Government & Community Relations Systems Program Manager

Salary range is $90k to $185k, with a midpoint of $135k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all 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: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide 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, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under general direction, the Government and Community Relations (GCR) Program Systems Manager plans and manages activities with a special focus on operational and passenger experience. This includes working with Sound Transit Board Members and their staff, engaging with elected officials, all levels of government, regional business interests, and other community leaders and partners to build relationships and garner support for Sound Transit mission and goals. Internally, supports the CEO and ST departments, leads or participates in cross-functional and inter-agency teams to address mission critical and complex issues, bringing community focused and political insights to support strategic, mission driven decision-making. Works on systemwide projects for the GCR division to address impactful operational issues such as major civic events and service disruptions, operational policy issues, and other projects as assigned. Supports policy development for operational, passenger facing, multi-modal and region-wide issues.

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.

• Plans, directs, and coordinates Sound Transit's interactions and presentations to local government councils and groups in support of the operating program and advise Sound Transit departments on strategic engagement with local jurisdictions.
• Works in partnership with the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Leadership, senior management, and operations team in external relations across the system by providing strategic advice on emerging issues to ensure Sound Transit's projects and services advance.
• Coaches, trains, and motivates Executives, Department, and Program leads to engage externally to improve the agencies support and perceptions throughout the region and to determine times to elevate issues for timely resolution.
• Direct strategic consultant support needed by various operation projects to develop and manage the elected leaders and project stakeholder groups as critical elements of the agency's external engagement efforts.
• Facilitates high level negotiations internally and externally with Board, agency, and department partners.
• Participates in many Boards and Agency wide directives, representing the interests of the organization, community, business, and elected leaders.
• Ability to develop, edit, and deliver effective presentations to external audiences, which includes Mayors, City Councils and their staffs, business and community leaders.
• Draft and present written materials to internal and external audiences pertaining to operations and systems issues, including elected officials, public boards, etc.
• Represent Sound Transit at external events across the region, including Chambers of Commerce, economic development councils, neighborhood groups, and other community-based organizations.
• Interface with riders, members of the public, and represent the agency at community events, focused on where Sound Transit operates bus, light rail, and heavy rail services in the three-county region.
• Represent Sound Transit on inter-agency teams to advance regional transit initiatives with a focus on agency operations, including safety/security, and other operational policies and initiatives.
• Monitor, analyze and report on policy and political issues related to local governments, riders, and community groups.
• Consult and advise on messaging and communications approaches and draft written materials and presentations.
• Bring the perspective or community-based organizations and agency partners into Sound Transit discussions around operations as well as understanding the needs of transit riders in the region.
• Lead and/or represent the agency on multidisciplinary project teams bringing a community based, politically sensitive viewpoint to complex decisions.
• Closely partner with Sound Transit's Operations and Passenger Experience teams to help balance the needs of riders, community, elected officials and other agency partners, during times of service disruptions, state of good repair projects, and other major initiatives impacting agency riders.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Affairs, Public Administration, or closely related field and five years of experience in advocacy, nonprofit, political, or legislative environments that includes responsibility for public policy, communications, or serving as a policy advisor; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• The political and policy arena of the central Puget Sound and Sound Transit's role in the region.
• Skill to provide research and analysis on specific political and technical issues related to transportation policy and project development and the ability to translate technical materials to public audiences
• Understanding of news media dynamics and the role news media plays in public policy.
• Managing a complex set of projects and issues.
• Understanding of key ethics and elections rules and laws, which dictate how a Government Relations Program Manager can do their job in dynamic political environment.
• Transportation policy experience and first-hand rider knowledge of the regional transit system preferred
• Experience working with local political processes and entities preferred.
• Knowledge of Transit and Sound Transit's services and community benefit.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Experience with the community partners involved in regional transportation issues, and the communities impacted by and benefiting from Agency projects and services.
• Ability to use good judgment and adapt to rapidly changing political environment.
• Ability to produce high quality work in a timely way and to work on several projects simultaneously and strong ability to create, foster and maintain interpersonal relationships and work cooperatively with other Sound Transit staff and diverse groups and individuals.
• Strong writing skills especially for public facing talking points and messaging. Principles of business writing and basic report preparation.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups and the general public.
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Using good judgment and adapting to rapidly changing political environments.
• Public speaking and in developing and delivering presentations and presenting ideas and concepts orally and in writing.
• Maintaining confidentiality and communicating with tact and diplomacy.
• Responding to inquiries and in effective oral and written communication.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Proficiency in a language other than English, including ASL, is a plus.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work will be performed in a standard hybrid office and field environment.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• The agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel 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.