Executive Director-Office of Planning & Development

Salary range is $206K to $464K with a midpoint of $355K. 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 direction of the Chief Planning & Development Officer, the Executive Director of the Office of Planning and Development leads Sound Transit's Office of Planning and Development (OPD) and serves as the agency's executive authority on all aspects of long-range and high-capacity corridor transit planning, system planning and integration, fares policy, and sustainability. The position manages and directs functional teams and leads the Office in integrating their work with that of other agency departments such as Capital Delivery, Program Oversight, and Transit Operations. The position maintains strong working relationships with agency and planning leaders across the region and coordinates assigned activities with external agencies. The position provides executive level advice and support to the CEO, Deputy CEO, Chief of Staff and as needed, and serves as delegate for the Chief Planning and Development Officer.

The Executive Director is responsible for maintaining the agency's Regional Long-Range Transit Plan and voter-approved System Plan and leads in the development of specific high-capacity transit corridor plans, early design studies, technical system plans, and related policy and planning efforts in support of the agency and Sound Transit Board. The position plays a significant role in cross-departmental decision-making, serving on the agency's Departmental Leadership Team, and helps ensure that planning and sustainability goals and considerations are integrated early and consistently into capital delivery, transit operations, finance, sustainability, and enterprise governance decision-making. Planning issues with significant operational, financial, or programmatic implications are elevated through the agency's governance framework, including participation in the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and when appropriate, Executive Review Committee (ERC) processes. Planning decisions with external or political implications are developed in coordination with the Government & Community Relations team to ensure strategic alignment in Board engagement, intergovernmental coordination, and communications. The Executive Director leads the planning team in developing a broad range of policy and technical planning recommendations, while GCR partners on engagement strategy and relationship management.

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.

• Serves as the agency's lead on planning-related decisions that have regional and enterprise-wide implications.
• Oversees Directors and staff managing a range of topics, including long-range planning, high-capacity transit planning, fares policy, system project planning and sustainability for the agency.
• Collaborates to shape and deliver Board briefings, policy discussions, and strategic direction related to planning and development initiatives. The position represents the agency in executive-level discussions with local jurisdictions, regional partners, Tribal governments, community organizations, and development partners regarding planning and development, while coordinating closely with Agency Leadership to ensure unified agency positioning and sustained partner trust.
• Partners with the Chief Planning and Development Officer and the OPD Chief of Staff in overseeing day-to-day operations of the Office of Planning & Development, including responsibility for budget development and performance, personnel management, overall strategic direction, work plan execution, and compliance with Agency policies and business practices.
• Engages in collaborative work with other OPD teams, including Community Development, Station Planning and Urban Design, and Intergovernmental Agreements and Partnerships.
• Provides strategic direction on mid- and long-range system development and planning.
• Supports team leaders and staff in developing work plans and integrates those into the overall OPD workplan, and works with the Chief of Staff to ensure performance management to workplan goals
• Coaches, trains and motivates staff; coordinates and/or provides staff training; and manages employee relations; manages the workflow and prioritization of projects and measures the performance of the department and all related staff and takes appropriate corrective action when necessary; provides advice and counsel to staff; implements or recommends corrective actions, discipline and termination procedures as appropriate/necessary
• Interacts with the Board of Directors as necessary and appropriate to support policy setting and decision making on programs as assigned; represents and provides liaison for Sound Transit with elected officials, government organizations and key constituent groups; serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures processes, policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• Develops, administers, maintains, and oversees the annual budgets of assigned divisions through subordinate division managers, as well as the Finance and IT departmental budget; makes recommendations and forecasts for future funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; reviews and approves department expenditures and implements adjustments.
• 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 Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, or closely related field. Twelve (12) years of experience in managing planning initiatives and programs, project management, project design and engineering, capital project development and administration and related fields. Ten (10) years of supervisory experience in leadership, budgetary, planning, and workforce management.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Principles and practices of long-range and regional planning, program development and
• Urban transportation systems analysis and management, including travel demand forecasting.
• Transportation planning and traffic engineering concepts, practices, procedures, and policy
• Transit technologies and their application to specific projects and services.
• Advanced principles and practices of governmental budget preparation and administration.
• Negotiation and consensus building principles and practices.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Negotiation principles and practices.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Developing and monitoring departmental and program/project operating budgets, costs, and Supervising, leading, and delegating tasks and authority.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Master's degree in in Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, or closely related field.
• Comparable experience with transit system planning in the context of significant growth and diverse stakeholder interests.
• Working knowledge of the communities in Sound Transit's service area.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid environment with an expectation of working in office 3 or more days per week.
• 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.