Salary range is $130k to $235k, with a midpoint of $180k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE: 

This is work of a highly responsible and complex nature requiring broad rail transit and high capacity transit knowledge, high organizational skill, excellent communication abilities, and the ability to work through complex strategic and technical issues. Working under general direction the candidate plans, directs, manages and oversees the activities of projects along a High Capacity Transit corridor, including bus, commuter rail, and light rail programs representing the operations perspective; provides a primary point of contact on major transportation projects between the Operations Department and planning and construction teams and works as a director/partner and advocate throughout the design, construction, and transition to operations process. The Corridor Operations Readiness Director with leaders from partnering departments providing oversight, guidance, and management when necessary to project teams during all phases of the project development process, including planning, preliminary engineering, final design, construction, and through to the transition of the project and capital assets into activation and pre-revenue operation. The Director is both a department and agency leader and co-director as well as an advocate for the Operations Department and ultimately the customer/passenger. The Director also has the responsibility to reach back into the Operations Department for subject matter expertise in those areas requiring additional attention, especially for expertise of a technical nature. In sum, the Director is working in and often leading cross functional teams, ensuring appropriate focus and resources are applied to the project and that timely decisions and critical deliverables are accomplished for effective existing and future operations. 

Responsible for oversight of all transit operations in capital program delivery processes while partnering with key technical experts in the Operations Department for input and guidance. Serves as lead, liaison and technical resource to the Department, construction and planning teams. Leads review of major multi-modal transportation projects from planning and design through transition to operations, collaborates with team leaders for cost effective and sustainable solutions, and negotiates value recommendations. 

• Sound Transit has an annual capital and operating budget of $3 billion and is in the process of delivering one of the largest transit expansion programs in the country.
• Voters in the greater Seattle region approved three-system expansion plans defined in the ballot initiatives known as Sound Move (1996), Sound Transit 2 (ST2 in 2008), and Sound Transit 3 (ST3 in 2016).

These programs authorize ongoing funding for the design, construction, and operations of a fully integrated network of Light Rail, Commuter Rail, Bus Rapid Transit, and Commuter Express Bus systems which, together, will:

• Reshape the landscape of the entire Western-Washington region, enhance economic development.
• Help combat climate change, and improve mobility, livability, smart growth, affordability, and accessibility across the region.

The Sound Transit Team includes highly experienced capital program and service delivery leadership and staff who have successfully delivered and operated the Sound Move program and are moving toward completion of the ST2 program. As the size of the Sound Transit light rail system will more than double over the next two decades, Sound Transit needs to grow its leadership capacity and expertise to deliver on commitments to voters.

Sound Move (1996-2007) represented the first phase of a long-term vision for high-capacity regional transit. The public vote for this initial phase:

1. Authorized the creation of Sound Transit
2. Enacted tax collections for funding the expansion.
3. Established the first set of regional transit projects. These projects were a success and included:

• • 26 miles of light rail service between Seattle-Tacoma Airport and the University of Washington, with a northward extension to Northgate dependent upon additional funding.
  • Peak period commuter rail from Lakewood and Everett to Seattle.
  • ST Express bus routes linking the region’s population and employment centers.
  • Capital investments in transit facilities (such as transit centers and park-and-ride lots) plus HOV direct access ramps that improve bus speed and reliability.

Sound Transit 2 (2008-2026) includes substantial additions and betterments to ST Express bus, Sounder commuter rail service, and Link light rail service. Several of these projects are in or nearing the testing, commissioning and pre-revenue operations as we approach revenue operations for each over the next few years. These projects include:

• 36 added miles of Link light rail service north to Lynnwood, east to Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond's Overlake area, as well as south of Seatle-Tacoma Airport.
• Extra service on the busiest ST Express bus routes.
• 4 new daily Sounder round trips on its popular South Line, along with heightened station access and more parking.

