem-solver for leadership.
Administration, Process and Procedure, Data Management:
- Create documentation outlining updated processes and procedures; identify what is needed in Rail Administrative Guidelines (RAG), Standard Rail/Operating/Maintenance Procedures (SRP, SOP, SMPs); resource creation; training and onboarding materials.
- Clarify and document process, responsibilities, and expectations for NRV Rental process, utilization, and compliance report monitoring.
- Support the scheduling and coordination of workshops, meetings, training sessions, and project teams.
- Collaborate with King County and Sound Transit data teams to develop reports.
- Use various tools to manage timelines and deliverables.
- Integrate social justice principles and identify equity impacts.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum qualifications:
- Three (3) years of experience creating and managing programs and projects, including assessment, initiating, planning, executing, and monitoring initiatives with defined deliverables.
- Three (3) years of experience working with diverse stakeholders, demonstrating political savvy in navigating the perspectives and interests of different groups while maintaining focus on overarching objectives.
- Ability to manage a wide variety of needs within a program or project, including setting priorities, meeting deadlines, organizing work assignments, and maintaining strong attention to detail.
- Demonstrated experience applying change management and process improvement principles.
- Ability to develop clear, concise, and thoughtful verbal and written communication; comfort in facilitating meetings and leading discussions; and the ability to present information to both technical and non-technical audiences and adjust the communication based on audience needs.
- Ability to work through ambiguity, organize goals, and confirm alignment with multiple key stakeholders.
- Advanced skills with Microsoft Office, including SharePoint, Excel, Word, and Teams.
Desirable qualifications:
- Familiarity with Sound Transit, King County Metro, or other regional transit operations and practices.
- Familiarity with a multi-agency work environment, including skill in relationship management and negotiation.
- Experience working in Operations, Maintenance, Procurement, Asset/Vehicle Management, or Service Delivery environments.
- Familiarity with FTA state of good repair and maintenance compliance programs.
- Experience working with technical, maintenance, or operational line-level staff.
- Experience working in a unionized environment.
- Experience with data management and/or budget monitoring.
Supplemental Information
To Apply, you Must Submit:
- An online King County application. Please include relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
- A Cover Letter (2 page maximum) addressing:
- How your experience and background meet or exceed the qualifications for this position
- Why you are interested in supporting Metro Transit’s Rail Division in this role
- A current Resume, detailing experience and duties performed. Your resume and the work history section of the King County application should reflect the same experience.
- Answer the supplemental questions in their entirety.
Applications that do not follow the above instructions may be rejected as incomplete and will not be advanced in the process.
Application & Selection Process Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Applications will then undergo a blind panel review. Highly competitive applicants may be invited to one or more interviews. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews.
Work Schedule This position is full time, 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay.
Telework This position follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of 3 days per week onsite, consistent with King County Metro's hybrid work policy. Remote workdays may be adjusted based on operational or business needs. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various Sound Transit facilities. Upon hire, employees must reside in Washington state and must be able to travel to the below work locations in a timely manner to respond to operational needs and workplace reporting requirements.
Work Locations
- Primary Work location: 315 5th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) Central at 3407 Airport Way S., Seattle, WA.
- Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) East at 1925 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA.
- Maintenance of Way North (MOW-N) at 920 N 137th St Seattle, WA
- Other possible work locations, dependent on operational need and any future Sound Transit Link facilities.
Safety Responsibilities for an Employee
- Responsible for understanding this policy and their role in safety.
- Report all safety concerns.
- Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training.
- Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system.
Union Membership: This position is represented by PROTEC17.
CLASS CODE / PAY GRADE: 2441300 / 64
Need Assistance?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 Marwa Alansi, HR Talent Advisor, at malansi@kingcounty.gov
An Employer to Be Proud Of King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this public transportation industry.
Forbes recently 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.
King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here. 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.
Benefits
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.