Job Description
Posting number: 2026NB27850
Department: MTD - Metro Transit
Division: Rail
Job classification: Transit Superintendent - Rail Track, Structures, and Signal Communication (C5 : PROTEC17-Transit Supts)
Posting type: Open & Promotional
Categories: Transportation, Management, Transit
Summary
This position is open to all King County employees and the General Public.
Metro Transit's Rail Division has an exciting opportunity to hire a
Rail Superintendent - Track, Row and Structures.
Rail Superintendents are skilled people leaders who possess the industry knowledge and technical competence to support the trades work completed within their specific workgroups. The welcoming and inclusive environment created by our Superintendents models customer service, encourages the development of respectful and trusting work relationships, and motivates staff to contribute to a culture of safety, respect, and care. Superintendents are responsible for providing policy direction, proactively solving problems that impact service delivery, managing workgroup deliverables and performance through progressive leadership, and acting as a resource to employees at the worksite. The ideal candidate is able to collaborate with a diverse group of internal and external partners, agencies, and unions that support our agency’s goals of providing quality public service to our King County Residents.
ABOUT KING COUNTY METRO TRANSIT
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.
ABOUT METRO TRANSIT'S EXPANDING RAIL DIVISION
King County Metro's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link Light Rail, a growing network spanning 60 miles and serving 38 stations across the Puget Sound region. Together with Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services, the Link Light Rail system is the backbone of an integrated regional transit network that gives people real freedom of movement. As Puget Sound transit agencies work together to build a seamless, connected system, our light rail system plays a central role in expanding access, reducing barriers, and ensuring that everyone across our region can get where they need to go.
Joining Metro's Rail Division means joining an organization that is shaping the future of public transportation in the Pacific Northwest and setting the standard for modern rail operations nationwide. This is a division that values strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to the people we serve, both our riders and our teams. Whatever your role, your work here contributes to something that matters, a light rail system that thousands of people count on every day.
Examples of duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. All Superintendents are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices across all the job duties listed below:
- Hire, lead, develop, supervise, mentor, and motivate employees to help them recognize the important role they each play in achieving the overall agency goals and empowering them to perform accordingly. Lead teams by:
- Demonstrating positive leadership and role modeling to encourage and support staff while managing employee performance and implementing corrective action where appropriate.
- Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment focused on a culture of safety and care for one another.
- Providing guidance and direction to Chiefs, supervisors, tradespeople, administrative staff, and other staff.
- Troubleshooting complex or sensitive issues and problems.
- Managing performance of teams through performance appraisals, direct feedback, investigations, and corrective action, and working with labor unions to resolve labor issues.
- Lead and manage the development of work group-specific initiatives, continuous learning and improvement opportunities, efficiencies, and operational methods.
- Provide clear communication to the workgroup. Provide communications that connect, support, and reinforce Rail’s vision and policies to staff, meet the needs of employees, and foster a sense of belonging within the workgroup.
- Continuously improve the workgroup. Develop the use of performance metrics; recommend corrective actions as needed; manage data collection and reporting.
- Develop and maintain collaborative relationships within and between the Rail Division and Sound Transit as well as throughout King County. Partner with unions and other stakeholders to deliver excellent service and build a community-oriented, diverse, and inclusive environment; investigate and resolve customer complaints; mitigate high-profile service delivery issues.
- Monitor and develop the workgroup budget; ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies; analyze and interpret operating policies, procedures, and guidelines.
- Manage day-to-day workgroup functions for Link Light Rail related to the specific discipline of the workgroup, as shown in the table below.
Role Specific Job Duties:
- Supervise work group chiefs, supervisors and staff; ensure compliance with all transit operating policies and procedures as well as all applicable local, state, and federal codes and regulations; establish work performance standards and initiate corrective actions when required.
- Analyze, forecast, and report on maintenance and repair trends, costs, and performance metrics; and participate as a key member of the management team.
- Develop, plan, and schedule maintenance management and preventive maintenance programs to ensure efficiency of light rail equipment and infrastructure; ensure rail maintenance operations are in conformance with all contractual and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate the execution of ROW, track and structures work with other agencies, utility companies, engineering firms, and contractors; ensure compliance with all contract and work specifications. Review and comment on construction plans, specifications, and submittals; negotiate joint use contracts.
- Develop contingency and emergency operating plans and procedures; establish operating policies and procedures to ensure work complies with safety and quality standards and applicable codes.
- Manage and administer rail maintenance budgets; authorize expenditures within designated authority level; manage and administer vendor service, supply, and other related contracts as required.
