Executive Director, Planning & Development Leader

ST Public Branding; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 206,000 - 464,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental & vision plans

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

ORCA Card

Volunteer days

Job summary

Sound Transit is seeking an Executive Director for the Office of Planning and Development in Seattle. You will lead the agency’s long-range and high-capacity corridor planning, system planning, and sustainability initiatives, guiding cross-department collaboration and external partnerships.

The role requires a strong background in transportation planning, budget leadership, and executive-level governance. A bachelor’s degree plus extensive experience are required, with a preference for a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 12 years of planning leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of long-range and regional planning concepts.
• Experience in budget preparation and administration; program management.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning-related decisions with regional and enterprise-wide implications.
• Oversee Directors and staff in long-range planning and sustainability initiatives.
• Develop Board briefings and engage with local jurisdictions, regional partners, and stakeholders.
• Manage OPD budget, performance, and staff development; enforce governance and compliance.
• Collaborate across departments to integrate planning with capital delivery and operations.

Skills

Long-range planning

Regional planning

Budget administration

Negotiation

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Transit planning

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, or closely related field

Master’s degree in Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, or closely related field

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Statistical databases

Job description

Sound Transit is seeking an Executive Director for the Office of Planning and Development in Seattle. You will lead the agency’s long-range and high-capacity corridor planning, system planning, and sustainability initiatives, guiding cross-department collaboration and external partnerships.

The role requires a strong background in transportation planning, budget leadership, and executive-level governance. A bachelor’s degree plus extensive experience are required, with a preference for a