Senior Program Manager (PPM IV)
Senior Program Manager (PPM IV)
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Job Description
Summary
King County Metro Transits Rail Division is seeking a transformational Senior Program Manager (Program/Project Manager IV).
The Senior Program Manager will lead high-impact initiatives focused on performance improvement organizational transformation and innovative system enhancements. This role will drive strategic priorities that support growth strengthen partnerships improve operations and advance safety for both customers and staff. Reporting to the Performance Strategy Manager youll collaborate across agencies and teams to implement cross-functional initiatives aligned with annual goals and performance metrics. Your work will play a key role in advancing long-term improvements and measurable results across the organization.
This position will supervise a team of project managers(Project/Program Manager I II or IIIs) and will be expected to foster a collaborative team culture while providing coaching and development opportunities to direct reports. This position may also support special projects as needed.
This recruitment process will be used to fill one (1) Career Service position. This requisition may be used to generate an eligibility list for future similar Career Service Term Limited Temporary (TLT) and Special Duty Assignment (SDA) positions that may occur in this classification within the Rail Division. The eligibility list would be valid for twelve months upon creation and may be extended at the discretion of the hiring authority.
About King County Metro Transits Rail Division
King County Metro Transits Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transits Link light rail service and City of Seattles streetcar system. Link light rail currently spans a 33-mile route from SeaTac to Lynnwood and a 6.6-mile route from Redmond to South Bellevue. By the end of 2026 light rail is projected to expand to nearly 60 route miles adding seven new stations. Additional expansions to the Link system will be coming online for years to come.
Seattle Streetcar includes the 1.3 mile South Lake Union line and the 2.5 mile First Hill line proudly serving the diverse and vibrant communities around Seattles downtown core. These rail services complement Metros extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services. Puget Sound transit agencies are collaborating to create an integrated transit network that enables people to travel farther faster and more easily.
To apply you must submit:
- An online King County application updated with accurate contact information and relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more if necessary) with all job duties.
- A cover letter detailing how your experience and background meet or exceed the qualifications for this position.
- A current resume detailing experience and education.
- Completed supplemental questions.
Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible
We highly recommend visiting the Career Support Services website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective:Career Support Services - King County.
Job Duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County this role you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values behaviors and practices to all aspects of the work.
As a Senior Program Manager(Program/Project Manager IV)you will:
Lead a team of Project Managers to improve system efficiencies within the Rail Division of King County Metro:
- Collaborate with senior leadership to identify priorities.
- Foster and support an effective team of project managers through onboarding of new hires and supporting talent through coaching training and teaching.
- Use various tools including project management software to manage project timelines and deliverables.
- Conduct research on industry best practices and determine applicability to the operating environment.
- Apply a lens of innovation efficiency and continuous improvement to all projects.
- Develop nurture and advance strategic relationships across King County Metro Sound Transit and other external stakeholder groups.
- Support the creation and execution of strategic plans for the project team. Primary bodies of work for the team include improving operational and organizational efficiencies managing Division-wide priorities and other projects that align with the four strategic priorities of the Rail Division (fostering a culture of care providing operational excellence delivering on time expansions and maintaining healthy and resilient partnerships).
- Work with external consultants including execution of contracts managing project timelines and budgets and ensuring thorough execution of the scope of work.
- Act as lead project manager on specific projects including but not limited to projects related performance optimization business transformation and process improvement.
- Facilitate discussions with diverse teams from across the Division across Metro and with partner agencies to ensure that improvement ideas are fully implemented.
- Identify metrics to measure success of the project management team and the larger Division.
- Integrate social justice principles into strategic planning and desired outcomes.
- Visualize information and data for decision making assist in data collection and analysis and make recommendations for improvements.
- Support teams in identifying and delivering significant and quantifiable process improvements through the application of process improvement methodologies.
- Perform other related duties as required; may be assigned to special projects.
Experience Qualifications Knowledge Skills
Minimum Qualifications:
- Five years of project management experience including initiating planning executing controlling and closing out the work of a team to achieve specific goals.
- Experience with and demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams and work collaboratively with individuals from a variety of positions and backgrounds.
- Experience with demonstrated ability leading projects involving internal and external stakeholders in a service delivery environment.
Additional minimum competencies/qualifications include:
- Project/Portfolio management skills
- Ability to manage a portfolio of projects including setting priorities meeting deadlines organizing work assignments and maintaining strong attention to detail.
- Experience identifying and implementing creative solutions to persistent problems.
- Ability to roll up key project and team updates to the supervisor take direction and make portfolio adjustments based on evolving priorities.
- Experience effectively using Microsoft Office including SharePoint Excel Word and Teams.
- Strategic Team Leadership skills:
- Ability to build team capacity through onboarding process development and performance coaching to support long-term organizational resilience.
- Demonstrated experience as a leader with the ability to represent senior leadership in various settings.
- Strong ability to support and extend the capacity of the direct supervisor by managing day-to-day team operations coordinating workstreams and ensuring alignment with high-level strategic direction.
- Comfortable working in environments with limited structure or evolving priorities.
- Willingness to perform other duties as assigned.
- Communication skills:
- Demonstrates clear concise and thoughtful verbal and written communication.
- Actively listens and adapts messaging for internal and external stakeholders as well as technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience facilitating meetings leading discussions and presenting complex information in an accessible manner.
- Knowledge of equity and social justice principles and an ability to effectively communicate those principles in work products partnerships and decision making.
- Understands the impact of behavior and communication on others especially in high-stakes or sensitive environments.
The most competitive applicants will possess these DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Masters degree in public administration Business Administration Transportation Planning or closely related field.
- Three years of experience supervising other professionals.
- One year of experience leading a team.
- Knowledge of HR principles labor contracts and/or experience leading recruitments.
- Familiarity with local transit and mobility systems including the business model and practices of Sound Transit and/or King County Metro.
- Experience with the public sector either through consulting or employment within a government agency.
- Experience creating or informing strategic plans for a large organization.
- Skill knowledge or familiarity with Lean methodology.
- Knowledge of qualitative research principles.
- Knowledge of quantitative research methods data collection and analysis.
- Experience in budget development and identifying cost efficiencies.
Necessary Special Requirements:
Possession of a valid Washington state drivers license (or ability to obtain Washington state drivers license upon hire) or alternate ability to travel to off-site locations.
Supplemental Information
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. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. 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 anticipated to be full time assigned 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. This position is eligible for telework/remote work.
Union Membership:This position is represented byPROTEC17.
Work Location:The primary location of this position is 3407 Airport Way South Seattle WA 98134. Some work other Rail Division worksites may be required at times including out of the Operations and Maintenance Facility East atth Ave NE Bellevue WA South Lake Union Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) located at 318 Fairview Ave N. and/or First Hill Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Facility located at 848 7th Ave. S in Seattle and Sound Transit HQ - 401 S Jackson St Seattle WA 98104.
Teleworking Requirement: The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment with a minimum of 3 days in the office. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various Sound Transit facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a Sound Transit issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individuals selected for these opportunities will be joining innovative and progressive teams that are redefining how we work in the departments hybrid environment.
CLASS CODE / PAY GRADE:/68
For more information regarding this recruitment please contact:Skyler Jones Senior Talent Advisor at .Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington States best employers.
Together with leadership and our employees were 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 nations best places to live work and play.
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 your recruiter listed on thisjob announcement.
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Required Experience:
Manager
Employment Type
Full-Time
