Director - Metro Transit Employee Services Division

King County Metro Transit seeks an exceptional and visionary leader to serve as the  Director of Employee Services . This critical role is an exciting opportunity to lead and innovate within one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.  As a member of Metro?s Leadership team,  you will provide a strategic people operations lens in support of our pursuit to revolutionize mobility. With a robust portfolio including bus, streetcar, light rail, paratransit, Vanpool, Water Taxi and flexible services Metro is at the forefront of redefining transportation excellence.

As the Director of Employee Services, you will lead a diverse and dynamic team of 120 employees who support people operations at KC Metro. This division is comprised of sections and teams that support all human resources functions for Metro, including talent management, organizational health and development, employee and labor relations, leave administration and accommodations, and HR systems and data analytics. You will work alongside senior leaders to guide critical budget, service, and priority decisions that shape the future of public transit in our region. Your leadership will directly impact Metro's ability to deliver exceptional public transportation services to more than 2 million King County residents.

Job Duties

The Division Director will also :

Collaborate with leadership, labor partners, and employees to enhance our workplace culture. This includes expanding access to learning and development opportunities, fostering a diverse and culturally responsive workforce, promoting health, well-being, and safety, and providing competitive, stable, and equitable total compensation. The Director of Employee Services ensures that our systems and processes support these endeavors.

Plan and manage the division budget, determining and distributing resources at a leadership level rather than at a tactical level.

Direct the development and execution of short- & long-term strategic goals, vision, workforce management, performance measures, strategies, policies, best practices, and initiatives.

Cultivate and implement systems that foster an organizational culture emphasizing continuous improvement, racial equity and social justice for employees.

Encourage an environment of innovation and enduring change, with a keen understanding of enhancing existing products and services to meet the internal needs of employees and divisions. This is done in alignment with King County's centralized labor, human resources, and career and culture teams.

Utilize the County?s information and business intelligence systems to promote operational enhancements, focusing on performance, measurement, and accountability.

Employ both internal and external resources, technology, and continuous improvement methods to present metrics, enhance processes, increase capacity, and provide superior value to our customers and community.

Collaborate with functional leaders to facilitate and optimize organizational design and growth, including procedures, structures, and systems, without directly engaging in the tactical work.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

The ideal candidate will :

Bring experience working with large, diverse organizations that engage with labor unions, while fostering collaboration and building effective partnerships across all levels.

Demonstrate a history of progressively responsible experience in HR at the professional and / or management level. This includes strategic planning, decision-making, team leadership, and the execution of HR initiatives that align with organizational goals.

Propel organizational design and development by leveraging team expertise to align people systems with strategic goals, ensuring unity and efficiency.

Formulate and execute strategic initiatives by effectively managing the design and implementation of strategic plans that align business strategies with divisional roles and responsibilities.

Champion fairness, address systemic racism, and promote open, inclusive dialogues with employees and stakeholders.

Sponsor complex projects by defining, organizing, and resourcing multifaceted initiatives. Lead and facilitate cross-functional teams to achieve objectives, without directly engaging in the tactical work.

Offer expert advice to senior and executive management on complex initiatives, policies, and workplace or labor challenges.

Create strategies to boost engagement, support learning, and foster team building to prepare the workforce for future challenges.

Communicate with transparency and effectively distill and convey complex concepts to diverse audiences while maintaining a focus on actionable and forward-moving decisions.

Demonstrate resilience and flexibility in navigating a dynamic, multi-faceted, and sometimes ambiguous work environment.

Adeptly navigate internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization, acting in the organization's best interest.

Serve as a strategic partner to nine divisions, driving innovation, collaboration, and strong relationships while maintaining a leadership perspective.

Supplemental Information

Who May Apply

This recruitment is open to all King County employees and the general public.

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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

For additional information or if you would like to request assistance in the application, please contact  Jalynn Davis - jalydavis@kingcounty.gov

Required Application Materials

• A Resume
• A cover letter no more than one page summarizing  your skills, abilities and qualifications related to this role.

NOTE :   Applications that do not include the required materials will be considered incomplete and ineligible for further consideration.

Selection Process

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills to determine the most qualified candidates. The process may include the following : a review of the application and supplemental questions, testing and / or panel interview, and references. In addition, applicants may be asked to give a short presentation as part of the evaluation process.

Work Schedule

This hybrid role involves a mix of remote work and on-site responsibilities, with an expectation of being in the office for meetings, tasks, and assignments as needed. This role regularly visits Metro worksites and maintains a presence at regional events. These positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and are not eligible for overtime pay. Work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 40-hour work week. Variations may be required depending on the demands and training needs of the work.

Union Membership

This position is not represented by a union.

Work Location

The incumbent will have a hybrid work schedule and may work remotely and onsite. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104.

Teleworking Requirement

The work associated with this position is currently being performed in a hybrid fashion including teleworking, with regular onsite work and meetings. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements

King County has a robust collection of  tools and resources  to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Forbes 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.

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.