Chief Quality & Audit Officer

Salary range is $206k to $464k with a midpoint of $335k. 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 discount.
• 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 general direction from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chief Program Management Officer, the Chief Quality & Audit Officer provides strategic leadership and vision while directing and leading the Sound Transit Quality and Internal Audit team. This position is responsible for bringing a continuous improvement mindset to the work of ensuring that Agency, state, and federal requirements, guidelines, and regulations are consistently applied through effective, proactive, data-driven quality management and internal audit services. The Chief Quality & Audit Officer serves as a transformational change management leader to ensure consistent quality outcomes across the agency, including agency-level promotion, policies, assurance, and risk management. The Quality and Internal Audit team is part of the Program Management Office (PMO) within the Executive Department led by the CEO, and this position receives management support and guidance from the Chief Program Management Officer.

This position will hold the responsibility to escalate issues directly to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors on emerging issues. This position serves as Sound Transit’s chief audit executive and reports directly to the CEO with regular direct communication with the Finance and Audit Committee. This role requires excellent communication, decision-making, and influential leadership skills, and a leader passionate about supporting, promoting, and driving continuous improvement, transparency, and accountability throughout the organization. In addition to serving as a key strategic partner to the CEO, Chief Program Management Officer, and agency leaders, the Chief Quality & Audit Officer is the executive leader for the Quality and Internal Audit team and demonstrates Agency values. 

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.

• Responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of a robust, integrated, and comprehensive agency framework for quality and audit, including an FTA compliant quality management plan. 
• Advances the vision of quality and internal audit management through the lens of continuous improvement, and provides strategic thought leadership across the Agency, in partnership with the CEO, Chief Program Management Officer, and agency leaders.
• Directs and reviews the Quality and Internal Audit team’s work, including developing annual work plans in conjunction with agency leadership and the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
• Leads the Agency’s Quality and Internal Audit program and ensures the assigned leaders and staff establish and implement the appropriate management structure, staffing, programs, policies, plans, and processes to reflect agency needs, best practices, and regulatory requirements. 
• Provides leadership and guidance to assigned directors, along with timely and constructive feedback.
• Leads organizational design, staffing, and recruitment for the Quality and Internal Audit team. 
• Provides leadership and mentorship to the Quality and Internal Audit team for how to promote a culture of quality and continuous improvement.
• Sets the direction with quality and internal audit team leaders to expect collaboration across the agency. 
• Coaches, trains, and motivates team leaders to manage day-to-day staff work; coordinates and/or provides staff training; and directs the workflow and prioritization of projects and measures the performance of assigned staff.
• Maintains accountability and compliance with all applicable Agency, state, and federal requirements, guidelines, and regulations.
• Ensures key performance indicators are developed to ensure quality outcomes and monitors trends to ensure continuous improvement on KPIs; champions design of new processes, programs, initiatives, and efforts to meet targets and Agency goals. 
• Partners with colleagues across the Program Management Office to ensure that agency risk management builds the foundation for quality management and internal audit. 
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with key stakeholders including peer leaders, consultants, contractors, Agency partners, federal, state, and local officials, and Sound Transit Board members as needed. 
• Serves as an internal consultant to executive leadership, in the areas of quality management, internal audit, and regulatory compliance. 
• Translates Agency organizational goals and strategies into team goals and objectives with action plans.
• Develops and provides recommendations to Agency executive leadership regarding various issues and reports on outcomes. 
• Leads and champions continuous improvement efforts across the division, department, and Agency.
• Maintains awareness of latest industry trends and development in the quality management and internal audit fields and explores incorporation of new developments and standards of excellence as appropriate. 
• Evaluates and documents the effectiveness of the quality management system and leads changes/advances to improve outcomes. 
• 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 Public Administration, Quality Management, Audit, Construction Management, Project Management, Process Improvement, or closely related field. Twelve years in capital project management and delivery, engineering, construction management, audit, or manufacturing experience, preferably in the public sector; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Ten years of leadership, budgetary, planning, and workforce management experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:  

• Valid state driver's license. This position may be required to respond to incidents across the alignment, including during times and in locations that are not served by public transportation.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:  

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence or ASQ Certified Quality Auditor.
• Project Management Institute (PMI) Certified Project Manager.
• Completion of FTA-sponsored quality management training.
• Lean Six Sigma training.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated experience establishing, strengthening, and/or maintaining internal audit and a quality culture within a complex, asset-intensive organization, ideally within the transportation field. 
• Demonstrated experience establishing and implementing a quality management system compliant with international standards, with preference toward ISO 9001 Standard Requirements for Quality Management Systems and the Federal Transit Administration Guidelines for Quality Management Systems. 
• Building trusted relationships with peers or others with whom one does not have positional authority.
• Understanding the nature of quality management and internal audit activities in a construction environment. 
• Leading and empowering teams of diverse staff to navigate complex organizational structure and deliver thoughtful outcomes under pressure. 
• Strong leadership, relationship-building and management, and ability to positively influence the work of others. 
• Knowledge of FTA’s 15 Elements of a Quality Program and general knowledge of requirements and standards of the FTA, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), American Public Transportation Association (APRA), or other regulatory standards. 
• Experience working in a fully functioning quality management program, ideally within the context of FTA and/or FRA guidelines. Demonstrated understanding of how to engage leadership and staff in processing non-conformance, audit issues, addressing root causes, corrective actions / audit findings and actions to prevent recurrence, and solving quality issues. 
• Experience working with audit professionals, preferably in a public agency, to implement the intent of the Global Internal Audit Standards.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations for auditors and international best practices for auditing, including Institute of International Auditors (IAA) standards and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), or a commitment to swiftly complete training.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, improve, integrate, and strategically transform business processes, driving organizational and culture change. 
• Knowledge of, interpreting, and applying applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Independent judgment, strategic thinking, and problem resolution. 
• Risk assessment and management, and strategic planning.
• Forecasting potential quality trends by leveraging data. Data gathering, analysis and visualization for reporting, decision making, and transparency of decisions.
• Presentation development and public speaking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and active listening.
• Developing and overseeing complex programs that interface with multiple parts of the agency simultaneously.
• Principles of management, training, and performance evaluation.
• Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration; public sector budgeting and administration.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing and competing priorities.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Policy and procedure development and implementation, along with interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Contract and procurement strategies and management principles.
• Data gathering, analysis and visualization for reporting, decision making, and transparency of decisions.
• Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration; public sector budgeting and administration.
• Experience with using management systems and regulated audit program.
• Experience with design, construction, operations, safety programs, activities, and services of a regional transit authority.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:  

• Work is performed in a hybrid office and field environment, with the expectation of a minimum of three days onsite per week.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Position may be required for field investigation work. May be subject to bending, climbing, crawling, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, kneeling, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and carrying and lifting up to 25 pounds. 
• Position includes occasional on-call and weekend/night shifts to address Sound Transit assets and/or quality issues that may arise outside of revenue hours.
• 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.