Transit Technology Project Management Team Manager

Help shape how one of the nations leading transit agencies runs on technology!

King County Metro is building something new: a Technology Section created two years ago as part of a modern IT operating model and still defining what it can become. Were looking for an experienced strategic and collaborative leader to join at this pivotal moment as our Transit Technology Project Management Team Manager.

In this role youll lead a highly skilled team of project managers who deliver business critical technology from first concept and procurement through design testing implementation and full lifecycle management. The systems they deliver keep buses moving and riders connected every day. You will also work alongside Metro Division Directors and the KCIT leadership team to shape the Metro Technology Roadmap deciding which investments best move Metros goals forward.

Youll represent the Transit Technology Capital Project Management group on committees workgroups and countywide initiatives. As a senior leader in an emerging office youll help define its identity culture and visibility across King County.

Position Information: This recruitment will be used to fill One (1) Career Service Manager Transit Systems Development and Operationsclassification addition this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for future Special Duty Assignment (SDA) Term Limited Temporary (TLT) and Career Service (CS) vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. The eligibility list will be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who May Apply: We are accepting applications from all qualified individuals including current King County employees and the general public. Please refer to the Supplemental Information section of this job bulletin for the required application materials.

Applying ourACTIVATE values: being Accountable Collaborative Timely and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building whats Trusted; and acting Equitably is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Transit Technology Project Management Team Manager you will:

Leadership and Workforce Development

• Lead mentor and develop a team of transit technology project managers focusing on coaching workforce development and building a technologically aware and future-ready team.
• Provide guidance and support to other supervisors and technology groups within the Technology Section contributing to section-wide development and performance.
• Drive outcome-based thinking critical analysis and clarity in an increasingly ambiguous environment helping teams and stakeholders make informed decisions.
• Conduct performance reviews that support staff growth and build the competencies needed to bring the broader department along in its modernization journey.
• Serve as a strategic people leader offering direction advising stakeholders and influencing policies rather than simply managing tasks or projects.
• Manage personnel administration including hiring discipline leave approvals accommodations workload balancing and labor contract adherence.
• Maintain productive relationships with multiple collective bargaining units; actively engage in grievance and arbitration processes as needed.
• Intervene on complex issues or team dynamics to restore alignment resolve conflicts and ensure project and staff success.
• Shape and support the ongoing transformation to a modern strategically focused technology organization with strong visibility across King County.

Technology Strategy Planning and Governance

• Contribute to Metros technology portfolio planning and technology budget development to ensure strategic enterprise-wide alignment.
• Provide expert strategic analysis to help the division address technology needs evaluating investments priorities and long-range solutions. Advise senior management on tradeoffs related to technology policies procurement approaches and lifecycle management strategies.
• Support executive leadership in assessing risks organizational capacity feasibility and market availability of emerging technologies especially as Metro moves towards SaaS technologies.
• Prepare and deliver compelling business cases and strategic proposals to the Project Review Board (PRB) CIO DOT leadership and additional oversight bodies.

Project & Portfolio Oversight

• Oversee a portfolio of complex technology projects with significant capital investment appropriated from the executive council. These projects help implement enterprise platforms that support mobility services for the community.
• Own the performance metrics for such complex multi-system development efforts project scope schedules budgets dependencies and integration across hardware software data and business processes.
• Enable high performance from the team using strong project management principles including agile development methodologies to support effective delivery and rapid iteration.
• Serve as a central escalation point for evaluating risks and own escalation decisions to senior leadership.

Procurement Contracting and Vendor Management

• Oversee technology procurements and contract management including RFP/RFQ development negotiations change orders acceptance criteria and milestone approvals. Drive improvements that help in effective project delivery.
• Collaborate closely with Procurement Services and the Prosecuting Attorneys Office to develop negotiation strategies and assess legal and project risks.
• Evaluate vendor performance and ensure high-quality delivery resolving service gaps financial impacts and contractual challenges. Enable development and documentation of vendor management best practices for the team.

Technology Operations & Policy Alignment

• Partner closely with Metro division leadership to interpret operational needs understand system impacts and align project management team to adopt development methodologies with operational requirements.
• Support change management efforts related to technology operations ensuring smooth transitions as systems mature or evolve.
• Work collaboratively with leaders who develop technology-related policies helping shape standards and guidance that influence countywide practices and best practices that help in appropriate budgeting and resource management.
• Ensure ongoing viability and performance of technology projects across the division and to the Metro Technology Advisory Board.

Emerging Technology & Technical Aptitude

• Stay current with emerging trends in transit technology including AI cybersecurity autonomous vehicles and modern cloud-based enterprise environments.
• Apply strong technical aptitude to evaluate how emerging innovations can be incorporated into Metros strategic roadmap and service delivery models.
• Foster a culture of modernization encouraging teams to adopt forward-looking practices modern infrastructure concepts and system integration strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Representation

• Represent the Transit Technology Project Management team across internal and external committees project teams and workgroups.
• Coordinate with business leaders IT partners and executive stakeholders to align technology strategy with operational needs and county priorities.

We are looking for candidates who have:

A Bachelors degree in Information Technology Business Administration or a related field.

AND

At least ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in IT project management that includes analyzing planning designing deploying and implementing complex IT projects and programs related to operations and infrastructure.

AND

A minimum of five (5) years of experience in IT management/leadership position. Managing and/or leading technical staff developing and executing work programs developing performance measures setting performance expectations and providing coaching and feedback.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the skills knowledge and abilities required to perform the role effectively.

Demonstrated knowledge and skills in:

Highly competitive candidates will have (desired but not required):

• Experience with a broad range of enterprise technologies including project management tools business systems analytics platforms ITSM systems testing tools content management collaboration tools system integration cloud environments cybersecurity and enterprise IT standards.
• Experience working in a large public sector or governmental organization.
• Knowledge of King County Metros operations mission and policies.

Who may apply:We are accepting applications from all qualified individuals including current King County employees and the general public.

To Apply

The following application materials are required:

1. An online King County application updated with accurate contact information and relevant work history.
2. Completed supplemental questions.
3. Attach a resume.
4. Attache a cover letter that addresses why you are interested in this role and how your experience skills and/or education have prepared you for this position.

Selection Process:

Applications that do not include all of the required materials listed above will not be considered. Only the materials explicitly requested will be reviewedadditional documents or information will not be evaluated.

Application materials will be screened for completeness and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review.

Other Position Information

Work Location:
This position requires a minimum of3 days per week onsite to support team collaboration coaching and in-person leadership presence consistent with King County Metros hybrid work expectations for supervisory roles. The primary onsite location is King Street Center 201 S. Jackson Seattle Washington 98104.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection oftools and resources to support working remotely. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Work Schedule:The position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. The typical workweek is 40 hours per week Monday Friday.

Union Representation:The position is not represented by a union
Class Code:Manager Transit Systems Development and Operations

Safety Responsibilities for Managers:

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.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King Countys vision for unified equitable and high-performing government please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process please contact Sabrina Brazzle at

King Countys 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 sex race color national origin ethnicity religious affiliation disability sexual orientation gender identity or expression age except by minimum age and retirement provisions pregnancy status as a family caregiver parental status marital status military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the persons sexual orientation or gender identity or expression citizenship or immigration status genetic information or other protected class. However to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law regulation or government contract it is not an unfair practice.

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.