Executive Project Director-Bus Rapid Transit

Salary range is $150k to $260k, with a midpoint of $200k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under general direction of an Executive Director, the BRT Executive Project Director will lead the BRT Program and cross-functional teams, including engineers, planners, consultants, and contractors, to ensure seamless project execution.. Will oversee project timelines, budgets, and resource allocation. Collaborate with government agencies, municipalities, and private-sector partners to secure as-needed approvals, permits and agreements.

The Project Director will act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, ensuring transparent communication and alignment of goals. Ensures compliance with all local, regional, and national regulations related to transportation infrastructure. Will be responsible for monitoring, design & construction activities to maintain quality and safety standards.

The Project Director ensures project's financial and budgetary responsibility, track project performance metrics and prepares regular progress reports for executive management and stakeholders. This role requires an expert level of leadership ability and judgement to address a broad range of organizational, political and financial issues. The Project Director will take ownership of outcomes and accountability for end to end project delivery and and drives continuous improvements through lessons learned and feedback loops.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Program Oversight: Directs and manages the performance of the BRT program, including scope, budget, schedule, risk, safety, security, and quality across all project phases-development, design, construction, start-up/testing, and activation.
• Project Leadership: Enables project personnel to operate effectively, fostering team growth, talent development, and a collaborative work environment. Cultivates a clear, compelling vision of the desired outcomes to inspire high performance.
• Performance Management: Ensures proactive, fact-based performance management, identifies potential issues and resolutions early, and fosters innovation opportunities.
• Staff Management: Plans, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned staff, providing constructive feedback, talent development, and succession planning. Delegates effectively, leverages learning opportunities from mistakes, and articulates key decision-making processes.
• Stakeholder and Partner Management: Develops and manages partnerships and contractor relationships. Sets realistic expectations with stakeholders, fulfills commitments, and maintains transparency.
• Risk Management: Oversees commercial, political, financial, and environmental risks associated with the project.
• Communication: Maintains open, timely communication across all levels and provides regular project updates to the Board.
• Agency Collaboration: Embraces and models agency values, prioritizing collaboration across departments to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Budget Oversight: Develops, administers, and oversees annual and lifetime budgets for the BRT program.
• Safety: Adheres to and enforces agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Transportation/Urban Planning or closely related field and eight years of experience in engineering and/or construction management that includes project management of large, complex projects; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Six years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience, preferably in a rail or transit related environment.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid Washington state driver's license. This role will perform inspections on active construction sites, stations, and facilities, including locations that are not currently served by transit. Driving an agency vehicle will be necessary to monitor construction tasks and respond to emergent situations at any time of day, within assigned projects and project corridors.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• Professional Civil Engineer license issued by the State of Washington.
• Design-build Institute of America (DBIA) Certification.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Design and construction of large capital facilities, particularly in dense urban corridors.
• Principles and standards of civil, mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering (e.g., signals and communications) for bus rapid transit.
• Transit operations, including intermodal transit project practices and procedures.
• Strategic policy management, including relevant federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and codes.
• Project management, cost estimating, budget preparation, and schedule performance for multimillion-dollar transit projects.
• Construction standards, codes, and practices in Washington State, including Public Works contracting law and construction safety protocols.
• Governmental budgeting principles and administrative practices.
• Modern office systems, software applications (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, statistical databases), and report development techniques.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Strategic Thinking: Envisioning the future and aligning project aims with long-term agency goals.
• Business Acumen: Understanding and leveraging key business drivers for agency and community benefits.
• Political Savvy: Engaging stakeholders effectively across the project ecosystem.
• Balanced Decision-Making: Fostering collaboration while ensuring timely decisions and actions.
• Effective Communication: Listening empathetically and articulating ideas and vision compellingly to diverse audiences.
• Change Leadership: Challenging the status quo to drive project success.
• Risk Management: Anticipating, mitigating, and navigating complexities in large-scale projects.
• Team Leadership: Leading diverse, multidisciplinary teams to foster collaboration and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Negotiation and Partnership: Collaborating with jurisdictions, utilities, contractors, and community groups to align interests and resolve conflicts.
• Construction Management: Applying expertise in civil facilities and systems construction.
• Presentation and Public Speaking: Developing impactful presentations and delivering them effectively to varied audiences.
• Regulatory Compliance: Interpreting and applying federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Program Oversight: Monitoring project budgets, costs, schedules, and performance metrics.
• Delegation and Supervision: Assigning tasks, delegating authority, and mentoring team members.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a standard office and field environment.
• Employees working in field, shop, warehouse, and/or transit vehicle environment may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Working on active construction sites are subject to bending, climbing, crawling, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, grasping, sitting, standing, walking, and carrying and lifting of objects up to 50 pounds.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action 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.