Project/Program Manager IV

King County•Multiple locations in King County, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

King County Metro Transit’s Rail Division is hiring a Link Maintenance Desk (LMD) Program Manager IV to provide operational leadership, strategic coordination, and cross-agency alignment for safe, reliable, and efficient Rail operations. The role leads a team of Power Controllers and Wayside Coordinators in a fast-paced, 24/7/365 operational environment and serves as a key liaison among Wayside, Power, and Service Delivery Section Managers, craft Superintendents, and Sound Transit partners. The position is responsible for day-to-day oversight of LMD staff, processes, and communication pathways. It reports to the Performance Strategy Manager for supervision, program governance, implementation oversight, performance management, and program administration. Technical and operational direction and decision-making are carried out in partnership with the Senior Maintenance Unit Manager and appropriate Maintenance craft leadership. The position oversees a team of 14 Power Controllers and Wayside Coordinators. This recruitment will fill one Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position, anticipated to last until June 2028. The position is full time, 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday, and is exempt from overtime. It follows a hybrid schedule requiring at least three onsite days per week. Employees must reside in Washington state and be able to travel promptly to designated Sound Transit and King County work locations to meet operational and reporting needs.

Requirements

At least four years of experience in Rail, Transit, or Transportation Operations; Maintenance Coordination; or comparable operational leadership roles.
At least three years of leadership experience, including supervising staff, managing performance, and supporting workforce development.
Strong communication skills and the ability to coordinate and collaborate across multiple agencies and stakeholder groups.
Demonstrated proficiency in data interpretation, reporting, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Clear, concise, and thoughtful verbal and written communication skills, including comfort facilitating meetings and leading discussions.
Ability to respond to emergent issues in a 24/7 operational environment.
King County employees applying for the SDA must have completed, or be on track to complete by the posting’s closing date, the six-month probationary period in their current career service position.
Applicants must submit an online King County application with relevant work history, a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing role alignment and collaborative leadership with a specific example, a current resume consistent with the application work history, and complete answers to supplemental questions.
Upon hire, employees must reside in Washington state and be able to travel to designated work locations in a timely manner.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day Link Maintenance Desk activities and staff in alignment with Sound Transit and King County Metro-Rail operating standards.
Establish key performance indicators, monitor performance, and coordinate corrective actions with craft leadership.
Identify operational risks, elevate concerns, and develop mitigation plans to maintain service continuity.
Respond to employee escalations as needed in a 24/7/365 environment and provide timely reports to Section Managers.
Serve as the primary liaison among Maintenance, Operations, Facilities, Safety, and external partners.
Coordinate work across agencies by establishing clear roles, shared expectations, and unified communication.
Lead resolution of escalated maintenance concerns and operational conflicts.
Oversee Power Controllers and Wayside Coordinators, providing direction on priorities, communication standards, and professional conduct.
Identify skill gaps, coordinate training, and reinforce continuous improvement.
Promote respectful engagement and proactively address performance concerns.
Review payroll entries, maintain attendance records, approve leave requests, and manage employee files in secured SharePoint environments.
Define objectives that align LMD activities with organizational priorities; coordinate workflows and procedures to improve efficiency and reliability.
Support multi-year growth strategies, resource planning, and training needs.
Oversee collection, validation, and interpretation of LMD data for craft leadership.
Deliver reports on performance trends, risks, and improvement opportunities, and lead initiatives to streamline workflows and improve service reliability.
Capture lessons learned from service disruptions and implement process improvements.
Establish timely and accurate communication protocols during disruptions; facilitate after-action reviews, draft action items, and ensure corrective actions are completed.
Maintain reliable information flows across crafts, leadership, and stakeholders.
Lead and support the rollout of new procedures, technologies, and organizational changes.
Facilitate collaborative problem solving and handle sensitive inquiries about the program or work being performed.
Support safety program implementation, build a positive safety culture, resolve hazards within the manager’s purview, ensure safety management system (SMS) execution and measurement, communicate resource needs, and provide time for employee training.
Perform other related duties, special projects, and work addressing emerging needs.