Transit Superintendent - Rail Facilities Maintenance

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division is hiring for a Facilities Superintendent to fill one (1) Career Service vacancy. This position has four to five direct reports and 60 indirect reports, including positions such as: Facility Mechanics, Grounds Specialists, Building Operating Engineers (HVAC), Maintenance Painters, Rail Station and Facility Custodians, Administrative staff, and Chiefs within Facilities Maintenance.  

Transit Facilities Superintendents are highly skilled people leaders who possess the industry knowledge and technical awareness to support the trades work completed within their specific workgroups. The welcoming and inclusive environment created by our Superintendents models customer service, encourages the development of respectful and trusting work relationships, and motivates staff to contribute to a culture of safety, respect, and care. Superintendents are responsible for providing policy direction, proactively solving problems that impact service delivery, managing workgroup deliverables and performance through progressive leadership, and acting as a resource to employees at the worksite.

The ideal candidate can collaborate with a diverse group of internal and external partners, agencies, and unions that support our agency's goals of providing quality public service to our King County Residents. 

ABOUT KING COUNTY METRO TRANSIT

King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment, and radically improving urban air quality by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this nation's public transportation industry.

ABOUT METRO TRANSIT'S LINK LIGHT RAIL EXPANSION

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link light rail service and City of Seattle’s streetcar system. Link light rail currently spans a 33-mile route from SeaTac to Lynnwood and a 6.6-mile route from Redmond to South Bellevue. By the end of 2026, light rail is projected to expand to nearly 60 route miles, adding seven new stations. Additional expansions to the Link system will be coming online for years to come.  

Seattle Streetcar includes the 1.3 mile South Lake Union line and the 2.5 mile First Hill line, proudly serving the diverse and vibrant communities around Seattle’s downtown core. These rail services complement Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services. Puget Sound transit agencies are collaborating to create an integrated transit network that enables people to travel farther, faster, and more easily.

#RailJobs #Tradesjobs

POSITION INFORMATION

This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Service vacancy and is open to King County employees and the general public.

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. All Superintendents are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices across all of the job duties listed below:

• Hire, lead, develop, supervise, mentor, and motivate employees to help them recognize the important role they each play in achieving the overall agency goals and empowering them to perform accordingly. Lead teams by:
  • Demonstrating positive leadership and role modeling
  • Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment
  • Providing guidance and direction to Chiefs, supervisors, tradespeople, administrative staff, and other staff
  • Troubleshooting complex or sensitive issues and problems
  • Managing performance of teams
  • Providing clear communication to the work group
• Oversee routine and emergency maintenance of Rail’s facilities, with a focus on continuous improvement, by:
  • Providing oversight for the activities related to routine maintenance, repairs, cleaning, grounds maintenance, and work on projects regarding transit properties and facilities (including Fire/Life Safety systems and conveyances).
  • Planning, directing, and evaluating the maintenance and repair work performed by the assigned unit; develop, implement and refine comprehensive preventive maintenance programs, operations and schedules for Rail fixed-assets, equipment and the DSTT; establish and ensure work performed adheres to quality and safety standards and preventive maintenance schedules.
  • Develop plan and schedule maintenance management and preventive maintenance programs to ensure optimum use, sustainability and performance of Rail equipment and infrastructure; ensure maintenance operations are in conformance with all contractual and regulatory requirements.
  • Establish strategies, goals, objectives and performance indicators to improve and enhance Rail Facilities maintenance performance; ensure conformance with all contractual and regulatory requirements as well as industry standards and best practices.
• Continuously improve the performance of the workgroup through the following types of activities: 
  • Leading and managing the development of work group-specific new initiatives, efficiencies and operational methods, and working with impacted teams. 
  • Continuously improving the work group. Developing the use of performance metrics; recommending corrective actions as needed; managing data collection and reporting.
  • Monitoring and assisting with the development of the workgroup budget; ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies; analyzing and interpreting operating policies, procedures, and guidelines.
  • Identifying the need for additional contract support, developing project bid specifications, coordinating contract bidding and award processes and negotiating contracts; approving and signing off on acceptance of completed projects.
• Oversee projects involving maintenance system activities such as reviewing construction plans and specifications involving/affecting landscaping, HVAC, plumbing and architecture.
• Work as a strong partner to Sound Transit by:
  • Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships within and between the Rail Section and Sound Transit as well as throughout King County. Partner with unions and other stakeholders to deliver excellent service and build a community-oriented, diverse, and inclusive environment; investigate and resolve customer complaints; mitigate high­ profile service delivery issues.
• Manage day to day work group functions for Link Light Rail related to the specific discipline of the workgroup.

To be considered for this position, applicants must possess the following MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two (2) years minimum experience in progressively responsible management roles overseeing staff of 15 or more employees is required.  Note: Lead and consultative roles do not count towards this minimum requirement. 
• Experience managing multiple groups of employees and crews in a large scale work environment (15 or more employees) such as facility maintenance, the construction/maintenance industry, or a similarly industry.
• Experience overseeing maintenance and repair staff and deliverables in any trades or craft field.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse workforce and prioritize safety, respect, and care for employees in a unionized setting.
• Established track record of being able to oversee people and projects in an operational setting to get results.

• Knowledge and experience in the application of federal and state laws, rules, regulation (including EEO, ADA, FMLA, leave laws), and labor union contracts including local electrical & mechanical codes and means of compliance.
• Knowledge and experience with asset management, including metric planning and tracking software
• Experience overseeing project management coordination between departments/division (construction, contracts, etc.) through all project phases

• Experience in workforce planning
• Experience in performance management, setting standards for performance, providing performance appraisals, mentoring and coaching staff on performance, and recommending discipline or termination 
• Training employees and implementing policies and procedures
• Representing a work group to Senior Management in meetings
• Experience developing workgroup budgets 
• The knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job through any relatable combination of education and/or experience including but not limited to: Facilities Maintenance, Facilities Management or related field, AND four years of increasingly responsible supervisory and/or management experience that includes two years in facilities management/maintenance.

Additional Requirements:

• Work requires remaining on-call on a periodic schedule to respond to emergent critical needs, emergencies or other special circumstances.
• Applicants must possess a valid Driver's License (Washington license by date of hire) or possess the ability to travel throughout the county in a timely fashion.
• Additional licenses, certifications and other requirements determined to be necessary to meet the business needs of the employing unit may be required.
• Ability to form an effective partnership with our oversight partner and funder, Sound Transit (ST). The hire for this recruitment must have concurrence from ST.

Our most competitive candidates will possess the following DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous experience in the field of Facilities Maintenance, especially management or supervisory experience. This experience could include:
  • Experience with Fire and Life Safety systems, conveyances, workforce planning, project management and budget development or oversight.
  • Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques involved in the maintenance and repair of a large inventory of properties, facilities and structures found in industries like mass transit, shopping malls, school systems, theme parks / museums / zoos, municipalities, etc.
  • Certifications from organizations such as the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), or equivalent.
  • Knowledge of automated energy management, maintenance and asset management information systems.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Maintenance/Management, or related field.
• Knowledge of the operations, policies and procedures of the Metro Transit Department and the contractual requirements in the operating agreement with Sound Transit.
• Experience in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in Light Rail safety principles and all applicable federal, state, and local laws
• Activation of new transit systems and/or extensions
• Continuous improvement methodologies

Work Schedule and Work Location

This position primarily works dayshift Monday through Friday and may work night and/or weekend shifts as required to support the needs of the business and team, therefore days off may vary. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not eligible for overtime.

The current reporting location is Sound Transit Operations and Maintenance Facilities-Central (OMF-C) at 3407 Airport Way S. Seattle, WA 98134. This location may change based on assignment.  Other possible reporting locations include but are not limited to: Operations and Maintenance Facilities-East (OMF-E) at 1907 120^th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98005, and Maintenance of Way North (MOW-N) at 920 North 137^th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98133, as well as other possible reporting locations as we grow and expand. 

Employees in this position may be required to remain available for work 24 hours per day during scheduled on-call rotational assignments, and work may require reporting for extended duty during adverse weather events and other emergencies.

TO APPLY: To apply for this position you must meet the minimum requirements for this role, and submit the required forms and materials:

• An online employment application. The employment history should go back at least 10 years if you have 10 years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience). All relevant experience must be included in the work history section of your application.
• Completed supplemental questions.
• An attached cover letter*, which clearly responds to the three prompts below:
  • Describe your supervisory and leadership experience and how you supported and effectively managed teams, managed conflict and created and inclusive environment.  You must include the size of the team you managed, the number of years experience and what your responsibilities in the role were.
  • The most relevant knowledge and experience you possess as it relates to: directing, planning, and overseeing maintenance and repair operations related to fire, life, and safety systems, HVAC systems, grounds keeping, and custodial cleaning, or other comparable systems.
  • Any other relevant industry knowledge, abilities, experience, or skills that make you a top candidate for the role and how it meets the minimum qualifications for this position. 
  • *NOTE: Only the first page of your cover letter will be reviewed. If a cover letter is not received your application will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Current King County Employees: Be sure to include your current position and separately list each previous position you held at King County, including SDA's, Lead positions, and acting roles. If you have questions about this, please contact the Recruiter listed below.

For guidance on how to complete these required materials, be sure to check out the Career Support Services website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most competitive: Career Support Services - King County, Washington.

Job Applications can be submitted through NeoGov, Kingcounty.gov/jobs, or GovernmentJobs.com. Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQ’s- King County. For technical support related to your application, contact the GovernmentJobs' applicant support team for assistance: 1 855-524-5627.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to participate in one or more interviews. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes such as reference checks, internal record reviews, and may include a driving abstract review.

Union Representation: Professional Technical Local 17 

Class Code: 8712240 - Transit Superintendent- Rail Facilities

NEED ASSISTANCE?

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 Brenna Burbank Brenna, HR Analyst at: brburbank@kingcounty.gov. 

Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions at Application FAQ’s- King County.

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.

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.

Salary : $133,661 - $161,595