Rail SCADA Chief

Full Job Description

* This position is open to all King County employees and the general public. *

King County Metro Transit’s Rail Division has an exciting opportunity for a career service SCADA Chief. If you are ready to take on this exciting leadership opportunity and contribute to the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our light rail system, we invite you to apply! Join us in shaping the future of transportation in King County.

In this role, you will oversee a highly skilled group of SCADA Specialists, and ensure the effective operation of our SCADA systems that supports our Light Rail operations. The SCADA Chief works in close partnership with the Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit), overlapping agencies, and other leaders within the Rail Division when resolving SCADA-related issues, so the ideal candidate will be able to bring people together, mitigate barriers, and manage expectations in a diplomatic way.

Our ideal candidates will be able to utilize their strong knowledge of Rail SCADA systems to provide technical expertise to the team and be able to effectively support and communicate with a diverse employee work group in order to proactively solve problems that impact service delivery. The most competitive candidates will demonstrate their ability to encourage a culture of safety, inspire high standards of customer service excellence, and be able to motivate employees through relationship building, respect, and trust. Our Chiefs promote teamwork, resolve conflicts that arise, and promote a collaborative environment.

About Metro Transit's Expanding Rail Division

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link light rail service and City of Seattle’s streetcar system.

Link light rail currently spans a 41-mile route from SeaTac to Federal Way and a 6.6-mile route from Redmond to South Bellevue.

By the end of 2026, light rail is projected to expand to nearly 60 route miles, adding two new stations. Additional expansions to the Link system will be coming online for years to come.

Seattle Streetcar includes the 1.3 mile South Lake Union line and the 2.5 mile First Hill line, proudly serving the diverse and vibrant communities around Seattle’s downtown core.

These rail services complement Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services.

Puget Sound transit agencies are collaborating to create an integrated transit network that enables people to travel farther, faster, and more easily.

Who May Apply:
This position is open to King County employees and the general public.

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 if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Those interested must submit:

• An online King County application, updated with accurate contact information, and relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all job duties and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
• Complete responses to all required supplemental questions.
• An updated and accurate resume (1-2 pages).
• A 1-2 page cover letter (or letter of interest) that fully addresses the following prompt:
  • Why does this job opportunity interest you?
  • How does your experience and background meet the qualifications for this position?
  • Please identify two key job duties from this posting and explain why they are your two strongest competencies.
• Note: If you submit a cover letter/resume longer than 2 pages, only the first 2 pages of your letter/resume will be reviewed and considered.

Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible?

We highly recommend visiting the Career Support Services website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective:

Career Support Services - King County.

Recruitment Information: This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) career service Rail SCADA Chief position within the Rail Wayside Maintenance Section. This recruitment may also be used to establish an eligibility pool for any future vacancies in this classification, valid up to 12 months upon creation or until the pool is exhausted, at the discretion of the hiring authority. Placement into an eligibility pool is not a guarantee of placement into a future position.

NOTE: This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for these positions are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and subsequent to the commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substance testing program protocols.

Requirements

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As a Rail SCADA Chief, you will also:

Management duties:

• Build, support, and foster a culture of care within the SCADA workgroup and Rail Division.
• Supervise, develop, and direct the work of SCADA personnel and equipment at bases and out in the field. Provide management support for the training of staff.

Oversee, supervise and prioritize daily operations and the inspection, maintenance, repair and testing of SCADA systems that support the operation of the light rail services.

Supervise the technical maintenance of servers and fiber optic networking systems, system databases and related components of SCADA control

• Exhibit positive leadership and role modeling to encourage and support staff while managing employee performance.
• Chiefs assist in the selection of staff, coordinate, and assign work, counsel, and discipline subordinates in accordance with labor contracts and agreement provisions and Light Rail rules and procedures.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the Rail Division, with Sound Transit and in Metro broadly.
• Participate in labor and employee relations activities for the Division.
• Represent management at disciplinary hearings and grievances, interpret labor contract provisions in support of supervisory role, including grievance resolution, establishing, and developing collaborative relationships with Union leadership, and assist in labor negotiations and contract changes as needed.
• Work closely with Human Resources and Labor Relations staff to track and resolve personnel issues and other related labor issues.

In addition to the management duties listed, as the Rail SCADA Chief you will also:

• Collaborate with Sound Transit, Rail Division management, peers, and contractors to assure a safe, reliable, and efficient Light Rail operation.
• Maintain, update, and manage communication equipment and SCADA inspection and maintenance programs;
• Assign and verify inspections, service, and repairs;
• Schedule work assignments for routine and special events;
• Manage contract administration of maintenance and service providers;
• Assist in the development and management of the budget;
• Participate in accident investigation teams and recommend corrective actions as necessary;
• Assist with training and certification activities;
• Identify and participate in process improvement and other improvement efforts.
• Lead safety and security efforts, including coordinating and advising safety and security committees and making recommendations to management.
• Respond to questions and provide technical advice on project requirements, specifications, and material requirements.
• Maintain and verify various records regarding work performed, time spent, materials used, operating logs, and related information; enter and extract data using automated systems; maintain manual records as required.
• Participate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive preventative maintenance program for SCADA and associated features of the light rail system; prepare records and document maintenance and diagnostic data.
• Consult with engineering, warranty, safety, environmental, materials, transportation, contracts, and other staff in the development and implementation of maintenance programs and standard maintenance and operating procedures.
• Respond to emergency situations. Prioritize and determine work priorities for emergency maintenance tasks.
• Act as Project Manager for various projects and contracts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who possess the following Minimum Qualifications:

Two (2) years’ experience in a lead or supervisory capacity which included activities such as assigning work, leading, selecting, and/or coaching a highly talented employee group ANDTwo (2) years’ experience performing maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of communications and SCADA systems; preferably within transit systems.

OR, any equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the desired skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the work.

Additional Minimum Qualifications include: Strong motivation to manage a diverse employee team, promoting a culture of care, inclusion, and belonging while building relationships and trust with employees.

Working knowledge of the theory, operation, maintenance, overhaul, repair, and troubleshooting of communications and SCADA systems;Knowledge of diagnostics and maintenance techniques and practices supporting SCADA, components, networks, and devices requiredKnowledge of principles of networks and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC);Knowledge of appropriate national, state, and local codes and means of compliance;The ability to assess employees' technical proficiency and productivity issues and address them through coaching and training.Skill in planning, scheduling, prioritizing, and organizing the work of maintenance functions to ensure optimal effectiveness and efficiency while meeting established standards and deadlines.Strong problem-solving and time management skills, and the ability to effectively balance daily responsibilities, multiple simultaneous projects, and competing priorities from various internal and external stakeholders and partner agencies.

Ability or skill in managing a highly unionized workforce, building strong relationships with Union partners, and attaining mutually beneficial solutions.Professional written and verbal communication skills, and strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen carefully to others with an open mind, and give and receive feedback.Experience using computer software such as Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint) and the ability to use an Enterprise Asset Management System (EAMS, or similar asset management system).Desirable Qualifications include: Knowledge of budget monitoring.Experience with APTA, FRA, FTA, and AREMA standards and best practices.Ability to learn principles and techniques of curriculum planning, training needs assessments, testing, and training program development.

Skill in performing and documenting investigations into employee misconduct, including customer and stakeholder complaints.Necessary Special Requirements:Valid driver's license (Washington license by date of hire) and an acceptable driving record.Work requires remaining available for work 24 hours per day during scheduled rotational assignments as on-call Chiefs.Willingness and availability to work varying shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays as required to support staff and critical work and consistent with negotiated agreements.Work may require reporting for extended duty hours during adverse weather events and other emergencies.Must pass drug and alcohol testing provision for safety-sensitive positions as required by the U.S.

Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655.

Additional Information Work Location & Schedule:The work performed for this position is primarily on-site, however location assignment may change based on operational needs.

The SCADA Chief may report to:Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) Central at 3407 Airport Way S., Seattle, WA.

Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) East at 1925 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA.

Maintenance of Way North (MOW-N) at 920 N 137th St, Seattle, WA

Federal Way End of Line at 2233 S 320th St, Federal Way, WA.

And any future Sound Transit Link facilities.

This position may be assigned to work on various shifts (Day, Swing, or Graveyard) including weekends, with the graveyard shift being the most likely assignment; days off may vary. This classification is exempt from the provisions of the FLSA and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. This position will have on-call responsibilities and may require incumbents to remain available for work 24 hours per day during scheduled on-call rotational assignments, and work may require reporting for extended duty during adverse weather events and other emergencies.

Work Conditions:
Work will be performed both indoors and outdoors and in inclement weather. The position requires minimal physical skill and effort beyond the use of everyday office equipment and supplies and may require stooping or bending motions when inspecting work. This field of work also requires working in high places from mechanical lifts and structures and in high-voltage environments. The position requires physical skill and effort to operate tools, equipment, vehicles, and supplies to demonstrate and teach repair procedures to others.

Selection Process:
Applications will be screened for clarity, thoroughness, competitiveness, and written communication skills. The employment history detailed in your application under the work experience section MUST correlate to your attached resume and validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions and cover letter. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Employment offers will be finalized only after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, which may include a pre-employment drug screen, reference check or internal record review, and driving record review.
Applications missing any of the following required materials will be marked as incomplete, and you will no longer be considered for the position:

• King County Application with a completed "Work Experience" section
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Responses to Supplemental Questions

Union Representation/Job Code/Pay Grade:
PROTEC17, 874040 (Transit Chief - Railway, Sig & Fac.), Grade 69

Questions about this recruitment? Contact Madison Sta Ines, Talent Advisor, mstaines@kingcounty.gov

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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 Americans 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.

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