SoundTransit
Product Manager - ORCA (Term-Limited Appointment)
SoundTransit, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Salary and Benefits
Salary range is $78k to $180k, with a midpoint of $129k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market. Sound Transit offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:
Health Benefits:
two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan 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:
25 days of paid time off annually with increases at 4, 8, and 12 years of service. Director level and above accrue additional days. Also 12 paid holidays and 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, we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from colleagues.
This is a Term-Limited role with an anticipated duration of 3.5 years.
General Purpose This role provides a unique opportunity to be at the cutting edge of transit fare payment solutions, shaping how millions of passengers in the Puget Sound region interact with public transit systems. With a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction, achieving ratings consistently above 90%, the Product Manager will lead efforts in understanding customer needs, developing intuitive payment solutions, and continuously enhancing the user experience. This position offers the chance to drive meaningful technological innovation, influencing industry best practices and ensuring the ORCA fare collection system remains a leader in transit payment solutions nationwide.
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.
Lead product initiatives for ORCA, the regional transit fare payment system, from inception through completion, ensuring timely, cost-effective delivery within defined scope and budget.
Develop and manage product roadmaps, clearly aligning product features with user needs, market trends, and strategic objectives.
Facilitate regular multi-agency meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagements across seven Puget Sound transit agencies.
Drive the product and business planning processes for cross-functional and intra-agency teams.
Coordinate agile methodologies, including backlog prioritization, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives using the Optimal Product Process as a framework.
Manage vendor and consultant relationships, specifically overseeing the main fare collection system integrator.
Conduct market analyses, user research, and competitor evaluations to inform continuous improvement of product offerings.
Provide comprehensive documentation, training, and ongoing support to stakeholders and operational teams.
Manages ORCA related projects from scope development through project closeout and handover to operations. Develop and execute detailed project plans to be shared with stakeholders, vendors, and other ROOT staff members, defining clear milestones and deliverables.
Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues, proactively communicating potential impacts and developing solutions.
Ensure all projects are delivered on-time, within scope, and within budget while maintaining quality.
Evaluate and optimize operational processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness of fare collection systems.
Prepare and deliver presentations, status updates, and reports to leadership, stakeholders, and partner agencies.
Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards across all project activities.
Collaborate with technical teams to translate business requirements into technical specifications clearly and effectively.
Actively identify market trends, assess peer products, and integrate user feedback to continuously improve product offerings. Align product strategies with business objectives and translate complex technical information into clear, actionable strategies for stakeholders.
Engage in traditional project management duties, including detailed project planning, scope management, resource allocation, schedule adherence, and risk management to deliver projects on time and within budget.
Collaborate with multiple transit agencies across the region, involving regular interaction with seven participating partner agencies.
Oversee vendor and consultant performance, ensuring effective implementation and delivery of payment solutions across regional stakeholders.
Champion Sound Transit’s core values and demonstrate values-based behaviors in everyday interactions.
Contribute to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
Follow agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures; integrate sustainability into daily business practices.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Product Management, Project Management, Information Systems, Engineering, Communications, Public Administration, or closely related field. Five years as an individual contributor in product manager, project manager, or business analyst roles, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Knowledge and Skills:
Processes, procedures, and practices of product management, project management and business analysis.
Strong knowledge of product lifecycle management, including roadmap creation, prioritization, and iterative enhancement.
Proficiency in agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and tools (Jira, Confluence).
Experience in defining product requirements, conducting user research, and translating user needs into clear product features.
Expertise in data analysis, UX principles, and using analytics to inform product strategy and improvements.
Proficient in detailed project planning, including defining scope, timelines, and milestones.
Experience tracking deliverables, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely completion of project phases.
Proficient in identifying project risks, developing mitigation strategies, and resolving issues to ensure delivery.
Proven ability to manage stakeholder communications and build consensus across multiple agencies and teams.
Strong vendor management and negotiation skills, particularly with technology vendors and system integrators.
MS Office including SharePoint (two years within the past five years).
Sound judgment and the ability to escalate issues when necessary.
Experience in leading organizational change.
Strong facilitation skills including conflict management, issue resolution, broker agreements, and removing roadblocks.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department staff, management, vendors, and outside agencies.
Strong attention to detail and independent judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness.
Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities.
Strong oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences.
Presentation development and public speaking skills.
Knowledge of pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
Preferred Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge of various payment systems, methods (credit/debit cards, digital wallets, ACH, etc.), and industry standards.
Familiarity with public transportation systems, ticketing solutions, fare collection methods, and transportation regulations.
Familiarity with payment processing technologies, APIs, encryption, and security protocols.
Ability to analyze data and trends to inform decisions and optimize payment processes.
Familiarity with market and competitive analysis for strategic product decisions.
Familiarity developing prototypes or mock-ups to visualize solutions.
Knowledge of testing methodologies, test planning, and quality assurance practices.
Knowledge of deployment processes to ensure smooth software release cycles.
Physical Demands / Work Environment
Work is performed in a standard hybrid office and field environment.
