Transit Section Manager - ZE

Full Job Description

Why King County Metro?

King County Metro is a national leader in sustainability, equity, and innovation.

We are committed to creating a clean, resilient, and inclusive transit system that connects people and strengthens communities.

Joining Metro means being part of a mission-driven organization that values collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

We offer a competitive executive compensation package, hybrid work flexibility, and an opportunity to shape the future of public transportation in the Pacific Northwest.

King County Metro is transforming how we deliver service; creating cleaner air, quieter streets, and more sustainable transportation that communities can count on. We’re leading one of the most ambitious zero-emission fleet transitions in the nation, moving toward a 100% zero-emission fleet across all modes: 1,400 buses, 2,300 light- and medium-duty vehicles, and water taxi fleet. This transformation reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves air quality, and supports healthier communities, and will reshape how Metro delivers service, designs facilities, and partners regionally to advance climate action, equity, and operational excellence.

We are seeking to fill (1) one career-service position for a Zero Emissions (ZE) Transit Section Manager to lead this dynamic and complex program. The Zero Emissions Transit Section Manager role, also referred to as the Program Director, oversees the planning, investment, and implementation of Metro’s fleet decarbonization strategy. The Program Director will guide over $2 billion in capital and operating investments—including new facilities and base conversion efforts, battery electric bus, light, medium and heavy-duty fleet transition, charging infrastructure, software technology, and operational processes and workforce development—to ensure a successful and equitable transition to a clean transportation future.

About the Role
The ZE Program Director leads the Zero Emissions Core Team within the General Manager’s Office. The Program Director has 5 direct reports and 5 matrixed staff from across the department. The ZE Core Team is responsible for developing and coordinating zero emissions strategies and providing program oversight on zero-emissions investments, infrastructure and technology investments, operational deployment, policy development, reporting, change management and communications related to fleet decarbonization. This position plays a pivotal role in shaping the agency’s long-term fleet and facilities strategy and works closely with King County leadership, utilities, manufacturing and regional partners. The ideal candidate is a strategic systems thinker and is a collaborative, people-centered leader who thrives in complexity, communicates with clarity, and can move large initiatives from concept to delivery.

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 Zero Emissions Transit Section Manager, you will:

• Align leaders around a shared vision and strategy for Metro’s zero-emission transition, ensuring service planning, fleet deployment, facility design, workforce development, and utility partnerships function as an integrated system to achieve 100% zero-emission operations.
• Drive integrated program delivery through cross-functional leadership, directing the Zero Emissions Core Team and coordinating with operations, mobility, capital, finance, safety, technology, employee services, government relations, and communications around clear priorities, roles, and outcomes.
• Provide strategic oversight and influence for major investments, shaping more than $2 billion in capital and operational projects—including new battery-electric bus bases, facility conversions, and all fleet modes—to enable zero-emission service.
• Build partnerships and influence policy, securing funding and collaborating with utilities, jurisdictions, community organizations, elected officials, and industry leaders to enable large-scale clean energy and mobility investments.
• Advance operational readiness, performance, data analytics, and scalability, guiding pilots, testing, phased implementation strategies, and complex, high-risk initiatives that require long-range planning, disciplined execution, and cross-organizational coordination.
• Champion equity, governance, and risk management while creating public value, applying ESJ principles, strengthening collaborative decision-making structures, mitigating risks, and communicating progress to leadership and stakeholders with integrity and transparency.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates that meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in strategy, program, or executive leadership within transportation, infrastructure, or energy sectors.
• Five (5) years of management experience in a large transit agency.

• Two (2) years of experience implementing zero-emissions bus or fleet electrification transition.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-year initiatives with significant fiscal, operational, and policy dimensions.
• Proven ability to lead cross-divisional and multidisciplinary teams in matrixed and fast-paced, ambiguous environments with evolving challenges related to technology, budgets, reporting, and policies.
• Strong understanding of capital program management, financial strategy, performance and data analytics, and organizational change.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with experience engaging senior executives, elected officials, labor partners, front line staff, and diverse community partners with rapidly evolving technology, budgets, and policies.
• Commitment to equity, climate action, and public service values.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in or with public agencies, utilities, or regional partnerships.
• Familiarity with King County government, Metro operations, or Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) implementation.
• Skill in change management, risk management, and workforce transition planning.
• Experience designing and implementing labor strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire teams, lead through uncertainty, apply continuous improvement, and deliver tangible results

Additional Information

Required Application Materials

1. A completed Job Application (go back at least 10 years if you have 10 years of employment (more to include all relevant). Resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed job application.
2. Resume
3. Complete the supplemental questions
4. A letter of interest (cover letter) that addresses why you are interested in this role and how your experience, skills and/or education have prepared you for this position.

NOTE: Applications that do not include the required materials maybe rejected as incomplete and will not advance in the process.

Selection Process

All application materials will be screened for qualifications, competitiveness, completeness, attention to detail and written communications kills.

The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks.

Who May Apply

This position is open to all King County employees only.

Work Schedule

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. The work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Variations may be required depending on the demands and needs of the work.

Union Representation/Job Code/Grade

Not represented by a union.

Work Location

The position follows a hybrid work model that includes both in-office and remote work. Employees are expected to be on site three days per week.

The balance between remote and on-site work may shift based on business needs. The primary work location is King Street Center at 201 S.

Jackson Street, Seattle, Washington, 98104, with additional on-site work at various bases as required.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

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 assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact: Manal Tirhi, mtirhi@kingcounty.gov

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference?

Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

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 American 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.