Rail Facilities Maintenance Chief

Summary

King County Metro Transit’s Rail Division seeks an outstanding people leader to serve as Rail Facilities Maintenance Chief. This leadership position is critical to ensuring the delivery of light rail transit services and the day‑to‑day coordination, direction, and supervision of personnel and facilities maintenance for the Rail Division.

Our ideal candidate will be an effective communicator who can engage with a diverse employee work group, proactively solve problems that impact service delivery, and foster a culture of safety while inspiring excellence in customer service. As leaders, our Chiefs promote teamwork, motivate employees by building respect and trust, resolve conflicts that arise, and create a collaborative environment where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed.

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 Federal Way to Lynnwood and a 10‑mile route from Redmond to South Bellevue. By the end of 2026, light rail is projected to expand to nearly 60 route miles, adding 2 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.

This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for these positions are required to undergo a physical and drug testing prior to employment and subsequent to commencement of employment, and will be subject to random, post‑accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty, and follow‑up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substance testing program protocols.

This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) career service Rail Facilities Maintenance Chief position and may be used to establish an eligibility list to fill additional career service, special duty assignment, or term‑limited temporary vacancies in this classification and work group. If established, this list would be valid for 12 months from the date of posting and may be utilized at the discretion of the hiring authority.

This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants, including the general public and King County Employees. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Please review the required application materials and minimum qualifications listed in the sections below.

• Supervise, develop, and direct the Rail Facilities personnel and equipment at bases and in the field, including management support for the training unit.
• Exhibit positive leadership and role modeling to encourage and support staff while managing employee performance. Assist in the hiring, work assignments, counseling, and progressive discipline of direct reports in accordance with labor contracts and agreement provisions and Light Rail rules and procedures.
• Oversee on‑job training of assigned staff and ensure staff have proper tools, equipment, and safety gear to perform their work.
• Oversee the availability of tools and supplies needed to perform both routine and special tasks.
• Coordinate the planning, processes, estimating, and construction work for modifications to existing facilities and equipment; identify potential problems assign and verify inspections, service, and repairs.
• Oversee, prepare, and review written estimates of labor, time, costs, and materials for designated projects, manage contracts, and work closely with vendors and service providers.
• Consult with key stakeholders, staff and other external contractors in engineering, warranty, safety, environmental, and transportation to develop maintenance programs…