Sound Transit
Product Manager - ORCA (Term-Limited Appointment)
Sound Transit, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Overview
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
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. Manage ORCA-related projects from scope development through project closeout and handover to operations; develop and execute detailed project plans with 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. Identify market trends, assess peer products, and integrate user feedback to continuously improve product offerings and align strategies with business objectives. Perform traditional project management duties including detailed planning, scope management, resource allocation, schedule adherence, and risk management to deliver projects on time and on budget. Collaborate with multiple transit agencies regionally, including regular interaction with seven participating partner agencies. Oversee vendor and consultant performance to ensure effective implementation and delivery of payment solutions across stakeholders. Model Sound Transit’s core values and contribute to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in alignment with the Equity & Inclusion Policy. Follow agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures and integrate sustainability into everyday 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 defining product requirements, conducting user research, and translating needs into product features. Expertise in data analysis, UX principles, and using analytics to inform product strategy and improvements. Proficiency in detailed project planning, including scope, timelines, and milestones. Experience tracking deliverables, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely completion. Ability to identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and resolve issues to ensure delivery. Strong stakeholder communication and consensus-building across agencies and teams. Vendor management and negotiation skills with technology vendors and system integrators. MS Office including SharePoint; recent experience (within the past five years). Sound judgment and escalation of issues when necessary. Experience leading organizational change and facilitating collaboration. Strong facilitation, conflict management, issue resolution, and roadblock removal skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, management, vendors, and external agencies. Strong attention to detail, initiative, and resourcefulness. Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities. Strong oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences including agency employees, consultants, contractors, the public, elected officials, community leaders, and government agencies. Presentation development and public speaking skills. 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 make informed decisions and optimize payment processes. Familiarity with market and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and inform strategic product decisions. Familiarity with developing prototypes or mock-ups to visualize and validate 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 (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.
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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
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. Manage ORCA-related projects from scope development through project closeout and handover to operations; develop and execute detailed project plans with 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. Identify market trends, assess peer products, and integrate user feedback to continuously improve product offerings and align strategies with business objectives. Perform traditional project management duties including detailed planning, scope management, resource allocation, schedule adherence, and risk management to deliver projects on time and on budget. Collaborate with multiple transit agencies regionally, including regular interaction with seven participating partner agencies. Oversee vendor and consultant performance to ensure effective implementation and delivery of payment solutions across stakeholders. Model Sound Transit’s core values and contribute to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in alignment with the Equity & Inclusion Policy. Follow agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures and integrate sustainability into everyday 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 defining product requirements, conducting user research, and translating needs into product features. Expertise in data analysis, UX principles, and using analytics to inform product strategy and improvements. Proficiency in detailed project planning, including scope, timelines, and milestones. Experience tracking deliverables, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely completion. Ability to identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and resolve issues to ensure delivery. Strong stakeholder communication and consensus-building across agencies and teams. Vendor management and negotiation skills with technology vendors and system integrators. MS Office including SharePoint; recent experience (within the past five years). Sound judgment and escalation of issues when necessary. Experience leading organizational change and facilitating collaboration. Strong facilitation, conflict management, issue resolution, and roadblock removal skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, management, vendors, and external agencies. Strong attention to detail, initiative, and resourcefulness. Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities. Strong oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences including agency employees, consultants, contractors, the public, elected officials, community leaders, and government agencies. Presentation development and public speaking skills. 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 make informed decisions and optimize payment processes. Familiarity with market and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and inform strategic product decisions. Familiarity with developing prototypes or mock-ups to visualize and validate 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 (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.
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