King County
Overview
King County's Metro Transit Department has an exciting opportunity for an
Engagement Strategy Manager
(Strategic Planning Manager II) in the Rail Division Director's Office. This senior leader will report to Rail's Deputy Division Director and will work with employees, colleagues, and stakeholders to ensure Metro provides world-class service while advancing Rail's strategic priorities:
Build a Culture of care
Provide operational excellence
Deliver on time expansions
Maintain healthy and resilient partnerships with Sound Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation
The Engagement Strategy Manager will lead and manage a high-performing cross-functional team to coordinate, manage, and develop internal employee engagement and communication initiatives for the Division, oversee Division project management activities that advance Rail's internal priorities, support partnerships, and enable organizational growth. This role will communicate effectively with employees across the Division, partnering with leaders, administrative staff, and Sound Transit to provide internal capacity and support for operational excellence for riders.
Key Capabilities This leadership role requires the ability to communicate effectively with diverse constituents, proactively solve problems, remove barriers, oversee change management, implement continuous improvement, and build employee engagement to create a culture of care. The ideal candidate will navigate an ambiguous work environment, have experience leading people, and manage multiple priorities to deliver a large body of work in a fast-paced environment. A strong background in equity and social justice, with experience improving outcomes for historically disadvantaged employee groups, is required.
Who May Apply This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants. This recruitment will fill one Career Service, Strategic Planning Manager II vacancy and may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates for future openings in the Strategic Planning Manager II classification within the next twelve months.
Application Requirements
A complete online King County application with accurate contact information and relevant work history going back at least 10 years, including all job duties.
Responses to the Supplemental Questions
Letter of Interest (1-2 pages) describing interest in the opportunity and how qualifications are met, highlighting experience leading and supervising people and delivering complex, agency-wide projects.
We highly recommend visiting the Career Support Services website for tips and examples to strengthen your application materials.
About Metro Transit’s Expanding Rail Division Metro Transit's Rail Division operates and maintains Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail service on a 24.5-mile route. By mid-2026, Light Rail is expected to expand to nearly 60 route miles with 19 more stations. These rail services complement Metro's bus system and other mobility services as part of an integrated regional system.
Engagement & Leadership Expectations
As a member of the Rail Senior Leadership Team, provide advice and support to Division leaders on priorities, engagement, change management, project management, and implementation.
Lead and supervise a team delivering internal employee engagement programs focused on front-line staff, including developing strategies for belonging, engagement metrics, and internal communications.
Oversee Division employee engagement events to celebrate front-line staff.
Lead the Division’s project management strategy in collaboration with other Division project managers.
Coordinate engagement, continuous improvement, and project management with Division leadership and partners across Rail.
Promote a culture of care, inclusion, and belonging; develop and deliver an engagement strategy for operational lines; collaborate with Equity Inclusion and Belonging and Internal Communications to integrate equity into Rail’s culture.
Lead and manage projects aligned with Division priorities, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and County policies; coordinate Rail's strategic work with Metro, King County, and Sound Transit.
Develop annual budget, objectives, work priorities, and work plans for the Director's Office.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications We are looking for candidates who have the following:
Option 1: A Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience in strategic planning, internal employee engagement, change management, project management, and organizational development within a service delivery environment.
Option 2: An Associate’s degree and five (5) years of experience in strategic planning, internal employee engagement, change management, project management, and organizational development within a service delivery environment.
Option 3: Six (6) or more years of experience in strategic planning, internal employee engagement, change management, project management, and organizational development within a service delivery environment.
And
Three (3) years of experience managing high-profile strategic projects that are cross-disciplinary, including knowledge of strategic business planning techniques, project management techniques, synthesizing information for recommendations, timely decision-making, and handling multiple high-priority projects.
Three (3) years of experience leading and supervising people, including supervising multidisciplinary staff and developing staff to grow their careers.
Additional and Highly Desirable Qualifications
Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all employees.
Experience with strategic communication and internal employee engagement, including: effective in-person and written communication; working with diverse populations; fostering inclusive cultures prioritizing well-being and belonging.
Ability to collaborate with stakeholders to achieve results; building equitable relationships and solving problems for the good of all; resilience and effective problem-solving in challenging situations.
Knowledge of the King County and Sound Transit relationship, policies, and procedures; ability to translate County policies into Rail’s operating environment; experience with labor in unionized environments and fostering mutual respect.
