Salary range is $140k to $240k, with a midpoint of $185k. 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.

This position will provide on-site support to executive leadership. Limited remote work may be possible when this support is not needed.

GENERAL PURPOSE: 

Under the general direction of the Cabinet member, the Chief of Staff (CoS) serves as a Departmental leader, key strategic partner and advisor to, as well as proxy for the Cabinet member. The CoS manages and coordinates a range of activities—strategic, tactical, and/or those of a sensitive or urgent nature—on behalf of the Cabinet member and across the departments, integrating and aligning internal and external work across the department to achieve joint ownership of strategic priorities, initiatives, and success. 

Serves as a proxy, strategic partner and advisor, administrator, and implementer for the Leadership Cabinet member, enabling the Cabinet member to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders. Participates in the development of tactical and strategic plans to meet agency goals, builds the team capability to deliver, ensures clarity of team roles and responsibilities, and that key projects and initiatives are on a trajectory to achieve those goals, and proactively addresses issues and obstacles in order to maximize effectiveness of both the Cabinet member’s day-to-day and the departmental organization they lead. 

In addition to overseeing departmental and cross-agency functions and business rhythm, the CoS is a key leader in the development of strategic and tactical plans for the agency, builds leadership and team capabilities accordingly, ensures clarity in roles and responsibilities, and manages initiatives to achieve goals, improve organizational effectiveness, and mitigate barriers to progress and the team's success. 

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.

• Participates as an active member of the department’s leadership team and oversees the administration of department level leadership conversations. Assists the Cabinet member in identifying key challenges and opportunities, and in developing and implementing effective responses to position Sound Transit for ongoing growth. The CoS can serve as the Cabinet member’s proxy in their absence. 
• Supports the Cabinet member in managing and directing department and agency work; proactively addresses issues that may impact the successful execution of Cabinet member imperatives and commitments; evaluates underlying interests of the internal and external stakeholders working with the Cabinet member to understand their intentions; and develops creative alternatives for handling pressing issues. 
• Supports Cabinet member in building and maintaining relationships with Sound Transit Board members, as directed and as appropriate, and acts as an internal Cabinet member proxy while serving as a coordination resource on Board-specific and general agency matters; and other matters regarding pertinent state laws, codes, and regulations, including RTA (Regional Transit Authority) enabling legislation, Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30), and the Open Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) as needed or requested. 
• Provides support to the Cabinet Member on special projects and initiatives, curating and approving agendas, identifying and convening experts and thought leaders, and developing and cascading agency and departmental communications on behalf of the Cabinet member and in alignment with agency level communications; conducts necessary research to align agency resources and drive agency-wide understanding at the departmental leveling line with the Cabinet member’s initiatives and priorities. 
• Oversees strategic coordination and integration of Sound Transit’s Cabinet to facilitate and follow up on critical decisions; together with the agency CoS team. Ensures that the Cabinet member is aligned with stated strategic goals and direction, covers the appropriate issues and decision types, and prepares the Cabinet member for necessary meetings, agenda items, and topics of discussion. 
• Serves on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, agency policies and procedures, rules, and regulations. Manages the expectations of a variety of external stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and the broader community; provides prompt and concise feedback or corrective actions as necessary; and develops partnerships with local government agencies to keep abreast of local practices. 
• Drives performance by creating an agency-wide culture of excellence that maximizes internal and external customer service and sets clear and challenging goals for internal-facing departments ensuring these functions collaborate and create efficient cross-functional processes and teams to work effectively while addressing the agency’s mission. 
• Drives performance by actively leading and managing the culture change necessary for system expansion, acts as a change agent by communicating the need for change while modeling and enforcing new behaviors and norms for the agency, and contributing to and promoting an inclusive and healthy work environment. 
• Participates in organizational design, staffing, recruitment, and succession planning efforts, as needed and as the agency rapidly grows. Coaches, trains, and motivates staff; facilitates staff training; manages employee relations staff performance and takes appropriate corrective action when necessary; and provides advice and counsel to staff and guidance to agency leaders on establishing professional growth and development plans for staff. 
• Manages, directs, and oversees the activities of the Cabinet member’s direct reports; monitors weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on budget, operating and project-related performance, and progress on achieving performance objectives including individual development plans; supports the Cabinet member in decision-making about updates and changes to current organizational priorities and structure. Holds department executives accountable for team commitments and modeling of ST values-based behaviors. 
• Sets the table for, facilitates and follows up on “critical path” Cabinet member meetings. Ensures that the meeting objectives are realistic, that preparation is appropriate, and that the Cabinet member is well-prepared and their time is leveraged most effectively in the context of the meeting; provides situational awareness. 
• Directs the allocation of agency resources, including budget, technology, and staffing, to achieve goals and objectives; provides leadership and direction on project scopes, schedules, and budgets; makes recommendations and forecasts for future funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; adjusts plans and programs to address new and emerging programs, policies, and expectations. 
• Oversees and partners with staff in the immediate office of the Cabinet member to provide guidance on shifting priorities, time allocation, and document flow and Cabinet member approvals, and timely responses to incoming inquiries and appropriate delegation to other staff.
• 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 Public Administration, Political Science, Communications, Transportation, Construction Management, or closely related field; Eight years of experience in public or private sector transit or transportation and/or urban planning, engineering, and/or construction management; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Six years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Advanced principles and practices of program development, public speaking, program and project administration and management, including procurement and contract management.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other division staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public. 
• Initiating and leading change in a time of growth, operational scaling, and rapidly changing context. 
• Leading and motivating staff. Fostering a positive and progressive attitude in a diverse technical and operational environment with competing priorities. Developing, managing, and directing assigned divisions, complex programs, and functional areas.
• Ability to think broadly about a topic and gain the viewpoints of others to ensure that a situation, task or goal and its potential impact is fully understood by all stakeholders. 
• Strong active listening, problem solving and conflict resolution skills, proficiency in using self- assessment and self-management skills to participate effectively and constructively as a team member to ensure group success over individual goals. 
• Conceptualizing, influencing, developing, and administering goals, objectives, guidelines, and procedures for the assigned divisions, programs, and functional areas and participate in the development and administration of goals and objectives. 
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies. 
• Developing and monitoring divisional and program/project operating budgets, costs, and schedules. 
• Analyze and synthesize information in a concise manner and make recommendations on strategies to resolve issues. 
• Ability to build complex cross-group/department plans, drive, track, and report execution progress.
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, including presentation skills. Must be able to manage conversations with executives from multiple disciplines.
• Supervising, leading, and delegating tasks and authority. 
• Applying sound judgment, often listening more and talking less. 
• Fostering a positive and progressive attitude in a diverse technical environment with competing priorities. 
• Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports. 
• Pertinent federal state and local laws, codes, and regulations. 
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office environment.
• 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.