King County, WA

Workforce Operations & Engagement Manager

Seattle, WA (Hybrid)

Summary The King County Metro Transit Facilities Division is seeking an energetic and visionary Workforce Operations & Engagement Manager (Special Project Manager I) dedicated to advancing Metro’s core values of delivering clean, safe, and reliable service to our community. In this essential role, you will design and lead innovative workforce pathways and foster meaningful community partnerships—ensuring our teams are empowered to uphold the highest standards of operational excellence. By building strong, collaborative frameworks across internal teams and external partners, you will strengthen our commitment to a workplace where safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship are at the forefront. As a strategic connector, you’ll bring together Metro’s operational leadership, labor, educational institutions, and community organizations to create integrated workforce initiatives that directly support our mission. Your work will drive cross-functional projects that enhance workforce development, reinforce safe and efficient facilities operations, and champion inclusive, community-driven solutions. Join us in making a lasting impact—help us grow a skilled, engaged workforce that keeps Metro’s promise: providing clean, safe, and reliable transit services for all. About Metro's Facilities Division King County Metro Transit’s Facilities Division maintains all Metro Transit properties, such as bus bases, park & rides, bus shelters, and offices and maintenance shops. Services include bus shelter repairs and replacements, bus shelter cleaning, trolley wire repairs, radio maintenance for buses, environmental spill clean-up, bus sign replacement, graffiti removal, and other facilities maintenance duties. Internally, team provides division-wide support functions for finance, budget, environmental compliance, safety, training, administrative services and new employee orientation. Planning, inventory/materials management, work center, workforce management, functional asset management, general/maintenance agreements, systems support, capital infrastructure, sustainable resources/energy. This recruitment will immediately fill one (1) Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) / Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position with an anticipated duration of up to two (2) years and may also be used to create an eligibility list for future Career Service, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) and/or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies valid up to twelve (12) months or until exhausted and at the discretion of the hiring authority. Who May Apply This position is open to King County employees and the public. Questions? If you have questions regarding this position or recruitment, please contact Daniel Russell, Talent Advisor at darussell@kingcounty.gov. Job Duties Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. All employees are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices. As the Workforce Operations & Engagement Manager you will also: Operational Workforce Pathways Design & Implementation Lead the development and execution of operational workforce pathway programs (e.g., job shadowing, pre-apprenticeship, technical upskilling) tailored to facilities maintenance and skilled trades. Collaborate with operations and maintenance leaders to identify current and future workforce needs and align pathway programs with operational priorities. Develop scalable models and toolkits for workforce pathways that can be adopted across other Metro divisions. Community & Stakeholder Partnership Management Build and sustain collaborative partnerships with community-based organizations, labor unions, technical colleges, high schools, and apprenticeship sponsors to co-design and deliver operational workforce initiatives. Convene and facilitate cross-functional advisory groups and project teams to ensure shared decision-making and alignment with Metro’s operational goals. Serve as a liaison between Metro Facilities leadership and external partners, ensuring transparent communication and mutual accountability. Project Management & Cross-Division Collaboration Lead special projects that advance operational workforce development, including pilot programs, process improvements, and grant-funded initiatives. Coordinate with internal teams (operations, maintenance, safety, training, HR, labor) to ensure project integration and operational impact. Support change management and organizational learning related to workforce innovation and operational excellence. Talent Attraction & Retention Strategy Partnering in community engagement, outreach, and workforce branding initiatives with your Talent Acquisition Partner to enhance Metro’s visibility and appeal as a high-quality employer. This includes participating in community events, building relationships with local organizations, and promoting Metro’s values and opportunities to diverse audiences. Supporting inclusive hiring practices by working with Talent Acquisition, HR, and operational leaders to identify and reduce barriers to entry, while upholding safety, skill, and performance standards. Your role is to provide operational insights and help design pathways that make Metro’s skilled trades and technical roles more accessible to underrepresented groups. Collaborating with HR, Labor, and Facilities leadership to identify retention challenges and implement workforce-informed solutions. You will facilitate cross-functional discussions, gather operational feedback, and help pilot new retention strategies, ensuring that solutions are informed by both frontline experience and HR expertise. Equity, Access & Inclusion in Operations Embed equity, access, and inclusion principles into all operational workforce pathway and partnership initiatives. Identify and address barriers to participation for underrepresented groups (e.g., women in trades, opportunity youth, justice-impacted individuals) in collaboration with community partners. Ensure all programs support fair access, skill development, and long-term career stability. Metrics, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement Develop and track operational metrics (e.g., program participation, completion, advancement, operational impact) to evaluate project effectiveness. Use data and stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement and inform resource allocation. Prepare clear, actionable reports and presentations for Metro leadership, labor partners, and community stakeholders. Please Note: This role is operational and collaborative in nature. It does not perform or duplicate HR functions such as recruitment, hiring, compensation, employee relations, or benefits administration. Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills To be considered eligible for this role, applicants must possess these MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, project management, operations, or a related field, OR equivalent professional experience. Demonstrated experience leading operational projects, cross-functional teams, or community partnership initiatives in a public sector, transit, or facilities environment. Strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills. Experience developing and using metrics and evaluation frameworks for operational programs. Desirable Qualifications Experience in transit, public sector operations, facilities maintenance, or skilled trades environments. Knowledge of apprenticeship standards, labor agreements, and operational workforce regulations. Experience implementing equity-focused operational strategies and evaluating outcomes for specific populations. Familiarity with collaborative governance, cross-functional advisory boards, and labor-management partnership models. Knowledge of how to coach and support continuous improvement training and activities, including Kata coaching, 5S, standard work, PDCA cycles, Leader Standard Work, and other continuous improvement tools and practices. Supplemental Information 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 Daniel Russell, Talent Advisor at darussell@kingcounty.gov. Required Application Material An online employment application with employment history going back at least ten years if you have ten years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience). Be sure to list all job duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving. Attach a cover letter/letter of interest Completed supplemental questions Selection Process Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews. Work Schedule This position is anticipated to be full time. Typical work hours are comprised of a 40-hour workweek, normally 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, work outside of normal business hours will occasionally be required, including evenings, weekends and holidays as needed. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. Hybrid Work and Onsite Requirements: The work associated with this position will be performed or conducted through a combination of teleworking and regular onsite work and meetings. Currently, employees in the Facilities Division are required to work onsite three (3) days per week. Work schedules are subject to change based on operational needs. Work Location: The primary location of the position is at the King Street Center offices, 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104. Union Membership: This position is not represented by a union. Class Code/ Pay Grade: 252605 / 68 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. For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Daniel Russell, Talent Advisor at darussell@kingcounty.gov. Benefits King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan Transportation program and ORCA transit pass 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays Generous vacation and paid sick leave Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves Flexible Spending Account Wellness programs Onsite activity centers Employee Giving Program Employee assistance programs Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position Training and career development programs For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page. This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass. For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting. 01 This position requires a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, project management, operations, or a related field, OR equivalent professional experience in at least one of the fields listed above. Do you meet this requirement? (Please ensure all relevant education and/or job-related experience and responsibilities are clearly outlined in the application materials so we can validate the nature of your qualifications.) Yes No 02 Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position? Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one. No. 03 If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff 04 If you have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, will you need accommodation in the recruitment process? If you check the "YES" box, the human resources staff person coordinating this recruitment will send you a request asking for additional information. (This confidential information is solicited for the purposes of providing reasonable accommodation only). Yes No 05 Do you have any relatives employed by King County? A relative is defined as a parent, child, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, grandparent, grandchild, in-laws, children, or relatives of a domestic partner. Yes No 06 Do you have any relatives who work for King County's METRO Transit Department? Yes No 07 If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please provide the Division of King County Metro that they currently work in. Select all that apply. Bus Operations Division Capital Division Employee Services Division Facilities Division Finance & Administration Division General Manager's Office Marine Division Mobility Division Rail Division (including Streetcar) Safety, Security & Quality Assurance Vehicle Maintenance I do not know which Division my relative works in at Metro Transit I do not have a relative that works for King County Metro 08 If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please provide the employee's name, position, and your relationship. If you answered "no", please list "N/A". 09 Have you attached the required cover letter? Applications that are not complete, or do not include all required materials may be rejected as incomplete, and not advanced in the process. Yes No 10 I certify that the statements made by me on the application and supplemental questions are, to the best of my knowledge, true, complete and correct. I understand that any misrepresentation or material omission of fact on this or any other document required by King County may constitute grounds for rejection, or if employed by King County, for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. Yes No Required Question