Rail Project​/Program Manager III – Link Permitting; Operations

King County Metro Transit’s Rail Division is seeking a Project/Program Manager III to join the Rail Operations team. This position will support and lead a new initiative for scheduling high priority work as a part of the Link Permitting process, with a focus on effective program management and cross-functional collaboration.

The successful candidate will be highly detail-oriented, organized, and skilled at managing complex processes and projects across multiple stakeholders. They will also have a strong understanding of how decisions made within one phase of the permitting process can impact downstream activities, timelines, and outcomes. The ideal candidate will be proactive, collaborative, and able to navigate the interdependencies across the broader permitting process to help ensure successful delivery.

This recruitment process will be used to fill one (1) Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or one (1) Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position. This PPM III SDA/TLT position is anticipated to last until November 2027.

King County Metro's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link Light Rail, a growing network spanning 60 miles and serving 38 stations across the Puget Sound region. Together with Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services, the Link Light Rail system is the backbone of an integrated regional transit network that gives people real freedom of movement. As Puget Sound transit agencies work together to build a seamless, connected system, our light rail system plays a central role in expanding access, reducing barriers, and ensuring that everyone across our region can get where they need to go.

Joining Metro's Rail Division means joining an organization that is shaping the future of public transportation in the Pacific Northwest and setting the standard for modern rail operations nationwide. This is a division that values strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to the people we serve, both our riders and our teams. Whatever your role, your work here contributes to something that matters, a light rail system that thousands of people count on every day.

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

King County Employees applying for this SDA opportunity need to have passed their six (6) month probationary period (or will complete it by the closing date of this posting) in their current career service position.

Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees.

• Lead in the development of a planning/scheduling process for high priority work that will be a component of the standard Permitting process; coordinate the permits for the work being requested by the PRIME project teams.
• Provide leadership to a Rail Permitting PPM II dedicated to the PRIME process.
• Work in partnership with various stakeholders to manage permits, advance projects, identify needs, and support program and project success.
• Use various tools, including project management software and office applications to manage project timelines and deliverables.
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships across teams and functions and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Facilitate meetings and work groups to gather input and translate ideas into action.
• Nurture and advance strategic relationships across King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other external stakeholder groups.
• Apply a lens of innovation and continuous…