System Impacts Coordinator (Transportation Planner III)

King County; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

King County invites applications for a Transportation Planner III in the Bus Operations Division. The role supports the Construction Information Coordinator and Trolley Impacts Coordinator bodies of work to keep Metro's electric trolley buses running smoothly across Seattle and King County.

The position emphasizes equity and sustainability, requires strong project management and collaboration with internal teams and external partners, and involves travel within King County as needed.

Job description

Learn how Metro connects you with what matters

*This position is only open to current Metro Transit employees*

King County Metro Transit's Bus Operations division has an exciting opportunity available for a tech-savvy, safety-driven individual to utilize their transit system knowledge and project management skills as a career service System Impacts Coordinator (Transportation Planner III).

The Bus Operations Division is comprised of two sections, the Bus Management Section and the Service Management Section. The Construction Information/Trolley Impacts Coordinator position will provide support in the Service Management Section, System Impacts work group, which mitigates the effect construction and special events have on our transit services, facilities and customers. These positions will work to make sure that our service is predictable, safe and accessible for our customers to enjoy and utilize.

Need assistance?

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation, assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have general questions, please contact: Renay Huggins, HR Talent Advisor [e-mail]

Body of work

The candidate selected for this position will be required to do both the Construction Information Coordinator and Trolley Impacts Coordinator bodies of work:

Construction Information Coordinator

The body of work for the Construction Information Coordinator (TP III) will include the development of strategic transportation plans that affect Metro Transit Electric Trolley Bus Systems. Duties will include implementing transportation-related projects that involve multiple departments, agencies and/or jurisdictions and the private sector. This assignment requires frequent travel throughout King County for meetings to ensure deliverables are on schedule.

Trolley Impacts Coordinator

King County Metro Transit has approximately 160 electric trolley buses. These electric buses connect passengers in downtown Seattle, Ballard, Queen Anne, the University District, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Beacon Hill and the Rainier Valley. The Trolley Impacts Coordinator will play a vital part in ensuring these buses keep rolling and service continues to expand throughout King County.

Equity and social justice principles

Equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In these roles you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As a Transportation Planner III, you will also:

• Work with both the City of Seattle and private contractors to manage projects that impact Metro's Electric Trolley Bus System. Work will include intake of projects, determining the impact projects have on Transit operations, tasking staff with segments of the planning and attending construction/planning meetings and site visits.
• Keep internal Power and Facilities staff and other external transit departments informed of potential trolley system impacts. Coordinate changes as needed.
• Coordinate with Metro Transit Vehicle Maintenance section on impacts to vehicle assignments as it relates to service areas and conditions.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity and sustainability. Promote an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment and support diversity and inclusion goals.
• Prepare rider alerts as needed regarding impacts to Metro's Electric Trolley Bus System.
• Coordinate with System Impacts staff and others in internal planning and work groups as well as external partners and stakeholders such as SDOT and WSDOT.
• Lead work teams toward assigned objectives, including ensuring that team objectives are met, assigning tasks within the group, facilitating group discussions, prioritizing work and resolving group conflicts. Analyze work team or consultant work products/reports.
• Prepare written recommendations and action plans as needed.
• Compose and distribute time-sensitive information to transit staff related to changes in service, and emergencies.
• Attend weekly Service Impacts staff meetings and respond to internal and external questions related to construction affecting Transit service.
• Ensure that ordinance compliance issues are resolved promptly, and weekly invoicing is completed. Maintain detailed records of actions taken for future reference.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience managing and coordinating projects and/or processes
• Demonstrated project management skills, including ability to prioritize project activities
• Critical thinking skills related to construction and/or project management, process improvement, and continuous improvement
• Experience in either Transit Operations, Transportation Planning Construction or project management, or an equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities.
• Experience managing and coordinating competing stakeholders' project and processes
• Skill providing easily understandable information and direction to diverse audiences
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to develop solutions to complex problems
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds with diverging opinions and viewpoints
• Skill in solving problems, negotiating differences, and resolving conflicts among multiple stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, manage numerous projects simultaneously
• Experience working in an environment that may include ambiguity and political sensitivity
• Experience preparing project communications and documents
• Strong time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, multiple projects, and daily operational responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Skill in problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution among multiple stakeholders
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel
• Possess a valid Washington State driver's license (or ability to obtain Washington State driver's license upon hire) or alternate ability to travel to off-site locations

Desirable Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in planning, economics, transportation, sociology, environmental science, or related field
• Experience in handling invoices as part of business operations. This may include creating invoices, tracking payments, resolving discrepancies, or auditing for accuracy.
• Experience coordinating transportation or construction projects.
• Experience with handling multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of Metro Transit routes, policies, and procedures
• Knowledge of trolley operations and the trolley overhead
• Skill in negotiation and conflict resolution

Work Location and Schedule

The work schedule is normally a day shift, Mon-Fri between the hours of 7AM-5PM onsite at Central Base Operations with occasional offsite work in environments that include exposure to weather and unstable walking surfaces such as construction sites. Work may also include occasional nights and weekend. There may be times when you are required to work outside of normal business hours. This position is considered exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay.

Classification, Pay grade, and Union Membership

Transportation Planner III, job code 241804. Pay grade 63. This position is represented by the Professional and Technical Employees Local 17 bargaining unit.

Selection Process

Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as internal record reviews.

Safety Responsibilities for an Employee

• Responsible for understanding Metro Transit Safety Policy and their role in safety.
• Report all safety concerns.
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary 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.

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.