County Traffic Engineer; Managing Engineer

The Road Services Division, Engineering Services Section, is seeking an enthusiastic, strategic, agile and collaborative leader to manage 35 employees in the Road and Traffic Engineering unit and the Survey unit. This County Traffic Engineer (Managing Engineer) will function as the County Traffic Engineer, with a high level of communication and organizational skills to effectively leverage their expertise and experience to strategically resolve challenges related to traffic, road design/management and survey.

This position will oversee the day-to-day management and administrative functions, staff development and management, technical review, and addressing project issues associated with King County’s roadway network. A high level of expertise and experience in the design and construction of capital projects is expected.

The successful candidate will collaborate with other King County departments and leadership, regional partner agencies, elected, and community-based organizations.

• Manage staff in the Road & Traffic and Survey units
• Direct the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the units
• Manage unit work plans, budgets, technical and organizational issues, providing any recommendations to the Section Manager as needed
• Support staff development through training, coaching and mentoring
• Conduct annual evaluations and participate in personnel actions
• Lead recruitment process for vacant positions
• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives to optimize unit workflows

• Manage and prioritize complex, multi-year and high cost projects
• Develop and negotiate budgets, program proposals, and long-term plans for Traffic Safety, Road Preservation and related programs including establishing priorities, cost estimates and schedules
• Oversee contract development, contract negotiations and the preparation of project plans, specifications, and estimates
• Certify project plans, specifications, estimates and reports
• Provide oversight, quality control and certification of project plans and related documents
• Serve as the Contract Project Engineer and/or Engineer of Record, overseeing each project from conception through construction
• Direct the design and implementation of capital improvement projects

• Acts as the County Traffic Engineer on behalf of King County
• Provide guidance and oversight for traffic operations, engineering devices and related technologies supporting roadway planning, design, and operations
• Oversee the citizen response process and serve as the responsible signatory for responses
• Manage countywide traffic safety programs including traffic counts, guardrails, high collision locations, pavement markings, roundabouts, school zone treatments, signs, signals
• Oversee the County Traffic Management Center
• Administer design agreements; defining scopes of work, and review work products and payment requests

• Provide interpretation of technical and professional standards, regulations, and contract
• Direct the development and implementation of policies and procedures

Other duties as assigned.

• Experience working with or knowledge of Cityworks or other similar asset management systems.

• Licensed Professional Civil Engineer (PE) in Washington State or has the ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire date.

• Strategic Mindset — Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Drives Vision and Purpose — Painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
• Manages Complexity — Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Builds Effective Teams — Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Drives Engagement — Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.

• Serve with integrity.
• Show initiative and work hard.
• Prioritize outcomes over optics.
• Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.”
• Sove problems with…