- Participate and represent the division in a wide variety of internal and external work groups, project teams, committees, and task forces.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- 4 years or more experience in progressively responsible supervisory or management roles within the transportation or rail industries.
- 4 years or more Journey level experience within Rail Track, Row or Structures maintenance
- Ability to work with a diverse workforce and prioritize safety, respect, and care for employees in a unionized setting.
- Experience with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration TOMIE manual (Tunnel Operations, Maintenance, Inspection and Evaluation) and the NTIS (National Tunnel Inspection Standards) and NBIS (National Bridge Inspection Standards)
- Established track record of being able to oversee people and projects in an operational setting to get results.
- Applicants must possess a valid Driver's License (Washington license by date of hire)
- Work requires employee to remain on call outside of office hours to perform the job duties, regardless of whether on standard or alternative work schedules or on a holiday, to respond to emergent critical needs, emergencies, or other circumstances.
- Additional licenses, certifications, and other requirements determined to be necessary to meet the business needs of the employing unit may be required.
- Must possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job through any relatable combination of education or experience equivalent to; a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, Business, Public Administration (or another related field), and increasingly responsible experience in the transportation field and/or railroad industry (including supervisory and/or management experience)
Desired Quals:
- General knowledge of Light Rail operating systems
- Demonstrated operational knowledge and supervisory experience in a public transit agency
- Current knowledge of Light Rail safety principles, Metro rules/policies/procedures, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws
- Knowledge of the operations, policies, and procedures of the Metro Transit Department and the contractual requirements in the operating agreement with Sound Transit
- Experience activating new transit systems and/or extensions
Knowledge/Skills
- Knowledge of track systems at a level of subject matter expert
- Knowledge of guideway structures (aerial & tunnel) at a level of moderate understanding
- Knowledge of transit operations, policies, and procedures
- Knowledge of local, state, and federal codes and regulations that apply to the maintenance and repair of light rail systems and equipment
- Knowledge of the principles, practices, and industry standards of maintaining light rail systems, equipment, and facilities
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws related to employment, civil rights, and affirmative action
- Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of labor relations
- Knowledge of workforce planning and budget administration
- Skilled in establishing and initiating a preventative maintenance program calendar
- Skilled in planning and delegating work assignments for state of good repair projects
- Skilled in written and verbal communication
- Skilled in conflict resolution, problem-solving, and negotiation
- Skilled in statistical and operational analysis
- Skilled in staff development and training
- Ability to work in adverse weather events and other emergencies
- Ability to effectively engage in and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds
- Ability to work independently and as a team member
- Demonstrated proficiency with business applications, such as Power Bi and Microsoft Office suite
Supplemental information
Who May Apply
This career service position is open to all King County employees and the general public.
This recruitment may be used to establish an eligibility list to fill future career service, Special Duty Assignment (SDA), and Temporary (TLT) vacancies that may occur over the next twelve months. The list may be used until exhausted and/or at the hiring manager's discretion.
Application & Selection Process
The following are required to be considered:
- Complete King County Application.
- Answers to supplemental questions.
- Cover letter describing your interest in the position.
Application Process
Applicants should complete the online application at www.kingcounty.gov. NOTE: Please answer all relevant questions in the online employment application itself, with each of your jobs during the last 10 years listed (if you have ten years) (listing each position for each employer separately), duties explained, reasons for leaving, etc. Earlier jobs should be included if they are relevant in some way to this job. Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions under Application FAQs at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.
Work Location:
This position will work at all Rail facilities depending upon the business need.
Work Schedule
This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. The workweek may be predominantly Monday through Friday, 6:00 am - 4:00 pm, with additional hours as necessary, including being on-call, evenings, and weekends. Depending upon the business need, it may be any location, any day and any shift.
Safety Responsibilities for an Immediate Supervisor
- Ensure that SMS is implemented and executed within their areas of responsibility
- Ensure that performance of SMS is measured and documented in all areas of their responsibility
- Needs necessary for employees to perform job duties are communicated to the Accountable Executive and considered in resource requests
- Provide time necessary for employees to receive sufficient training
- Work on hazard identification analysis, tracking, and mitigation as safety concerns are brought forward
- Provide onsite safety orientation to all new or transferred employees
- Hold and document required safety meetings
- Work on hazard identification and mitigation are brought forward
- Ensure the maintenance of a safe workplace in conformity with Metro Transit safety programs
- Report safety and security concerns and ideas
Union Representation
This position is represented by PROTEC17 – Transit Superintendents bargaining unit.
Class Code/Grade
8712220/73
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Neha Bansal (she/her), Talent Advisor, nbansal@kingcounty.gov
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
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. 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.