Sound Transit 3 (2016-2041 which was realigned to 2046 by the Sound Transit board in 2021), is determined to connect the region's cities and to expand its light rail spine. This program is intended to expand the mass transit network and connect 16 cities with light rail; 30 cities with Bus Rapid Transit and ST Express bus service; and 12 cities with commuter rail. These projects include:

• 62 added miles of light rail that will link a 116-mile system with extensions to:
• Everett via the Paine Field Industrial Center (known as Boeing Field);
• Tacoma via Federal Way and Fife.
• downtown Redmond; Ballard via South Lake Union and Seattle Center.
• West Seattle; and a new light rail line from south Kirkland through Bellevue to Issaquah.
• 46 miles of Bus Rapid Transit on major highways to the north, east, and south of Lake Washington – with service every 10 minutes during peak hours.
• Sounder South capacity expansion – with platform extensions to accommodate trains of up to 10 car lengths and serving some 40 percent more passengers, while extending service from Lakewood to DuPont and installing access improvements at stations along the north and south lines.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Plans, directs, coordinates and reviews the work of assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates schedules, projects and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.
• Serves as the primary point of contact, lead and liaison for the Operations Department in the development, planning, implementation, and transition to operation of all projects. 
• Leads development of sustainable operational and maintenance plans, customer service perspectives, startup strategies, total cost of ownership, and policy analysis for new assets.
• Meets with project delivery teams and key Operations Department staff to discuss work underway, upcoming assignments and issues, and align staff resources to support project delivery needs.
• Ensures that express bus, commuter rail, light rail modal operations, revenue fleet, and facilities maintenance and service issues are identified and addressed throughout the program delivery process; acts as coordinator between the process activities and key technical experts in the Operations Department for technical input and guidance.
• Provides presentations on Departmental policies, projects and planning activities to inter departmental customers, as well as external stakeholders.
• Participates in complex discussions and reviews of detailed transit design and construction documents, and presents those plans to Operations Department staff and to other parts of the Agency as required. Supports high level negotiations and effectively partners with local jurisdictions, agencies, utilities, contractors, consultants and community groups for assigned projects; negotiates solutions to major conceptual issues involving policy and change of directions while effectively leading and influencing internal and external decision makers and stakeholders.
• Provides support to the Department on matters as directed; serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Supplements Operations Department modal and support function divisions with work as assigned.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Planning, Engineering, Architecture, Facility Management, Transit Operations or closely related field. Eight years of experience with rail or transit related projects, specifically in rail/bus, transit/transportation, including track, facilities, vehicle maintenance or control center operations preferred. Reviewing drawings, specifications, and agency - jurisdictional agreements, providing input during design phases through construction and transitioning to operations. Working with stakeholders, and policy and procedures development that includes total cost of ownership and management responsibility, preferably in a transit/transportation related environment; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• Certifications / licenses for DBIA or other construction delivery methods.
• Trainings, qualifications, or certifications provided by the National Transit Institute (NTI), American Public Transit Association (APTA), and the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI)

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• The organization and operation of transit agencies.
• Transit infrastructure development, maintenance and service planning.
• Bus, commuter rail, light rail and facility operations and maintenance characteristics, services, and activities. 
• Principles and techniques of project management.
• Transition of new assets, commissioning and startup activities.
• Asset lifecycle cost management.
• Schedule and risk management in construction delivery.
• Policy and procedure development.
• Managing multiple complex projects and making decisions in fast-paced, difficult environments.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.
• Techniques to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as they apply to transit operations.
• Exercising independent judgment.
• Analytical, strategic, and critical thinking.
• Working cooperatively with all levels of an organization.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, Management, vendors, and outside agencies.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Effectively represent diverse interests. 
• Managing complex projects and making decisions in fast-paced, difficult environments.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Communicating tactfully, clearly, concisely and appropriately to diverse stakeholders.
• Public speaking, including preparing and delivering presentations.
• Applying advanced project management techniques and principles.
• Utilizing technology tools effectively in analyzing, summarizing and preparing spreadsheets and reports.
• Contract procurement strategies and management principles.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid and field office environment.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Positions is responsible for maneuvering around construction sites; may be subject to bending, climbing, crawling, grasping, hearing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, sitting, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and carrying and lifting up to 25 pounds. 
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required. 

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action 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.