Rail Safety Strategy Manager

Seattle, OR - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 147888 - 187449

Posted on: Yesterday

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

King Countys Metro Transit Department has an exciting opportunity for a Rail Safety Strategy Manager (Strategic Planning Manager II) in the Safety Security and Quality Assurance Division. This senior leader will report to SSQAs Division Director with a dotted line to the Rail Division Director and will work in partnership with employees colleagues and stakeholders to ensure that Metro provides world- class service while advancing the following strategic priorities within Rail:

A culture of safety and care
Provide operational excellence
Deliver on time expansions
Maintain healthy and resilient partnerships with Sound Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation our partners in Rail Service Delivery

This Rail Safety Strategic Planning Manager will be charged with coordinating the safety strategy between Sound Transit and King County Metro as well as leading and managing the implementation of this safety strategy for the Rail Division. This position will ensure coordination between Sound Transit and Metro safety teams that will improve safety culture communication implement key strategic safety policy initiatives and track organizational safety performance metrics for continued improvement. The Rail Safety Strategy Manager will be responsible for communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders across the Division working collaboratively with leaders administrative staff employees and Sound Transit to advance our collective safety strategy.

This leadership role requires the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders proactively solve problems break down barriers oversee change management implement continuous improvement and build employee engagement to improve our safety culture in the Division. The ideal candidate in this position will be skilled in navigating an ambiguous work environment have experience navigating complicated bureaucracies and be able to manage multiple competing priorities to successfully deliver a large body of work in a fast-paced environment. They will have a strong background in equity and social justice with experience making improvements for historically disadvantaged employee groups. They will be passionate about creating positive and inclusive safety cultures that prioritize well-being and belonging of employees in a setting with diverse employees.

Who May Apply

This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants. This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Service Strategic Planning Manager II vacancy. This recruitment may also be used to establish a list or pool of qualified candidates for any future openings in the Strategic Planning Manager II classification within the next twelve months. Placement onto an eligibility list/pool is not a guarantee of placement into a future position.

Application Requirements

A complete 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 Resume
Responses to the Supplemental Questions
Letter of Interest (1-2 pages) describing why you are interested in this opportunity and how you meet the required qualifications for this position; highlighting your experience coordinating safety efforts and/or other initiatives that are cross-agency and cross-disciplinary.

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.

ABOUT METRO TRANSITS EXPANDING RAIL DIVISION

Metro Transits Rail Division is responsible for operating and maintaining Sound Transits Link Light Rail service on a 24.5- mile route from Angle Lake to Northgate. By the middle of 2026 our Light Rail is expected to expand to nearly 60 route miles in length with the planned addition of 19 more stations. These rail services complement Metros robust fixed-route bus system and mobility services and the Puget Sound transit agencies are working together to build an integrated system that lets people travel farther faster and more easily.

Learn how Metro connects you with whatmatters.

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and 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 this work. As a Rail Safety Strategy Manager you will also:

Be a centralized source of safety information for Metro and Sound Transit by:

Coordinating and aligning Rails safety work with other parts of Metro King County and Sound Transit.
Coordinating and integrating safety-focused efforts with Rails Senior Leadership Team ST/KCMs Joint Leadership Team Safety/Security Coordination Teams and other safety/security focused committees.
Being an active and present member of Rails Senior Leadership Team providing counsel to Division leaders on safety priorities employee engagement continuous improvement change management and implementation using the Safety Management System framework.

Promote and improve Rails safety culture across the Division and within the Directors Office by:

Leading safety culture projects programs and initiatives to improve safety best practices.
Developing and leading a safety communication strategy for the Division.
Attending employee safety committee meetings and helping pave the way to implement employee led solutions.
Lead and manage projects related to Division safety priorities and ensure activities undertaken by the agency are managed responsibly and comply with all relevant laws regulations and County policies.
Develop annual objectives work priorities and work plans for safety in collaboration with Metros SSQA Division Sound Transit and Rails Directors Office.
Other duties as assigned; may be assigned to special projects at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Experience Qualifications Knowledge Skills

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

Option 1: A Bachelors degree; and three (3) or more years of experience leading complicated highly visible projects that are cross-disciplinary in nature.

Option 2: An Associates degree; and four (4) or more years of experience leading complicated highly visible projects that are cross-disciplinary in nature.

Option 3: Six (6) or more years of experience leading complicated highly visible projects that are cross-disciplinary in nature.

And

Three (3) or more years of experience in strategic planning public administration change management project management and/or organizational development within a service delivery environment.
One (1) or more years of rail systems safety or regulatory experience.
Experience with strategic communication and internal employee engagement regarding safety topics.
Experience synthesizing information and making recommendations within and outside of established policies and procedures.

Minimum competencies include:

Deep commitment to equity inclusion and belonging for all employees.
Knowledge of strategic business planning techniques principles and practices.
Knowledge of project management techniques and principles.
Skill in working effectively with diverse individuals and populations.
Ability to work on a number of high-priority projects/tasks simultaneously.
Ability to working effectively with diverse individuals and populations.
Ability to effectively build relationships work well and collaborate with key stakeholders to achieve good results.

Highly Desirable Qualifications:

Transit Safety and Security Professional (TSSP) Certification or able to obtain within two (2) years.
Experience leading programs or complicated highly visible projects that are cross-disciplinary in nature within a transit or rail related environment.
Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) or able to obtain in two (2) years
Experience with the King County and Sound Transit relationship working conditions policies and procedures.
Experience translating safety policies and procedures in a transit operations environment.
Experience effectively working with labor and within a unionized environment.

Supplemental Information

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 differenceCome join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nations 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.

Application & Selection Process
Submit an online employment application and attach a cover letter at Your coverletter should describe why you are interested in this opportunity and how you meet the required qualifications for this position; highlighting your experience coordinating safety efforts and/or other initiatives that are cross-agency and cross-disciplinary.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness completeness and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a test and one or more interviews. Applications that are not complete or do not include the required attachments may be disqualified and not advance in the process.

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 Skyler Jones at .

Work Schedule
This classification is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore NOT eligible for overtime pay. Work schedule is normally a 40-hour week Monday through Friday. Alternate work schedules may be considered. Work outside of the normal workday will be required for meetings events and outreach events.

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 (th Ave NE Bellevue WA 98005) as well as other locations

Teleworking Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment working in the office and at home.The expectation is to be in the office 4 days a week. 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.

Employees will be provided with a County 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. Please note that when employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual safety precautions are required including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the departments hybrid environment.

Union Representation:This position is not represented by a union
Class Code:Strategic Planning Manager II
Questions about this recruitmentContact Skyler Jones

Required Experience:

Manager

SummaryKing Countys Metro Transit Department has an exciting opportunity for a Rail Safety Strategy Manager (Strategic Planning Manager II) in the Safety Security and Quality Assurance Division. This senior leader will report to SSQAs Division Director with a dotted line to the Rail Division Directo...