Senior Program Manager, System Planning - Hybrid Seattle

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Disability & life insurance

Employee assistance program

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Parental leave

ORCA card

Tuition reimbursement

Inclusive reproductive health

Job summary

Sound Transit is seeking a Senior Program Manager for System Planning to lead scoping, execution, and cross-functional coordination of high-priority initiatives across system planning, transit operations, and capital project delivery.

The role reports to the Deputy Executive Director of System Planning and requires equity-focused leadership, stakeholder engagement, and strong program governance to ensure timely delivery and alignment with agency priorities.

Qualifications

• 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 performing project management/implementation, research, analysis, and/or administration for planning, public policy, transportation, or construction.
• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs within public or service-oriented organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead 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 and working sessions 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.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Program management

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree (Public Admin / Urban Planning / Business Admin / Transportation Planning / Engineering / Architecture / Construction Management / Political Science)

Job description

Sound Transit is seeking a Senior Program Manager for System Planning to lead scoping, execution, and cross-functional coordination of high-priority initiatives across system planning, transit operations, and capital project delivery.

The role reports to the Deputy Executive Director of System Planning and requires equity-focused leadership, stakeholder engagement, and strong program governance to ensure timely delivery and alignment with agency priorities.