Executive Director-Capital Program Delivery

Salary range is $140k to $450k, with a midpoint of $295k. 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.
• 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.

Sound Transit is seeking a highly qualified and experienced Executive Director with extensive experience delivering mega capital programs and projects. Because of the magnitude of Sound Transit’s system expansion program, there may be two or more Executive Directors. The Executive Director will be responsible for managing teams tasked with delivering mega capital projects. The Executive Director will lead the 1) development and definition of the staffing structure and 2) resources needed to support successful delivery of the system expansion program. The role will oversee all aspects of capital delivery, including Planning, Budgeting, Project Development, Preliminary and Final Designs, Engineering, Systems Integration, Commissioning, Construction Management, Contract Administration, Project Controls, and Project Reporting to lead the assigned mega capital project portfolio.  

The Executive Director will report directly to the Sound Transit Deputy CEO for Mega Capital Project Delivery and will serve as the lead technical staff liaison to the Sound Transit Board of Directors as well as the System Expansion Committee regarding the status and progress of the assigned system expansion projects. 

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 leadership and staff who have successfully delivered 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 executive leadership capacity to deliver on commitments to voters. New executive leaders will emerge, elevate, and promote a culture of effective and efficient management through far-sighted planning, design, construction, and system integration. 

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, and 3) established the first set of regional transit projects. These projects were a success