Senior Program Manager-System Planning

Sound Transit; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Long-term disability

Employee assistance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Parental leave

Pet insurance

ORCA card

Tuition reimbursement

Reproductive health support

Compensation & equity

Job summary

Sound Transit in Seattle is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead scoping, execution, and cross-functional coordination of high-priority agency initiatives. This role ensures alignment across system planning, transit operations, capital project delivery, finance, and administration, reporting to the Deputy Executive Director of System Planning.

You will drive outcomes through stakeholder engagement, integrated work planning, and performance tracking, ensuring timely delivery and alignment

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Business Administration, Transportation Planning, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Political Science, or closely related field.
• Five years of experience in project management/implementation, research, analysis, or administration for planning, public policy, transportation, or construction.
• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs in public or service-oriented organizations.
• Strong understanding of transportation planning, capital project development, transit operations, and public sector operations.
• Excellent project management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of public administration, transit planning, or related fields (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive the development and execution of a comprehensive program plan for agency initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities across planning, operations, capital, finance, and admin teams.
• Convene workshops and working sessions to drive solutions.
• Manage competing goals, negotiate commitments, and mediate conflicts.
• Serve as central point for program milestones, risks, and interdependencies.
• Engage internal and external stakeholders for effective collaboration.
• Report progress, performance metrics, and critical issues to executive leadership.
• Uphold Sound Transit values and support equity and inclusion initiatives.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Transportation planning

Public sector operations

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Business Administration, Transportation Planning, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Political Science, or closely related field

Job description

Salary range is $81k to $186k, with a midpoint of $133k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• 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

The Senior Program Manager is responsible for leading the scoping, execution, and cross-functional coordination of a range of high-priority agency-wide strategic initiatives. This position ensures alignment across system and network planning, transit operations, capital project delivery, finance, business administration, and executive oversight functions. The Senior Program Manager will drive program outcomes through effective stakeholder engagement, integrated work planning, and performance tracking, ensuring timely delivery and strategic alignment across departments. This role reports directly to the Deputy Executive Director of System Planning, or other planning office leadership, as assignments emerge. This Senior Program Manager position is required to embody agency values, incorporate principles of equity and inclusion, and serve as a change management champion throughout the agency.

Essential Functions

• Lead, manage, and drive the development and execution of a comprehensive program plan for various agency strategic initiatives.


• Participate as a member of the System Policy Planning team and relevant working groups, providing analysis, insight, and recommendations to the project and to agency leadership.


• Lead, coordinate, and align activities across planning, operations, capital, finance, and administrative teams, convening workshops, working sessions, and other activities to drive to solutions.


• Coordinate and mediate competing goals and expectations. Negotiate and manage commitments of the group internally and externally.


• Manage working group and collaborative group functions, identifying necessary areas of development, strategic objectives, resourcing needs, communication gaps/challenges, and conflicts.


• Serve as the central point of accountability for program milestones, risks, and interdependencies.


• Engage internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration and support.


• Report on progress, performance metrics, and critical issues to executive leadership.


• Identify and resolve barriers to execution, escalating as necessary.


• Contribute to serving agency needs, values, and strategic priorities.


• Champion and model Sound Transit's core values and demonstrate values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.


• Contribute 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.


• All employees are responsible for integrating sustainability into everyday business practices.


• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Business Administration, Transportation Planning, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Political Science, or closely related field and five years of experience in performing project management/implementation, research, analysis, and/or administration for planning, public policy, transportation, or construction; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge And Skills

• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs within public or service-oriented organizations.


• Strong understanding of transportation planning, capital project development, transit operations, and public sector operations.


• Exceptional project management, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred Knowledge And Skills

• Knowledge of public administration, transit/transportation planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, or operations.

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.