Deputy Executive Director-Operations Readiness

Salary range is $160k to $280k, with a midpoint of $215k.  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: 

Sound Transit is seeking an experienced leader in integrating and ensuring operational readiness of new transit systems from planning, design, and through construction of new transit extensions and supporting infrastructure. With extensive collaboration across the agency and key partners, this leader is accountable to provide independent and objective view of the agency’s people and infrastructure readiness at key milestones in project delivery with the authority to ensure operational readiness is integrated at each phase of project delivery. This role leads a team that drives the agency to ensure operational readiness in capital project delivery supporting nation’s largest transit expansion in the Puget Sound region. 

• Sound Transit has an annual capital and operating budget of $3 billion and is in the process of delivering one of the largest transit expansion programs in the country.
• Voters in the greater Seattle region approved three-system expansion plans defined in the ballot initiatives known as Sound Move (1996), Sound Transit 2 (ST2 in 2008), and Sound Transit 3 (ST3 in 2016).

These programs authorize ongoing funding for the design, construction, and operations of a fully integrated network of Light Rail, Commuter Rail, Bus Rapid Transit, and Commuter Express Bus systems which, together, will:

• Reshape the landscape of the entire Western-Washington region, enhance economic development.
• Help combat climate change, and improve mobility, livability, smart growth, affordability, and accessibility across the region.

The Sound Transit Team includes highly experienced capital program and service delivery leadership and staff who have successfully delivered and operated the Sound Move program and are moving toward completion of the ST2 program. As the size of the Sound Transit light rail system will more than double over the next two decades, Sound Transit needs to grow its leadership capacity and expertise to deliver on commitments to voters.

Sound Move (1996-2007) represented the first phase of a long-term vision for high-capacity regional transit. The public vote for this initial phase:

1. Authorized the creation of Sound Transit
2. Enacted tax collections for funding the expansion.
3. Established the first set of regional transit projects. These projects were a success and included:

• • 26 miles of light rail service between Seattle-Tacoma Airport and the University of Washington, with a northward extension to Northgate dependent upon additional funding.
  • Peak period commuter rail from Lakewood and Everett to Seattle.
  • ST Express bus routes linking the region’s population and employment centers.
  • Capital investments in transit facilities (suc