Rail Project/Program Manager III – Link Permitting (Operations)

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

King County Metro Transit is seeking a Project/Program Manager III for the Rail Operations team to lead a new initiative in scheduling high priority work as part of the Link Permitting process. The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, proactive problem-solving, and rigorous program management to ensure timely delivery.

The ideal candidate will navigate interdependencies across permitting phases, work with diverse stakeholders, and apply continuous improvement to drive outcomes.

Qualifications

• Three (3) years of project or program management experience with multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• Three (3) years of experience using project management software/tools and Microsoft Office.
• Experience with leading continuous process improvements and program evaluation.
• Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, organize work assignments, and manage multiple tasks with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to support leadership priorities, coordinate cross-functional efforts, and maintain alignment with divisional direction.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment to accomplish work plans and deliverables within established timelines.
• Strong communication skills in both oral and written forms with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Knowledge of equity and social justice principles and ability to communicate on these topics.

Responsibilities

• Lead in developing a planning/scheduling process for high priority work within the Permitting process.
• Provide leadership to a Rail Permitting PPM II dedicated to the PRIME process.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to manage permits and advance projects.
• Use project management software and office tools to manage timelines and deliverables.
• Build collaborative relationships across teams and communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Facilitate meetings and workgroups to translate input into action.
• Advance strategic relationships across King County Metro, Sound Transit, and external groups.
• Apply innovation and continuous improvement to projects.
• Support scheduling and coordination of workshops, meetings, and training.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Interdepartmental coordination

Communication (oral & written)

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Leadership

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management software

Power Automate

Job description

King County Metro Transit’s Rail Division is seeking a Project/Program Manager III to join the Rail Operations team. This position will support and lead a new initiative for scheduling high priority work as a part of the Link Permitting process, with a focus on effective program management and cross-functional collaboration.

The successful candidate will be highly detail-oriented, organized, and skilled at managing complex processes and projects across multiple stakeholders. They will also have a strong understanding of how decisions made within one phase of the permitting process can impact downstream activities, timelines, and outcomes. The ideal candidate will be proactive, collaborative, and able to navigate the interdependencies across the broader permitting process to help ensure successful delivery.

This recruitment process will be used to fill one (1) Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or one (1) Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position. This PPM III SDA/TLT position is anticipated to last until November 2027.

About Metro Transit’s Expanding Rail Division

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.

Who May Apply

This position is open to King County employees and the general public.

King County Employees applying for this SDA opportunity 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 Rail PPM III, you will:

• Lead in the development of a planning/scheduling process for high priority work that will be a component of the standard Permitting process; coordinate the permits for the work being requested by the PRIME project teams.
• Provide leadership to a Rail Permitting PPM II dedicated to the PRIME process.
• Work in partnership with various stakeholders to manage permits, advance projects, identify needs, and support program and project success.
• Use various tools, including project management software and office applications to manage project timelines and deliverables.
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships across teams and functions and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Facilitate meetings and workgroups to gather input and translate ideas into action.
• Nurture and advance strategic relationships across King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other external stakeholder groups.
• Apply a lens of innovation and continuous improvement to all projects.
• Serve as a system of support and a critical problem-solver for leadership from across the Rail Division.
• Identify metrics to measure success of projects and programs. Write analytical or program evaluation reports.
• Support the scheduling and coordination of workshops, meetings, training sessions, and project teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Three (3) years of project or program management experience including working with multiple workstreams, stakeholders, and interdependencies
• Three (3) years of experience using project management software/tools and office applications (including proficiency in Microsoft Office tools).
• Experience with leading continuous process improvements and program evaluation
• Must be able to set priorities, meet deadlines, organize work assignments, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and operate with strong attention to detail
• Ability to support leadership priorities, coordinate cross-functional efforts, and maintain alignment with divisional direction
• Must be able to work independently and in a collaborative team environment to accomplish work plans and deliverables within established timelines
• Be an effective communicator using both oral and written communications, including comfortability facilitating and presenting meetings with diverse stakeholder groups
• Knowledge of equity and social Justice principles and an ability to effectively communicate on these topics
• Willingness to take on other duties as assigned and support peers in advancing the goals of the team

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of standard Rail Permitting practices
• Experience with Power Automate, DotMaps/Coordinates
• Experience working in transit/transportation operations
• Familiarity with Sound Transit, King County Metro, or other regional transit operations and practices
• Experience working in an Operations, Maintenance, or Service Delivery environment with a large, deskless workforce
• Experience utilizing various technologies to improve project management, enhance program success, and measure impact (i.e., Miro, Microsoft Planner, Smartsheet, Tableau)
• Experience tracking outcomes using quantitative and qualitative measures
• Experience planning and facilitating workshops

Selection 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 participate in interviews. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews.

Work Schedule

This position is full time, 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday. The work schedule is between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; however, there is some flexibility in start and end time, with manager approval. Employees in this role may be required to work a flexible schedule, as needed, to meet business and operational requirements. On-Call hours until 6pm Monday through Friday. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Telework

This position follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of 2 days per week onsite at one of the locations below, 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. Employees will be provided with a Sound Transit issued laptop and must maintain a 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. 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.

Work Location

Primary In-Person Work Locations will be:

• Operations and Maintenance Facility – Central: 3407 Airport Way South, Seattle, WA 98134
• Operations and Maintenance Facility – East: 1925 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005
• And any future Sound Transit Link facilities

Safety Responsibilities for an Employee

• Responsible for understanding this policy and their role in safety
• Report all safety concerns
• Follow safety practices and procedures to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system

Union Membership: PROTEC17 : C4 union

Job Code/ Pay Grade: 243303 / 64

An Employer to Be Proud Of

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.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

King County's 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 person's 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.