Rail Base Section Manager (Transit Section Manager)

King County • Seattle, WA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division is seeking a Rail Base Section Manager (Transit Section Manager) to join their team. This senior leadership role reports to the Rail's Senior Operations Manager and will partner with employees, colleagues, and stakeholders to deliver world-class service. The position focuses on advancing strategic priorities within Rail, including building a culture of care, achieving operational excellence, delivering on time expansions, and maintaining strong partnerships with Sound Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation. The Rail Base Section Manager will lead the development and execution of strategic initiatives to enhance the efficiency, safety, and reliability of rail operations, overseeing the Base and Operations Support workgroups. Effective communication with diverse stakeholders, including leaders, administrative staff, employees, and Sound Transit, is crucial. The ideal candidate will have experience in a Rail Base and/or Operations Support environment, be adept at navigating complex bureaucracies, and skilled in managing multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced setting. A strong background in equity and social justice, with experience improving outcomes for historically marginalized employee groups, is also highly valued. The Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link light rail service and the City of Seattle's streetcar system, with ongoing expansions planned. This recruitment may fill immediate Career Service positions and establish an eligibility list for future vacancies.

Requirements

• Option 1: A Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Transportation Planning, Engineering, or related field and three (3) years of leadership experience in Rail Base Operations and/or Operations Support.
• Option 2: An Associate’s degree in Public Administration, Transportation Planning, Engineering, or related field and five (5) years of leadership experience in Rail Base Operations and/or Operations Support.
• Option 3: Seven (7) or more years of leadership experience in Rail Base Operations and/or Operations Support.
• Three (3) years of experience in leading and supervising people including: Supervising multidisciplinary staff.
• Developing and leading direct reports, furthering people's career goals, providing challenging and stretching tasks and assignments, and effectively developing all levels of staff.
• Engaging, empowering, training, coaching and mentoring staff.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in transit operations, strategic planning, or project management, including: Knowledge of business planning techniques, principles, and practices.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing complex projects and cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to make timely, quality decisions and assign decision-making to the appropriate staff level.
• Ability to work on a number of high-priority projects/tasks simultaneously.
• Experience working with labor, within unionized environments, and ability to respect established processes, fostering an environment of mutual respect.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all employees.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and populations.
• Passionate about creating positive and inclusive cultures that prioritize well-being and belonging of employees in a setting with a diverse employee population.
• Ability to establish and maintain respectful, effective, and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Knowledge of how to build relationships and treat all employees and customers equitably, with respect and dignity, as well as solve problems for the benefit of all.
• Resilience, problem-solving skills, and capacity to handle challenging situations with composure and effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to give and receive feedback from employees across hierarchies, and to use employee input to inform decision-making and build a trusting team culture.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Local 587 and PROTEC Local 17 other relevant labor agreements
• Knowledge of automated scheduling systems, including HASTUS
• Knowledge of visual and data management systems and processes, including Power BI
• Managed remote workers (telework and/or other work locations)
• Knowledge of and experience with the King County and Sound Transit relationship, working conditions, policies and procedures.
• Experience to translating King County's policies and procedures into Rail's unique operating environment.
• Significant experience leading initiatives that contribute to more equitable outcomes, increased employee inclusion, and a felt sense of belonging among marginalized members of the workforce. Five (5) years is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Base and Operations Support workgroups.
• Oversee recruitment, development, and engagement of section employees.
• Lead, develop, and motivate employees.
• Foster a sustainable culture of care, teamwork and excellence; help employees understand the critical role they play in achieving agency goals.
• Develop and implement innovation and strategic initiatives that strengthen the Section’s near-term performance and longer-term effectiveness.
• Lead strategic planning and performance management for Rail Base Section.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and oversee implementation of key initiatives, including service optimization, technology integration, and sustainability efforts.
• Lead and coordinate Base Section oversight, upholding standards for reliability, quality, and customer experience across all rail services.
• Provide operational input during planning, design, testing, and construction phases of expansion projects.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver excellent service, including key labor and Sound Transit partners.
• Oversee budget and resources for the Section ensuring responsible stewardship and long-term operational sustainability.
• Develop and lead communication strategy for the Section ensuring clear, timely, and consistent information flow to staff, leaders, and partners.
• Champion safety by ensuring that employee and public safety continue to be Metro's highest priority.
• Maintain strict adherence to safety rules and procedures and continually seeking to enhance safety practices.
• Manage special projects and cross-functional teams delivering high impact outcomes aligned with agency priorities.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to rail operations and expansions.
• May be assigned special projects or additional responsibilities at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Benefits

• Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
• King County is committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
• King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.
• The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree