Transit Mentorship Project/Program Manager – King County

Metro Transit’s Employee Services department seeks a people focused Transit Mentorship Project/Program Manager III to develop and manage implementation of the “Mentors Moving Metro” program in Metro Transit’s Organizational Health and Development (OHD) section. This program, developed in partnership with labor partner ATU 587, pairs new bus operators with experienced operators as mentors to  support the well-being, sense of belonging, and retention of new Operators.

You will work in partnership with the team and Metro’s Bus Operations Division to support and manage the Bus Operations Mentorship programs to meet the needs of a growing and changing organization. This role ensures new employees are welcomed, empowered, and set up for long-term success. The Transit Mentorship Project/Program Manager will oversee the strategic development, coordination, and evaluation of mentorship efforts across Bus Operations and other divisions in the future.

Metro is committed to providing transportation services that connect all people and all communities of King County, focus on the equitable distribution of our service and the equitable application of our work (inside and outside the agency), and combat climate change by doing our work in a sustainable manner. Metro Transit is King County’s largest Department, employing over 5,000 people who primarily work in the field of transit operations, vehicle maintenance, transit facilities operations, and marine.

Position Info: This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Services, Project/Program Manager III vacancy. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility list for future  Special Duty Assignment (SDA), Term Limited Temporary (TLT), and Career Service (CS) positions that may occur in this classification and workgroup. The eligibility pool list is valid for up to 12 months from the time of posting for use at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who may apply: This recruitment is only open to current King County employees

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and 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 this work. As the Mentorship Project/Program Manager III, you will:

• Support transit mentorship program implementation, management and coordination across divisions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Organize people and activities to accomplish strategic work plans and deliverables within established timelines.
• Develop pro-equity, innovative, people-centered work plans, charters, and project documents as a collaborator and team assuring effective operations, communications, partnerships, reporting, and continuous improvements.
• Partner with and facilitate groups of employees, labor unions, and County management to implement and manage Metro Operator Mentorship program.

• Gather data, analyze, and report on program progress.

• Work with organizational and Division decision making structures to identify and accomplish tasks and successfully implement projects.
• Build trust and engage employees through transparency, inclusion, and respect.
• Support the sponsor and members of leadership to ensure tasks are completed, timelines met, and deliverables achieved.
• Develop and provide program reports, updates, and presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Engage in evaluation and continual improvement of program activities; may organize focus groups, listening sessions, surveys, and other tactics, using the learnings to adjust and refine program approach.
• May lead, mentor, and assign work to other team members.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Three years’ experience in taking projects from concept through completion, that engage employees.
• One year of demonstrated experience in managing people-focused projects, training, or people development projects, such as on-the-job learning, mentorship, apprenticeship, technical training, and other programs.
• Knowledge and experience working for a transportation department, or a similar large, complex, highly unionized work environment.

Or any equivalent combination of experience, training and education which provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge, and abilities required to perform the work duties and responsibilities of the position.

Additional Requirements to be successful in this role:  

• Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships, with a variety of audiences including leadership teams, organized labor unions, and frontline employees engaging with principles of engagement and equity and social justice.
• Ability to manage highly visible and politically sensitive projects and tasks.
• Advanced skills in goal setting with the ability to organize people and activities to accomplish work plans and deliverables within established timelines.
• Strong customer service, organizational, analytical, time management, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well independently or as part of a team.

• Comfort and flexibility in navigating a complex hierarchy while managing multiple competing priorities, projects, and customer relationships.

• Engaging facilitation skills applied to technical meetings with multidisciplinary staff and leading groups to accomplish specific tasks.

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office software including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.

• Experience developing, managing, and/or implementing programs that support workforce and employee development.
• Demonstrated understanding of key concepts in equity and social justice education around topics of race & other social identities, and a leader’s role in creating equitable and inclusive work environments.
• Skill in data gathering, analysis, and developing data tools for various audiences.

Highly competitive candidates will have (desired, but not required):

• Knowledge of King County Metro Transit policies and procedures.
• Ability to comfortably work in a high volume, multi-focused, and fast-paced environment, following established processes.
• Practical contact with entities (such as labor, management, and training providers) related to employee development.

Who may apply: This recruitment is only open to current King County employees

To Apply 

The following application materials are required: 

1. An online King County application. Updated with accurate contact information, and relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all job duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly. 

2. Completed supplemental questions. 

3. Resume. 

4. A cover letter (no longer than 2 pages). In your cover letter please address the following:

• Share what interests you about this role.
• How your experience, skills and/or education have prepared you for this position. 
• Describe your experience leading people-focused projects to completion.
  • Please include examples of how you: built effective relationships, identified goals with partners, and accomplished workplans and deliverables.

Applications without the above-mentioned materials will not be considered. Application materials will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review. 

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: Sabrina Brazzle sbrazzle@kingcounty.gov. 

Other Position Information 

Work Location: 
This is a hybrid position. The main work site for this position is King Street Center, 201 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104 but may also include site visits throughout the county based on business needs. The work associated with this position is currently performed or conducted through a combination of teleworking, onsite work, and meetings. The role combines remote work from home with onsite reporting typically once per week.Reporting frequency may vary based on business needs.

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. 

Work Schedule 

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and not overtime-eligible. Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule, every other Thursday. Work hours are comprised of a 40-hour work week typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Variations may occur based on operational demands.

The work associated with this position is currently performed or conducted through a combination of teleworking, onsite work, and meetings. The role combines remote work from home with onsite reporting typically once per week. Reporting frequency may vary based on business needs.

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.

Union Membership: This position is not represented by a union

Class Code: 2441300 PROJECT/PROGRAM MANAGER III 

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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.

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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.