Rail Service Worker Vehicle Maintenance Chief

Summary

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Metro Transit's Rail Division is seeking one outstanding people leader to fulfill the role of Rail Service Worker Vehicle Maintenance Chief, specially focus on the cleanliness and presentation of the Rail vehicle fleet (LRV). These leadership and supervisory positions play a critical role in providing immediate, daily management of vehicle maintenance supervising the work, and managing the performance of craft workers and Leads within their respective groups.

In addition to specific technical skills, the ideal candidates must communicate effectively with a diverse employee work group, to proactively solve problems that impact service delivery, encourage a safety culture while inspiriting high standards of customer service excellence, as well as the ability to motivate employees through building respect and trust.

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 41-mile route from Sea Tac to Federal Way 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 two new stations.

Additional expansions to the Link system will be coming online for years to come.

This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants. This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) full-time Career Service, Transit Chief - Rail Vehicle Maintenance. However, this recruitment may also be used to establish a list or pool of qualified candidates for any future openings in the same classification. Placement onto an eligibility list/pool is not a guarantee of placement into a future position.

The pool/list may be used for up to six (6) OR twelve (12) months at the discretion of the hiring authority.

• Online King County application
• Responses to supplemental questions
• Letter of Interest indicating how you meet the qualifications and why you are interested in this position.
• Resume

This position may be considered safety sensitive. Applicants for these positions may be required to undergo a physical and drug testing prior to employment and after commencement of employment, 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.

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a 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 the work.

• Revise and update proper cleaning procedures
• Conduct task and employee evaluations to verify that RSWs and RUSWs are adhering to procedures, documenting areas for improvement in tools, processes, and documentation
• Demonstrates positive leadership and role modeling to encourage and support staff, while managing employee performance and implementing corrective action where appropriate
• Manage all daily employee operations
• Creates an inclusive and welcoming environment, focusing on a culture of safety and care for one another
• Ensures staff compliance with negotiated labor agreements, Rail, Transit Dept. and County policies and procedures
• Participates in new employment hiring assignments, internal and external work groups, project teams and committees as required
• Supervises subordinate personnel and represents Light Rail at disciplinary hearings as needed
• Conducts staff training and develop training needs assessment to meet changing regulatory and operating requirements; update, track and maintain employee training and certification records, ensure training programs, delivery and supporting data conform with contractual and regulatory requirements
• Manage employee absenteeism, vacation change requests, sick/injury leaves, and related ADA/FMLA/KCFML/WFLA processes and requirements for assigned employees; review and approve leave requests consistent with staffing needs, employee preferences where possible, and applicable County policy/procedures and bargaining agreements; review, correct and approve payroll; administer federal safety-sensitive drug and alcohol testing program for assigned employees
• Interview and recommend selection of assigned staff; provide employees with training and development opportunities as available; counsel staff on effective customer relations and safety strategies; evaluate staff performance through record reviews and employee performance appraisals as necessary; counsel employees in performance improvement requirements when needed; conduct investigations into allegations of employee misconduct, harassment, negligence, policy/procedure violations, and…