ProjectProgram Manager I (SDA)

King County Metro Transits Rail Divisionis seeking a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) Project/Program Manager I (PPM I) in the Organizational Strategy & Administration units Engagement Strategy Team.This position will help lead events and activities such as Take Our Children to Work Day and Transit Appreciation addition to established events this role has an opportunity to help shape the future of employee engagement within the Rail Division.

As a PPM I with the Engagement Strategy Team this role will work in collaboration with a team of Project/Program Managers and will have exposure to various projects that support the strategic priorities of the Rail Division and King County Metro. We are seeking someone skilled in organization communication and forward-thinking who is interested in learning about project and program management event planning and embraces the opportunity to contribute to building employee engagement programs and activities in the Rail Division. This person should be self-motivated with the ability to work independently move forward ideas and navigate fluidly in a dynamic organizational setting. Opportunities for training and development in all of these areas will be available to the selected candidate.

This recruitment process will be used to fill one (1) Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position. This SDA is expected to last 12 months in duration with the possibility of extension. This recruitment may also be used to establish an eligibility list to fill future special duty assignment opportunities in this group that may occur over the next twelve months from the establishment of the list at the discretion of the hiring authority.

• Operations and Maintenance Facility - East (OMFE) atth Ave NE Bellevue WA
• Maintenance of Way Facility North (MOWN)
• Federal Way End of Line Facility
• Maintenance of Way Facility South (MOWS)
• South Lake Union Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Facility located at 318 Fairview Ave N Seattle WA
• First Hill Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Facility located at 848 7th Ave. S Seattle WA.

As a Project/Program Manager I within the Rail Divisions Engagement Strategy team you will:

• Support the Engagement Strategy Team in advancing the Rail Divisions strategic priorities of fostering a culture of care effectively expanding operations ensuring a safe and effective operating environment and strengthening partnerships.
• Lead the planning and facilitation of events focused on employee engagement appreciation and recognition. Some of the established events and celebrations for the Rail Division include Take Our Children to Work Day Transit Appreciation Week and Annual Appreciation Event Celebrations.
• Ensure event-related AV technical needs are fully tested and operational.
• Proactively plan events which may include leading committee meetings assisting in creating and tracking budgets working with outside vendors identifying when additional support is needed from the Rail Organizational Strategy & Administration teams and being on-site during event.
• Conduct direct in-person outreach and use other communications strategies to advertise events and reach our frontline workforce.
• Help generate and gather ideas for future employee appreciation events and activities
• Closely collaborate and partner with the Rail Divisions Internal Communications Team on employee engagement appreciation and recognition events.
• Collaborate with partners from across King County Metro which may include project managers or communications specialists from different sections or work groups.
• Collaborate with the Organizational Strategy & Administration Unit teams including Data Analysts Project/Program Managers Continuous Improvement Specialists Transit Administrative Support Specialists and Administrators. This may include supporting projects that impact operations and efficiencies across the Rail Division.
• Serve as a representative of the Engagement Strategy Team during events activities and during daily operations. This includes gathering and responding to employee feedback.
• Help plan and facilitate on-site tours to Sound Transit King County and/or community partners who are interested in learning more about the Rail Division.
• Help plan coordinate and schedule quarterly job shadowing of our frontline workforce for members of the Engagement and Performance and Strategy teams.
• Work in collaboration with Engagement Strategy Team to write program proposals event or project after-actions and identify goals and scope for future engagement activities supporting the Rail Division strategic priorities.
• Support the logistical components of the employee recognition program as needed (i.e. creation of plaques and awards presenting awards to winners).
• Assist with other projects as assigned.

We are looking for candidates who possess these minimum qualifications:

• Commitment to helping build of a culture of care equity and safety within the Division.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office including Outlook SharePoint Excel Word and Teams.

• Enthusiasm for supporting employees within King County Metro and specifically the Rail Division.

• Experience with or willingness to learn project management tools and strategies.

• Experience or willingness to learn approaches to planning events. This includes drafting budgets developing written documents to track priorities and action items and facilitating events.

• Knowledge of and comfort with assessing troubleshooting and managing AV needs and equipment.

• Comfortability leading discussions with employees from across the Division.

• Flexibility to shift priorities as needed.

• Willingness to work in a collaborative team environment.

• Experience in both written and oral communication.

• Strong writing skills to use in communications project planning report-writing

• Possesses problem-solving skills and is open to trying new approaches to solve problems.

• Willingness to perform other duties as assigned.

• Self-motivated and experience working independently.

• Comfort with ambiguity in a fast-paced working environment.

• Experience utilizing Microsoft Office tools to manage work plans or projects.

• Experience planning events or activities for large groups.

• Experience generating budgets and tracking expenditures.

• Experience drafting reports or other written documents.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Ability to adjust working hours to accommodate for early morning or late evening Engagement events.

• Ability to travel between work locations in a timely manner.

• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.

To Apply
This Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position is currently open to King County Metro Rail Division career service employees who have successfully passed their probationary period. 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 and Selection Process

Applicants should complete an application at which includes responding to the supplemental questions a letter of interest (up to one page) and resume. The letter of interest should include detail on how you meet the minimum qualifications and explain how an opportunity to serve in the role of Project/Program Manager I (SDA) will support your career interests and goals.

Your application letter of interest responses to supplemental questions and resume will be screened for qualifications competitiveness clarity written communication skills and completeness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Final offers will be contingent upon successful completion of reference checks which may include an internal employee personnel file review.

Employees may be provided with a Sound Transit-issued laptop and must maintain a remote 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.

Guided by our ACTIVATE values we are making King County a vibrant inclusive and resilient region where every individual and community is safe connected housed healthy and empowered to succeed. To achieve this vision we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting support and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region. 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.

The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch the Assessors Office Elections the King County Sheriffs Office and the Executive Office. 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.