The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides safety and equipment training 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, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Salary range is $78k to $180k, with a midpoint of $129k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market. Sound Transit offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:
Health Benefits:
two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan 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:
25 days of paid time off annually with increases at 4, 8, and 12 years of service. Director level and above accrue additional days. Also 12 paid holidays and 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, we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from colleagues.
This is a Term-Limited role with an anticipated duration of 3.5 years.
General Purpose This role provides a unique opportunity to be at the cutting edge of transit fare payment solutions, shaping how millions of passengers in the Puget Sound region interact with public transit systems. With a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction, achieving ratings consistently above 90%, the Product Manager will lead efforts in understanding customer needs, developing intuitive payment solutions, and continuously enhancing the user experience. This position offers the chance to drive meaningful technological innovation, influencing industry best practices and ensuring the ORCA fare collection system remains a leader in transit payment solutions nationwide.
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.
Lead product initiatives for ORCA, the regional transit fare payment system, from inception through completion, ensuring timely, cost-effective delivery within defined scope and budget.
Develop and manage product roadmaps, clearly aligning product features with user needs, market trends, and strategic objectives.
Facilitate regular multi-agency meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagements across seven Puget Sound transit agencies.
Drive the product and business planning processes for cross-functional and intra-agency teams.
Coordinate agile methodologies, including backlog prioritization, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives using the Optimal Product Process as a framework.
Manage vendor and consultant relationships, specifically overseeing the main fare collection system integrator.
Conduct market analyses, user research, and competitor evaluations to inform continuous improvement of product offerings.
Provide comprehensive documentation, training, and ongoing support to stakeholders and operational teams.
Manages ORCA related projects from scope development through project closeout and handover to operations. Develop and execute detailed project plans to be shared with stakeholders, vendors, and other ROOT staff members, defining clear milestones and deliverables.
Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues, proactively communicating potential impacts and developing solutions.
Ensure all projects are delivered on-time, within scope, and within budget while maintaining quality.
Evaluate and optimize operational processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness of fare collection systems.
Prepare and deliver presentations, status updates, and reports to leadership, stakeholders, and partner agencies.
Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards across all project activities.
Collaborate with technical teams to translate business requirements into technical specifications clearly and effectively.
Actively identify market trends, assess peer products, and integrate user feedback to continuously improve product offerings. Align product strategies with business objectives and translate complex technical information into clear, actionable strategies for stakeholders.
Engage in traditional project management duties, including detailed project planning, scope management, resource allocation, schedule adherence, and risk management to deliver projects on time and within budget.
Collaborate with multiple transit agencies across the region, involving regular interaction with seven participating partner agencies.
Oversee vendor and consultant performance, ensuring effective implementation and delivery of payment solutions across regional stakeholders.
Champion Sound Transit’s core values and demonstrate values-based behaviors in everyday interactions.
Contribute to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
Follow agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures; integrate sustainability into daily business practices.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Product Management, Project Management, Information Systems, Engineering, Communications, Public Administration, or closely related field. Five years as an individual contributor in product manager, project manager, or business analyst roles, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Knowledge and Skills:
Processes, procedures, and practices of product management, project management and business analysis.
Strong knowledge of product lifecycle management, including roadmap creation, prioritization, and iterative enhancement.
Proficiency in agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and tools (Jira, Confluence).
Experience in defining product requirements, conducting user research, and translating user needs into clear product features.
Expertise in data analysis, UX principles, and using analytics to inform product strategy and improvements.
Proficient in detailed project planning, including defining scope, timelines, and milestones.
Experience tracking deliverables, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely completion of project phases.
Proficient in identifying project risks, developing mitigation strategies, and resolving issues to ensure delivery.
Proven ability to manage stakeholder communications and build consensus across multiple agencies and teams.
Strong vendor management and negotiation skills, particularly with technology vendors and system integrators.
MS Office including SharePoint (two years within the past five years).
Sound judgment and the ability to escalate issues when necessary.
Experience in leading organizational change.
Strong facilitation skills including conflict management, issue resolution, broker agreements, and removing roadblocks.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department staff, management, vendors, and outside agencies.
Strong attention to detail and independent judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness.
Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities.
Strong oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences.
Presentation development and public speaking skills.
Knowledge of pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
Preferred Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge of various payment systems, methods (credit/debit cards, digital wallets, ACH, etc.), and industry standards.
Familiarity with public transportation systems, ticketing solutions, fare collection methods, and transportation regulations.
Familiarity with payment processing technologies, APIs, encryption, and security protocols.
Ability to analyze data and trends to inform decisions and optimize payment processes.
Familiarity with market and competitive analysis for strategic product decisions.
Familiarity developing prototypes or mock-ups to visualize solutions.
Knowledge of testing methodologies, test planning, and quality assurance practices.
Knowledge of deployment processes to ensure smooth software release cycles.
Physical Demands / Work Environment
Work is performed in a standard hybrid office and field environment.
The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides safety and equipment training 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, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr