King County Metro is looking for an innovative, collaborative technical leader to manage the Transit Technology Project Management team within the Capital Division.  The IT Capital Projects Managing Supervisor delivers on the technical projects in Metro's $1 billion dollar Capital program by providing leadership and supervision to 11 Metro IT Project Managers (IT PMs), 1 Project/Program Manager and 1 Project Administrator. This team manages and delivers nearly $200 million in Information Technology and business systems projects for Metro.  The most competitive candidate is a dependable, kind leader with a history of IT project management, project office management and IT department partnership. This person is accountable for ensuring projects deliver on strategy, risk management, issue resolution, reporting and stakeholder communications. This individual will manage and continue to improve the Transit Technology Project Management team while collaborating with project teams, stakeholders and steering committee members. This position reports to the Capital Project Delivery Section Manager.

What does Metro's Transit Technology Project Management Team do? 

The Transit Technology PM team, in Metro’s Capital Division under the Capital Project Delivery Section, provides project management from conception through procurement, integration, testing and implementation to steady state with operational teams. Each IT PM manages one or more concurrent Metro IT projects through the full project development life-cycle, ensuring project completion within authorized scope, schedule and budget.  The team's project portfolio includes a wide-ranging and challenging variety of capital projects for transit applications and systems including real time customer information, electronic fare collection and mobile ticketing, on-board systems, vehicle dispatch and telematics, maintenance work orders, asset management, wireless network communications, transit signal priority, enterprise architecture, business intelligence, capital project management and reporting, additional RapidRide lines, as well as other system enhancements and life cycle management.

About King County Metro Transit

Metro has pioneered or refined dozens of ideas that have been adopted by transit agencies nationwide, and as a result is recognized as an industry leader in transportation, having earned the APTA Transit provider of the year award in September 2018.  We are one of the largest transit systems in the country, providing over 120 million trips a year on transit and boasting a fleet of more than 1500 buses, including diesel hybrids, electric trolleys, and the largest fleet of articulated buses in the country.  We operate the largest public VanPool fleet in the nation as well as Sound Transit Regional Express buses, Link light rail, and the Seattle Streetcar. We are a leader in cutting edge green technology and eco-conscious practices, and continuously develop new and innovative ways to improve the overall transit experience for the public.   We are also an agency leader in Lean Management, and over the past two years have been transforming the way we work.

Who May Apply and Position Information: 

We are accepting applications from everyone. This recruitment process will be used to fill one immediate career service vacancy. This recruitment will also be used to establish an eligibility pool to fill future career service, TLT or SDA IT Capital Projects Managing Supervisor vacancies within the Transit Technology Project Management team that may occur within the next 6 months from the establishment of the pool, at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Forms and Materials Required

An online employment application completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs is required. A resume and a cover letter summarizing your interest in and qualifications for this position is also highly recommended.  See application instructions at the end of this posting for more details.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: 

Mara Cardenas

Senior Talent Advisor

206-477-2358

Mara.Cardenas@kingcounty.gov

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As the IT Capital Projects Managing Supervisor, you will also:

• Provide leadership and guidance to the evaluation, prioritization, selection and implementation of broad-scope technological and business process solutions. Design, manage, deliver and communicate plans for performance improvement, functionality and operational goals.  

• Determine, ensure and allocate all required personnel, financial and technology resources and ensure compliance with all King County and Metro Transit standards, policies and procedures as well as applicable local, state and federal regulations.

• Supervise thirteen IT project managers and project administrators who are responsible for multiple large systems development projects totaling more than $130 million. Supervision includes hiring selection, training, engagement, coaching, evaluation, and discipline, managing, organizing, developing, and monitoring the goals, objectives, workflow process, workload distribution, and cross training of the group members across various programmatic area.

• Promote the professional development of staff in a collaborative and collegial environment.

• Promote equity and foster an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment

• Cultivate a work environment that actively encourages diverse viewpoints, embraces and appreciates diversity, expects and ensures mutual respect, and promotes collaboration and cooperation.

• Participate in Metro’s development of the biennium capital budget process, ensuring that technology aspects of non-technology projects are considered.

• Leverage industry Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and expert project management and leadership skills to analyze, forecast and report to the enterprise and auditors on project portfolio status, including issues and risks relating to projects, the portfolio as a whole and integration between key projects.

• Ensure consistency and high quality in work products and deliverables, including project business cases, project charters, plans, budgets and other required documentation.

• Coach project stakeholders in risk management, mitigation of scope, budget and resource cross-project dependencies and cross-project impacts.

• Perform as the point of escalation for project managers with both business stakeholders and KCIT stakeholders.

• Manage, grow, and leverage the existing cross functional organizational alignment and ensure a consistent and rational approach to delivering results.

• Act as a voting member on Metro's Technical Project Prioritization committee and ensure the right technical feasibility assessments are performed with alternatives and impact assessments are performed and gauged against proposed projects.

• Oversee technology procurement and contract negotiations including RFPs RFQs terms, specifications, and Service Level Agreements (SLA)_through project close, and serve as point of contact for contract escalation.

• Participate and represent Metro in a wide variety of internal and external work groups, project teams, committees and taskforces.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Core Competencies for this position include:

• Values Differences

• Communicates Effectively

• Collaborates

• Ensures Accountability

• Builds Effective Teams

Additional requirements for this position include: 

• Leadership experience in IT project management and extensive experience managing large and complex IT projects including planning, organizing, coordinating, and managing staff, clients, and/or partners towards the successful completion of a project.

• Experience with overseeing staff and contractors engaged in development, design, review, installation, testing and implementation of in-house developed systems or off-the-shelf solutions.

• Experience managing executive expectations including conflict management and building trusted relationships with non-technical industry leaders, which result in technical solutions that deliver on documented strategic objectives.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and successfully with a diverse group of individuals from a variety of different positions and backgrounds, to develop partnerships, negotiate agreements, and to facilitate consensus.

• Collaborates well in a team environment; experience leading, organizing and motivating multi-disciplined work teams and working with individuals at all levels within an organization.

• Demonstrated history of managing and leading change, ensuring project execution and quality while successfully managing and mitigating risk.

• Knowledge of procuring, integrating, implementing and managing vendor products and solutions.

• Knowledge of workforce planning and budget administration.

• Experience working with large organizations and matrixed workgroups.

• Skill in planning and delegating work assignments, managing competing priorities, and providing stability while facilitating and successfully implementing technology transitions.

• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communications skills.

• Ability to synthesize complex information, prepare clear and concise materials and communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.

• Demonstrable knowledge of information system analysis, design, deployment and implementation strategies.

Desirable Qualifications 

• Three or more years of experience managing large IT projects

• Professional project manager certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, ITIL Master, and/or SCPM.

• Knowledge of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), transit business systems, data and processes.

• Skill in statistical, operational, business and process analyses.

• Experience with formal System Engineering and development processes.

• Five or more years of leadership experience in transportation planning, business administration, or IT project management.

• Knowledge of human resources management, supervisory principles and federal, state and local laws related to employment, civil rights, equity and social justice.

• Experience with contract and SLA negotiation and conflict resolution.

• Experience in the use of large, complex spreadsheets, word processing, presentation, project management, and database software.

• Demonstrated track record of recruiting, developing and retaining project management capabilities using all available resources including in-house, external, and outsourced.

Ready to Apply?

Complete an online application and answer the supplemental questionnaire at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.  A resume and cover letter are highly recommended. The cover letter should tell us how your experience meets or exceeds to the qualifications listed for the job and why you are interested in this position.

NOTE: Please answer ALL questions in the online employment application itself, with each of your jobs during the last 10 years listed (listing each position for each employer separately), duties explained, reasons for leaving etc.

Applications that are not complete, or do not include all required materials may be rejected as incomplete, and not advanced in the process. Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions under Application Tips and FAQs at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.  

Selection Process

Applications, including the cover letter and resume, will be screened for qualifications, communication skills and attention to detail. The most competitive candidates will be invited to proceed to the next stages of the selection process. The selection process will include a panel interview. Reference checks will be conducted.

Work Schedule

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., but work outside of the normal workday will be required for meetings, events etc.

Temporary Telecommuting Requirement

The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment; through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities.  Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains 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.  

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. 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.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement

As of October 18, 2021, most* King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by October 18th. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

This directive applies to employees in the Executive branch*, the Assessor's Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Executive Office.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities 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. 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.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Union Membership: This position is represented by PROTEC17: Professional and Technical Employees, Transit Supervisors 

Classification Code: 871710 Transit Supv – Systems Dev