Project/Program Manager IV
King County
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Job summary
King County Metro Transit's Rail Division is hiring a Link Maintenance Desk (LMD) Program Manager IV to provide operational leadership and cross-agency coordination for safe, reliable rail service. You will lead a team of Power Controllers and Wayside Coordinators, collaborate with Sound Transit partners, and report to the Performance Strategy Manager for governance and oversight.
Role emphasizes judgment, leadership, and 24/7 operations with responsibilities spanning staffing oversight,
Qualifications
- Four (4) years of experience in Rail/Transit/Transportation Operations.
- Three (3) years of leadership experience, including supervising staff and performance support.
- Strong communication skills and ability to coordinate across multiple agencies.
Responsibilities
- Oversee Maintenance Desk Operations and staff in a 24/7/365 environment.
- Establish KPIs, monitor performance, and take corrective actions with craft leadership.
- Identify operational risks and develop mitigation plans to maintain service continuity.
- Lead resolution of escalated maintenance concerns and coordinate interagency work.
- Provide strategic alignment and program development to improve efficiency and reliability.
Skills
Tools
Job description
* This position is open to all King County employees and the general public *
King County Metro Transit's Rail Division is seeking to hire a collaborative and solutions-oriented Link Maintenance Desk (LMD) Program Manager IV. This Project/Program Manager IV (PPM IV) role will provide operational leadership, strategic coordination, and cross-agency alignment to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient Rail operations. This PPM IV will lead a team of Power Controllers and Wayside Coordinators in a fast-paced, 24/7/365 environment, while serving as a key liaison between Wayside, Power, and Service Delivery Section Managers, craft Superintendents, and Sound Transit partners. This position requires exceptional judgment, leadership, and operational awareness, with responsibility for day-to-day oversight of LMD staff, processes, and communication pathways.
The position reports to the Performance Strategy Manager for supervision, program governance, implementation oversight, performance management, and program administration. Technical and operational direction and decision-making authority, however, will be in partnership with the Senior Maintenance Unit Manager and appropriate Maintenance craft leadership.
This recruitment process will be used to fill one (1) Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or one (1) Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position. This PPM IV SDA/TLT position is anticipated to last until June 2028.
King County Metro's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link Light Rail, a growing network spanning 60 miles and serving 38 stations across the Puget Sound region. Together with Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services, the Link Light Rail system is the backbone of an integrated regional transit network that gives people real freedom of movement. As Puget Sound transit agencies work together to build a seamless, connected system, our light rail system plays a central role in expanding access, reducing barriers, and ensuring that everyone across our region can get where they need to go.
Joining Metro's Rail Division means joining an organization that is shaping the future of public transportation in the Pacific Northwest and setting the standard for modern rail operations nationwide. This is a division that values strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to the people we serve, both our riders and our teams. Whatever your role, your work here contributes to something that matters, a light rail system that thousands of people count on every day.
This position is open to King County employees and the general public.
King County Employees applying for the SDA need to have passed their six (6) month probationary period (or will complete it by the closing date of this posting) in their current career service position.
Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Project/Program Manager IV, you will:
- Maintenance Desk Operations — Provide day to day management of LMD activities and staff, ensuring alignment with Sound Transit and King County Metro-Rail operational standards.
- Performance Management — Establish KPIs, monitor performance, and implement corrective actions in coordination with craft leadership.
- Risk Mitigation — Identify operational risks, elevate concerns appropriately, and develop mitigation plans to ensure continuity of service.
- LMD Support — Respond to employee escalations as needed 24/7/365 and provide timely report-outs to Section Managers.
- Stakeholder Engagement — Serve as the primary liaison between Maintenance, Operations, Facilities, Safety, and external partners.
- Interagency Collaboration — Coordinate work across multiple agencies with clear roles, shared expectations, and unified communication.
- Issue Resolution — Lead resolution of escalated maintenance concerns and operational conflicts.
- Team Guidance — Oversee a team of 14 Power Controllers and Wayside Coordinators and provide direction to frontline staff on priorities, communication standards, and professional conduct.
- Training & Development — Identify skill gaps, coordinate training, and reinforce continuous improvement.
- Culture & Conduct — Promote respectful engagement and proactively address performance concerns.
- Administrative Oversight — Review payroll entries, maintain attendance records, approve leave requests, and manage employee files in secured SharePoint environments.
- Strategic Alignment — Define objectives that align LMD activities with organizational priorities.
- Program Development — Coordinate workflows and procedures to improve efficiency and reliability.
- Long-Range Planning — Support multi-year growth strategies, resource planning, and training needs.
- Data Utilization — Oversee collection, validation, and interpretation of LMD data for craft leadership.
- Program Reporting — Deliver reports highlighting performance trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Process Improvement — Lead initiatives to streamline workflows and enhance service reliability.
- Incident Coordination — Capture lessons learned from service disruptions and implement process improvements.
- Communication Management — Establish protocols for timely and accurate communication during disruptions.
- After-Action Reviews — Facilitate evaluations, draft action items, and ensure corrective actions are completed.
- Clear Communication Channels — Maintain reliable information flows across crafts, leadership, and stakeholders.
- Change Management — Lead and support rollout of new procedures, technologies, and organizational changes.
- Collaborative Problem Solving — Facilitate discussions that integrate diverse perspectives and drive coordinated solutions.
- Stakeholder Relations — Handle any sensitive inquiries about the program or work being done.
Perform other related duties as assigned, including special projects and emerging needs
- Four (4) years of experience in Rail/Transit/Transportation Operations, Maintenance Coordination, or comparable operational leadership roles.
- Three (3) years of leadership experience, including supervising staff, managing performance, and supporting workforce development.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to coordinate and collaborate across multiple agencies and stakeholder groups.
- Demonstrated proficiency in data interpretation, reporting, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Demonstrates clear, concise, and thoughtful verbal and written communication and comfort in facilitating meetings and leading discussions.
- Ability to respond to emergent issues in a 24/7 operational environment.
- Experience working within King County Metro, Sound Transit, or similar transit agencies.
- Familiarity with APTA, FTA, and AREMA standards.
- Background in maintenance program development or operational planning.
- Experience leading change management initiatives.
- An online King County application. Please include relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
- A Letter (2 page maximum) addressing:
- How your experience aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications of this Link Maintenance Desk (LMD) Program Manager IV role.
- Your approach to collaborative leadership, including how you determine when to take the lead, when to seek or follow direction, and how you work with others to achieve outcomes that best serve the organization's mission. Please also provide a specific example demonstrating this approach.
- A Resume, detailing experience and duties performed. Your resume and the work history section of the King County application should reflect the same experience.
- Answer the supplemental questions in their entirety.
Applications that do not follow the above instructions may be rejected as incomplete and will not be advanced in the process.
Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Applications will then undergo a blind panel review. Highly competitive applicants may be invited to one or more interviews. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews.
This position is full time, 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay.
This position follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of 3 days per week onsite, consistent with King County Metro's hybrid work policy. Remote workdays may be adjusted based on operational or business needs. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various Sound Transit facilities. Upon hire, employees must reside in Washington state and must be able to travel to the below work locations in a timely manner to respond to operational needs and workplace reporting requirements.
Primary Work Locations will be:
- Operations and Maintenance Facility- Central: 3407 Airport Way South, Seattle, WA 98134
- Union Station: 401 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
However, employees may need to report to any of the following locations:
- Operations and Maintenance Facility – East: 1925 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005
- First Hill Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Facility: 848 7th Ave. S Seattle 98134
- South Lake Union Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Facility: 318 Fairview Ave N. 98109
- King Street Center: 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
- And any future Sound Transit Link facilities
- Fully support this program and its proper implementation
- Create a positive safety culture where employees are engaged in safety practices and processes
- Resolve hazards and safety concerns within their purview
- Ensure that SMS is implemented and executed within their area(s) of responsibility
- Ensure that performance of SMS is measured and documented in all areas
- Needs necessary for employees to perform job duties are communicated to the accountable Executive and considered in resource requests
- Provide time necessary for employees to receive sufficient training
- Establish accountability and corrective actions
This position is represented by PROTEC17 : C4 union.
2441400 / 69
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 Marwa Alansi, HR Talent Advisor, at malansi@kingcounty.gov
King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this public transportation industry.
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.
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.
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