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Other Information King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American or Alaska Native people, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Application & Selection: Submit an online application and attach a cover letter describing interest and qualifications. Questions may be directed to Skyler Jones at skjones@kingcounty.gov. This position is exempt from overtime pay; the work schedule is typically a 40-hour week with potential for alternate schedules. The primary work location is 3407 Airport Way S., Seattle, WA 98134, with occasional travel to Bellevue. This role is hybrid, requiring in-office presence three days per week.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Engagement Strategy Manager
(Strategic Planning Manager II) in the Rail Division Director's Office. This senior leader will report to Rail's Deputy Division Director and will work with employees, colleagues, and stakeholders to ensure Metro provides world-class service while advancing Rail's strategic priorities:
Build a Culture of care
Provide operational excellence
Deliver on time expansions
Maintain healthy and resilient partnerships with Sound Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation
The Engagement Strategy Manager will lead and manage a high-performing cross-functional team to coordinate, manage, and develop internal employee engagement and communication initiatives for the Division, oversee Division project management activities that advance Rail's internal priorities, support partnerships, and enable organizational growth. This role will communicate effectively with employees across the Division, partnering with leaders, administrative staff, and Sound Transit to provide internal capacity and support for operational excellence for riders.
Key Capabilities This leadership role requires the ability to communicate effectively with diverse constituents, proactively solve problems, remove barriers, oversee change management, implement continuous improvement, and build employee engagement to create a culture of care. The ideal candidate will navigate an ambiguous work environment, have experience leading people, and manage multiple priorities to deliver a large body of work in a fast-paced environment. A strong background in equity and social justice, with experience improving outcomes for historically disadvantaged employee groups, is required.
Who May Apply This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants. This recruitment will fill one Career Service, Strategic Planning Manager II vacancy and may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates for future openings in the Strategic Planning Manager II classification within the next twelve months.
Application Requirements
A complete online King County application with accurate contact information and relevant work history going back at least 10 years, including all job duties.
Responses to the Supplemental Questions
Letter of Interest (1-2 pages) describing interest in the opportunity and how qualifications are met, highlighting experience leading and supervising people and delivering complex, agency-wide projects.
We highly recommend visiting the Career Support Services website for tips and examples to strengthen your application materials.
About Metro Transit’s Expanding Rail Division Metro Transit's Rail Division operates and maintains Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail service on a 24.5-mile route. By mid-2026, Light Rail is expected to expand to nearly 60 route miles with 19 more stations. These rail services complement Metro's bus system and other mobility services as part of an integrated regional system.
Engagement & Leadership Expectations
As a member of the Rail Senior Leadership Team, provide advice and support to Division leaders on priorities, engagement, change management, project management, and implementation.
Lead and supervise a team delivering internal employee engagement programs focused on front-line staff, including developing strategies for belonging, engagement metrics, and internal communications.
Oversee Division employee engagement events to celebrate front-line staff.
Lead the Division’s project management strategy in collaboration with other Division project managers.
Coordinate engagement, continuous improvement, and project management with Division leadership and partners across Rail.
Promote a culture of care, inclusion, and belonging; develop and deliver an engagement strategy for operational lines; collaborate with Equity Inclusion and Belonging and Internal Communications to integrate equity into Rail’s culture.
Lead and manage projects aligned with Division priorities, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and County policies; coordinate Rail's strategic work with Metro, King County, and Sound Transit.
Develop annual budget, objectives, work priorities, and work plans for the Director's Office.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications We are looking for candidates who have the following:
Option 1: A Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience in strategic planning, internal employee engagement, change management, project management, and organizational development within a service delivery environment.
Option 2: An Associate’s degree and five (5) years of experience in strategic planning, internal employee engagement, change management, project management, and organizational development within a service delivery environment.
Option 3: Six (6) or more years of experience in strategic planning, internal employee engagement, change management, project management, and organizational development within a service delivery environment.
And
Three (3) years of experience managing high-profile strategic projects that are cross-disciplinary, including knowledge of strategic business planning techniques, project management techniques, synthesizing information for recommendations, timely decision-making, and handling multiple high-priority projects.
Three (3) years of experience leading and supervising people, including supervising multidisciplinary staff and developing staff to grow their careers.
Additional and Highly Desirable Qualifications
Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all employees.
Experience with strategic communication and internal employee engagement, including: effective in-person and written communication; working with diverse populations; fostering inclusive cultures prioritizing well-being and belonging.
Ability to collaborate with stakeholders to achieve results; building equitable relationships and solving problems for the good of all; resilience and effective problem-solving in challenging situations.
Knowledge of the King County and Sound Transit relationship, policies, and procedures; ability to translate County policies into Rail’s operating environment; experience with labor in unionized environments and fostering mutual respect.
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Other Information King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American or Alaska Native people, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Application & Selection: Submit an online application and attach a cover letter describing interest and qualifications. Questions may be directed to Skyler Jones at skjones@kingcounty.gov. This position is exempt from overtime pay; the work schedule is typically a 40-hour week with potential for alternate schedules. The primary work location is 3407 Airport Way S., Seattle, WA 98134, with occasional travel to Bellevue. This role is hybrid, requiring in-office presence three days per week.
#J-18808-Ljbffr