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This opportunity is open to current Career Service employees in Metro's Mobility Division's Research & Innovation workgroup. We are not currently accepting external applications.
King County Metro has an opportunity for employees from the Research & Innovation (R&I) workgroup who are interested in a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) as Supervisor of Research & Innovation. The assignment is anticipated to last up to three (3) months, with a possibility for extension.
The R&I team helps Metro and the traveling public adapt to an ever-changing transportation landscape through strategic research and evaluation, new connections to transit, and expanded mobility options. This team of researchers, planners, and innovators focus on gathering and helping Metro use evidence, developing innovative mobility concepts, and improving access to mobility. This includes the Research, Innovative Mobility, and Connecting to Transit programs. Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply ESJ principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.
In this role, the primary duties will be focused on supporting critical operations across programs during the transition to new Market Innovation leadership. To ensure success in the short time frame of this assignment, this means that the person or people in this role will be responsible for a tightly-scoped range of work, including:
- Supervise, develop, and direct daily operations of the R&I team to support continuity of operations during leadership transition.
- Ensure assigned supervisor level leader administrative functions are completed appropriately and in a timely manner (including but not limited to scheduling, leave and travel approvals, payroll, and contract and expense processing).
- Identify, manage and serve as escalation point for critical decisions, requests and risks/issues requiring the input of Market Innovation Managing Director.
- Collaborate with R&I leads to drive results, make decisions and effectively solve problems, with keen understanding of resource and staffing challenges as well as regional political and community realities.
- Coordinate input from across R&I to ensure appropriate representation and input in near-term priorities such as developing 2026/27 budget proposals, as well as employee engagement development and support.
- Provide workgroup level communications on Division or Section level processes, opportunities, initiatives, etc.
- Represent R&I in strategic planning and implementation of Metro programs, pilots, projects, and services.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Progressively responsible management and leadership experience in a public sector setting.
- Demonstrated success leading or coordinating collaborative problem-solving across silos and levels of an organization.
- Ability to analyze and anticipate problems, assess risks and opportunities, and provide proactive solutions that meet critical business needs.
- Clear and effective communication and presentation skills, both oral and written, with the ability to communicate with individuals at all levels both internally and externally.
- Demonstrated experience in communications and decision-making that reflect fairness, respect, equity, and inclusiveness.
- Demonstrated experience in supporting and building on a culture of employee engagement, which supports the development, coaching, and team building necessary for the workforce of the future.
- Knowledge of transportation trends that may affect Metro customers.
- Knowledge of and experience with operationalizing racial equity and inclusion principles, strategies, and indicators.
Who May Apply:
We welcome applications from employees in the R&I workgroup who have passed probation. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
Required Forms and Application Materials:
- An online King County application, updated with accurate contact information and all relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly in the work experience section of the application.
- Resume
- Letter of Interest which addresses the following questions:
- How do your experience and skills meet the qualifications and job responsibilities listed?
- How would you approach keeping the R&I team engaged and supported during this leadership transition?
- Describe what you have done recently to develop your knowledge of Equity & Social Justice.
Responses will be screened for clarity, completeness, and qualifications. The Market Innovation Managing Director or their designee will make the final selection. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Assignments would be dependent on approval by your current supervisor.
Union Representation:
The position is represented by PROTEC17: Professional and Technical Employees, Local 17.
Class Code/Grade: 8711060 / 73
Work Location:
This is a hybrid position. The main work site for this position is King Street Center, 201 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104.
Work Schedule:
This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. The work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., but this position may require additional hours as necessary, including being on-call evenings and weekends, particularly during adverse weather events, civic events, and other emergencies. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
Teleworking Requirement:
The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of onsite and remote work. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a county-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities 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. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply:
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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