Wayside Section Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE King County Metro Transit's Rail Division is seeking a Wayside Maintenance Section Manager to report to the Senior Maintenance Manager. This senior leader will manage programs and staff within the Wayside Section, overseeing business strategy, planning, operations, and service delivery for workgroups including SCADA, Signals & Communications, Track and Right of Way, and Wayside Maintenance Planner Scheduler. The role involves developing and implementing long-term business and employee strategies to support the Rail Division's success, fostering a culture of safety, driving maintenance excellence, and supporting equity and sustainability. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Provide Senior Leadership: Serve on Rail's Senior Leadership Team, collaborate across sections, engage with outside agency partners, and develop a culture of care, inclusion, and belonging. - Safety & Maintenance Excellence: Lead the section in delivering safe, reliable maintenance, oversee planning and operations, develop innovative strategies, manage the section's budget and resources, and leverage data from EAMS and Excel for maintenance planning. - Employee Engagement & Organizational Culture: Provide strategies for section expansion, develop staffing models with Superintendents, track service delivery impacts and KPIs, and maintain effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including labor and Sound Transit partners. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Option 1: 5 years of management or supervisory experience in rail wayside maintenance. Option 2: A 2-year degree in a related field and 3 or more years of management or supervisory experience in rail wayside maintenance or a related field. Option 3: 3 or more years of experience in rail wayside maintenance and 2 or more years of management or supervisory experience in rail wayside maintenance or a related field. Plus experience in: - Implementing safety rules and procedures in various operating environments and overseeing safety critical positions. - Integrating an equity mindset into continuous improvement activities. - Working effectively with diverse individuals and groups, and within unionized environments. - Communicating effectively and making decisions reflecting fairness, respect, equity, and inclusiveness. - Supporting a culture of employee engagement, coaching, and team building. Plus knowledge of: - Practices and industry standards for maintaining light rail systems, equipment, and structures. - FTA, APTA, AREMA standards and other technical documents. - Railroad operations and on-track safety application. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - Desired Qualifications: Solid expertise in the maintenance of track, signal, and SCADA systems; proven experience developing and delivering organizational strategies; demonstrated experience building, leading, and developing high-performing teams. - Must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to the King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. SELECTION PROCESS - Application materials (application, letter of interest, and supplemental question responses) will be screened to determine if candidates meet qualifications and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness. - Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. - Formal offers will be finalized after candidates successfully complete pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews. - For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Skyler Jones, Senior Talent Advisor, at skjones@kingcounty.gov. HOW TO APPLY - Submit an online King County application, updated with all detailed relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary). - Complete all required supplemental questions. - Submit a letter of interest (1-2 pages) describing: 1. How your experience and background meet or exceed the qualifications for this position. 2. How you lead diverse groups in an active railroad environment. 3. How you have applied equity and social justice principles in your current and/or previous role(s). - Note: This announcement has been reposted. Applicants who applied prior to June 16, 2026, do not need to reapply. EMPLOYMENT DETAILS - Employer: King County (MTD - Metro Transit, Rail Division) - Job Type: Career Service (Exec), Full Time, Exempt (not eligible for overtime) - Classification/Pay Grade: 874030 (Transit Section Manager), Grade 77 - Union Status: Not represented by a union (Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines) - Location: Operations & Maintenance Facility - 3407 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA (temporarily at OMF-C, future location at 5th and Jackson main campus). - Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday. Periodic work outside normal workday is required. - Telework: Eligible for hybrid work, requiring a minimum of 4 days per week onsite to support team collaboration and leadership presence. - Opening Date: 06/18/2026 - Closing Date: Continuous