Posted: 27-Jun-25
Location: Seattle, Washington
Type: Full Time
Salary: $147,890.29 - $187,459.38
Years of Experience:
Preferred Education:
Additional Information:
Internal Number: 2024ECB22734.2
*This position is open to all qualified candidates, including King County Employees and the general public.*
Join one of the nation's leading transit agencies during an exciting period of growth and innovation! King County Metro has an exciting leadership opportunity for a Market Innovation Managing Director. This leadership role is integral to Metro’s transformation into a cutting-edge mobility agency, with high-capacity transit at the center and shared mobility services complementing the regional system.
We are seeking a dynamic leader with a proven track record of inspiring and optimizing team performance. The ideal candidate will possess an innovative mindset, a solid understanding of the transit industry, and experience with research practices. They should be dedicated to customer satisfaction and equity, with a strong ability to build and nurture partnerships with diverse internal and external stakeholders. This role is critical to Metro’s mission to evolve into a forward-thinking mobility agency that delivers solutions to meet customer needs that align with Metro’s values- equity, safety, and sustainability.
The Market Innovation (MI) section develops mobility solutions that fill gaps for customers by fostering innovative problem-solving based on customer research and robust evaluation. The section is comprised of approximately 40 team members and includes collaborative self-starters who work in partnership with others in Metro, local cities, transportation providers, and the business community. Market Innovation is comprised of three main workgroups:
Market and Business Development includes the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Business Programs teams. Both teams focus on increasing access to existing mobility options by providing the information, tools, and incentives people need to choose a non-drive-alone transportation mode. The TDM team focuses on working with individuals and community partners, while the Business Program team manages our employer Passport program, which enables over 800 employers to provide commute benefits to their employees.
Fare Policy leads the development of fare and pricing policy, and manages the Enterprise Fares Initiative, which includes fund management policy updates, the simplification of reduced fares, increasing use of ORCA, and the development of the cashless transition plan.
Research and Innovation includes the Research, Innovative Mobility, and Connecting to Transit teams. The Research team supports the Department with up-to-date information on customer perceptions, attitudes, and needs, and provides evaluation of programs and projects to inform decisions. Innovative Mobility tests new services for efficacy in reaching new markets and increasing ridership on alternate modes. Connecting to Transit is leading the development of mobility hubs, expanding bike and walking access, and managing our park-and-ride network to maximize the use of these assets.
ABOUT KING COUNTY METRO TRANSIT:
King County Metro Transit is committed to providing transportation services that connect all people and all communities of King County, focus on the equitable distribution of our service and the equitable application of our work (inside and outside the agency), and combat climate change by doing our work in a sustainable manner. Metro Transit is King County’s largest Department, employing well over 5,000 people who primarily work in the field of transit operations, vehicle maintenance, transit facilities operations, and marine.
King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment, and radically improving urban air quality by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this nation's public transportation industry.
JOB DUTIES
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Key Responsibilities:
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Supervise, develop, lead, and support the daily operations of the Market Innovations section. Provide strategic direction and leadership across workgroups within Market Innovation; coordinate across the division and across the department to create clarity for MI team and to ensure the success of cross-agency work efforts involving the section.
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Innovation Leadership: Drive the development and adjustment of new mobility services and policies based on industry trends, disruptive technologies, and market research. Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, testing, implementing, and evaluating new products and services.
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Strategic Vision: Position King County Metro's innovation around mobility services centered on equity, sustainability, and safety.
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Team Development: Create an inclusive and respectful work environment where the team continuously learns and works together.
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Administrative Oversight: Ensure timely and accurate completion of section-level administrative functions (including but not limited to scheduling, leave and travel approvals, and expense processing).
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Collaboration and Partnership building: Work with supervisors and leads to drive results, solve problems, and address resource and staffing challenges. Gather and coordinate input from across the section to ensure appropriate representation on priorities, new mobility services, budget proposals, and employee engagement. Cultivate business and community relationships to advance regional mobility transformation.
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Product Development: Lead the development of products, services, and processes to support the transformation of mobility services and champion innovation within Metro.
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Project and change sponsorship: Provide strategic, section-level leadership for special projects and department initiatives, such as developing the department’s budget proposals, piloting new transportation technology, and transforming our mobility services lines of business, along with continuous improvement and employee engagement efforts.
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Policy and Reporting: Develop mobility policy recommendations and management reports for senior leadership, liaise with County officials, and participate in assigned projects. Act as an escalation point for critical decisions and issues requiring input from senior leadership.
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Budget and finance: Develop section budget. Oversee and ensure financial performance, efficiency, and accountability of King County teams and contractors who provide services to Metro.
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualified candidates for this role will have the following experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills:
Organizational Leadership and Employee Management:
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Progressively responsible management and leadership experience with at least three years leading people.
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Experience working across large teams to foster equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace.
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Demonstrated understanding of how to support employee performance and provide opportunities for growth and development.
Strategic Vision:
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Proven track record of leading the development and implementation of strategies to achieve organizational priorities such as safety, sustainability, and equity.
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Ability to coordinate collaborative problem-solving across teams and levels.
Analytical and Decision-Making Skills:
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Ability to analyze and anticipate problems, assess financial and operational impacts, and provide proactive solutions.
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Strong decision-making skills, demonstrating fairness, respect, equity, inclusivity, and credibility.
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Proven ability to analyze situations, evaluate information, and make reasoned judgments to solve problems effectively.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
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Clear and effective communication skills, both oral and written, for a variety of internal and external audiences.
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High emotional intelligence and the ability to foster trust and respect from others.
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Demonstrated ability to create clarity for teams operating in complex technical, operational, or political environments
Adaptability and Innovation:
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Receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and feedback, fostering an environment conducive to innovation.
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Willingness to embrace change and pivot strategies as needed in a dynamic environment.
Ideal candidates will bring a unique mix of the following desirable experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills:
- Proven success leading innovation and/or product development for large public agencies, preferably transit organizations; experience leading a team of highly experienced supervisors in these areas.
- Track record of building highly engaged team cultures that support the development, coaching, and team building necessary for the workforce of the future; formal organizational development and/or leadership training.
- Knowledge of transportation trends, legal and policy issues, and technology changes that may affect Metro customers.
- Knowledge of and experience with operationalizing racial equity and inclusion principles, strategies, and indicators; formal training in diversity, equity and inclusion best practices.
- Lived experience that represents the people and communities Metro serves.
- The ability to generate novel ideas and solutions, thinking outside the box to tackle challenges in unique ways; the capacity to align innovative efforts to achieve organizational goals
- Proven ability to lead through collaboration with diverse teams
SUPPLEMENTAL INFO:
Recruitment information: This recruitment will be used to fill one career service Managing Director position for the Mobility Division's Market Innovation section. Additionally, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility list for future career service vacancies in this classification (Transit Section Manager) and section. If created, the eligibility list would be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.
Application and Selection Process
A completed online employment application, resume, and a cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position are required. Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in one or more interviews.
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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.
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Remote and Onsite Work Details: The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of onsite and remote work arrangements. Typically, the Market Innovation Manager will be on-site at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St., Seattle) 3-4 days per week. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly.
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Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
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Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.
Teleworking Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking and onsite work or meetings as needed. 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 workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant, diverse community with residents who represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that embraces the traditions of many cultures. To learn more, please visit https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive/governance-leadership/equity-social-justice/office-of-equity-racial-social-justice
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 and follow the link to apply. 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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Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements. Proof of Washington State residency is required within 30 days of starting the position.