Deputy Executive Director-Community Development Office

SoundTransit; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 171,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

ORCA card

Pet insurance

Job summary

Sound Transit in Seattle seeks a seasoned leader to direct its Community Development Office, overseeing TOD, joint development and property disposition. You will guide strategy, manage staff and coordinate with capital projects to advance transit-oriented outcomes regionally.

Strong knowledge of urban planning, policy and economic development is essential. You will partner with local governments, communities and departments to ensure equitable TOD practices, foster housing affordability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Studies, Real Estate, Urban Geography, or related field.
• Ten years of progressive experience managing complex real estate, planning, and TOD projects and programs.
• Eight years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.
• Strong knowledge of planning, economic development and equitable TOD policies.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs and reviews staff work for Community Development Office, TOD and Joint Development teams.
• Directs TOD and joint development programs and property disposition functions.
• Ensure coordination with capital delivery projects to maximize TOD outcomes within Sound Transit’s capital program.
• Support local government and partners to align zoning with TOD and infrastructure funding.
• Oversee community partnerships and maintain relationships with planners and economic development leaders.
• Advance diverse community development projects to increase transit ridership and affordable housing options.
• Provide strategic advice on planning and real estate issues and summarize market studies for leadership.

Skills

Urban planning

Community engagement

Negotiation

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or related field

Job description

Salary range is $171k to $325k, with a midpoint of $248k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Benefits

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

General Purpose

Under general direction of the Chief Planning and Development Officer, leads and administers Sound Transit's Community Development division, including setting strategic direction for its transit-oriented development (TOD), joint development, community activation and related programs, overseeing the development/disposition of the agency's excess property portfolio and executing transit oriented, joint development and other real estate transactions using Sound Transit properties.

Essential Functions

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the staff work of the Community Development Office, including TOD and Joint Development teams, community activation and other efforts; assigns work activities and coordinates schedules, projects, and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.
• Supports the Chief Planning and Development Officer in developing strategic direction for and oversight of the agency's Community Development workplan; directs the TOD and joint development programs, and property disposition functions to ensure compliance with the agency's equitable TOD policy along with federal, state, and other ST policies, procedures and guidelines; assumes management responsibility for the services and activities of the Community Development Office.
• Ensures active, ongoing coordination with Sound Transit staff on capital delivery projects to maximize TOD and related community development outcomes within ST's capital program, maintaining strong working relationships with peers across the agency to support advancing TOD and related community development outcomes as projects advance to construction.
• Supports local government and other community partners in achieving TOD and related outcomes around ST stations and services throughout the region, leveraging staff and consultant expertise to help ensure local zoning and development regulations support TOD outcomes and by providing create public financing support to help deliver local transit-supportive infrastructure.
• Oversees the agency's community partnerships around TOD and maintains strong working relationships with planning and economic development leaders across the region.
• Advances a diverse range of community development projects to realize goals of increased transit ridership, revenue generation, economic development, and vibrant station areas that include a diversity of housing options with a priority to affordability and mix of uses.
• Ensures the integration of program priorities into project development at the corridor level; provides technical support and participates in local, regional, and state initiatives to improve land use/transit connectivity.
• Provides independent, strategic advice to ST leadership on a range of planning and real estate issues; leverages staff and consultant resources to direct market studies and feasibility analysis; summarizes findings and provides recommendations to the agency's leadership and Board of Directors.
• Oversees the preparation of program reports for executive leadership, the state legislature, agency's Board of Directors, and external audiences; oversees implementation of the Community Development Office's TOD Strategy by identifying the development pipeline that best implements agency policies, establishing annual goals and reporting on metrics and outcomes.
• Closely coordinates with and provides strategic support for real estate functions, including market capacity, appraisal and acquisition, property or asset management.
• Administers and manages consultant assignments in support of the Community Development Office and for a variety of internal clients; participates on Agency or external committees to address initiatives of broader Agency interest.
• Negotiates complex real estate and development transactions for property on and adjacent to Sound Transit facilities (stations, auxiliary spaces, guideways, and rails) including obtaining rights needed for long term operations and maintenance of the system.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Studies, Real Estate, Urban Geography, or closely related field; Ten years of progressive experience managing complex real estate, planning, and TOD projects and programs and other real estate developments, including hands‑on expertise with a range of real estate development types, capital projects, right‑of‑way acquisition, project negotiation, community planning, and building construction. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Eight years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Practicing understanding of core principles of urban planning and urban land economics, including development planning, transportation planning and approaches to equitable community engagement.
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a transit oriented and joint development real estate project transactions, real estate acquisition, relocation, property management, and disposition.
• Real estate property principles and practices related to the appraisal, acquisition, management, and sale or lease of public real property assets.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Principles and practices of economic development.
• Project management techniques and principles.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Negotiation principles and practices.
• Principles and practices of customer service.
• Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling databases, spreadsheets, and reports.
• Contract management and administration.
• Managing large, complex projects and making decisions in fast‑paced, difficult environments.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.
• Best practices in managing a diverse staff, including performance management and maintaining confidentiality and communicating with tact and diplomacy.
• Applying project management techniques and principles.
• Developing and monitoring program/project operating budgets, costs, and schedules.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Work is performed in a hybrid environment with an expectation of working in office a minimum of 3 days per week.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action 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.