Executive Project Director - Series 3 Light Rail Vehicles

Salary range is $157K to $297K with a midpoint of $227K. 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.

GENERAL PURPOSE: 

Under the direction of Executive Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management (IAM), the Executive Project Director – Series 3 Light Rail Vehicles provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and overall accountability for Sound Transit’s Series 3 Light Rail Vehicle Program, including procurement, design review, manufacturing oversight, testing, commissioning, acceptance, operational readiness, and integration into the regional light rail system. The role is responsible for planning, directing, managing, and overseeing all phases of the Agency’s next-generation light rail vehicle acquisition program and associated supporting initiatives required to successfully expand and sustain Sound Transit’s growing Link light rail network. The Executive Project Director serves as the Agency’s executive lead for the Series 3 Light Rail Vehicle Program and is accountable for program scope, budget, schedule, quality, safety, risk management, contract administration, supplier performance, vehicle acceptance, and operational integration. The role takes strategic direction from the Executive Director – IAM and directs the development and implementation of plans that are consistent with the strategic direction to ensure the successful delivery of safe, reliable, maintainable, and customer-focused vehicles that support Sound Transit’s long-term service expansion, operational performance, and asset management objectives. The role consults with the Executive Director – IAM and serves as the Project Director/Manager for the Series 3 LRV program and primary liaison with vehicle manufacturers, consultants, regulatory agencies, industry partners, and other stakeholders and provides strategic inputs, recommendations, and decision support to executive leadership regarding fleet expansion, vehicle technology, risk mitigation, operational readiness, and long-range fleet investment strategies. The position supports agency-wide strategic priorities and plays a critical role in advancing Sound Transit’s ST3 expansion program through delivery of a reliable, sustainable, and future-ready vehicle fleet. 

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.

• Provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and overall accountability for the Series 3 Light Rail Vehicle Program, including procurement, manufacturing oversight, design review, testing, commissioning, acceptance, operational readiness, and revenue service integration.
• Directs and oversees all phases of the Series 3 Light Rail Vehicle Program, including scope, budget, schedule, risk, safety, security, quality, contract administration, vehicle acceptance, and supplier performance; ensures successful delivery of the program in accordance with Sound Transit policies, procedures, and strategic objectives.
• Leads the development and implementation of program strategies that support fleet expansion, system capacity growth, operational reliability, maintainability, lifecycle performance, sustainability goals, and long-term asset management objectives.
• Serves as the Agency's executive lead and primary point of accountability for all contractual, technical, commercial, operational, and programmatic matters associated with the Series 3 Light Rail Vehicle Program.
• Directs and oversees vehicle manufacturer performance, contract compliance, design development activities, production schedules, testing programs, warranty administration, corrective action plans, and acceptance processes.
• Establishes and maintains executive-level relationships with vehicle manufacturers, consultants, industry partners, regulatory agencies, transportation agencies, and other external stakeholders to support successful program delivery.
• Leads development and implementation of vehicle acceptance, operational readiness, maintenance readiness, staffing, training, tooling, spare parts, facilities integration, and transition-to-operations plans necessary to support revenue service implementation.
• Collaborates with Transit Operations, Engineering, Asset Management, Information Technology, Safety, Procurement, Finance, Capital Delivery, and other departments and/or divisions to ensure successful integration of the Series 3 fleet into Sound Transit operations and maintenance programs.
• Provides executive leadership and coordination for vehicle system integration activities involving facilities, traction power, communications systems, signaling systems, maintenance systems, training programs, and operational support functions.
• Supports the Executive Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management in the development of long-range fleet acquisition strategies, fleet replacement planning, asset lifecycle management initiatives, and vehicle technology evaluations supporting agency strategic objectives and future service expansion.
• Develops and administers the program's annual and long-range capital budgets; forecasts future funding requirements; monitors expenditures; directs corrective actions when necessary; and ensures responsible stewardship of public resources.
• Develops executive-level reports, briefings, recommendations, risk assessments, business cases, and decision packages for the CEO, leadership teams, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders.
• Identifies program risks, technical issues, contractual challenges, supply-chain impacts, operational constraints, and organizational readiness concerns; develops mitigation strategies and directs corrective actions to ensure successful program outcomes.
• Provides executive oversight of program governance, performance monitoring, quality assurance, project controls, reporting processes, organizational readiness activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates schedules, projects, and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work; and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.
• Coaches, trains, mentors, and motivates staff; coordinates and provides training; manages employee relations; oversees project and program priorities; measures performance; develops staff and organizational capabilities; and implements or recommends corrective actions as appropriate.
• Assists the Executive Director and leadership teams in strategic planning, program delivery oversight, organizational development, and implementation of departmental and agency priorities.
• Actively supports development and implementation of strategic business priorities, organizational initiatives, and enterprise objectives.
• Maintains effective working relationships and communication with the Sound Transit Board, federal, state, and local agencies, regulatory organizations, funding partners, manufacturers, consultants, community stakeholders, and industry associations.
• 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.
• Oher duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical or Systems or Industrial or Transportation or Civil or Manufacturing Engineering or related field. Ten years of experience in rail vehicle procurement, rail transportation, engineering, manufacturing, program management, transit operations, asset management, construction management, systems integration, or related fields involving responsibility for large, complex capital programs or transportation infrastructure projects or an equivalent.  Eight years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:  

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Certified Rolling Stock Procurement Professional or equivalent industry credential.
• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or equivalent procurement-related certification.
• Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) certification or equivalent major capital project delivery certification.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:  

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Advanced principles and practices of rail vehicle procurement, design, manufacturing, testing, commissioning, acceptance, warranty management, and fleet introduction programs.
• Light rail vehicle systems engineering principles including propulsion systems, vehicle control systems, communications systems, braking systems, HVAC systems, passenger information systems, cybersecurity, onboard diagnostics, and vehicle software architecture.
• Principles and practices of systems integration involving rolling stock, signaling systems, communications systems, traction electrification systems, maintenance facilities, operational technologies, and associated transit infrastructure.
• Rail transit operations, maintenance practices, fleet management principles, operational readiness requirements, and vehicle lifecycle management strategies.
• Strategic fleet planning, fleet replacement programs, asset lifecycle management, State of Good Repair principles, reliability-centered maintenance, vehicle availability, maintainability, and long-term fleet sustainability planning.
• Program governance, executive oversight, organizational leadership, policy implementation, and strategic decision-making practices applicable to large, complex public transportation programs.
• Advanced project and program management principles, including scope management, schedule management, risk management, quality management, cost control, and performance management for large-scale capital programs.
• Commercial management principles including contract administration, supplier relationship management, manufacturing oversight, performance guarantees, liquidated damages, warranty administration, claims management, and dispute resolution.
• Public-sector procurement practices, competitive procurement methodologies, contract negotiation strategies, and administration of major manufacturing and technology contracts.
• Financial management principles including capital budgeting, expenditure forecasting, lifecycle cost analysis, total cost of ownership analysis, funding strategies, and cost-benefit evaluation.
• Manufacturing processes, industrial production environments, supply-chain management practices, quality assurance programs, factory testing, production acceptance testing, and vehicle commissioning processes.
• Federal, state, and local transportation regulations applicable to rail vehicle procurement, manufacturing, testing, commissioning, operations, safety, accessibility, security, and environmental compliance.
• Industry standards and best practices applicable to rail transit vehicles, including APTA standards, FTA requirements, Buy America requirements, vehicle safety standards, quality assurance requirements, and vehicle acceptance practices.
• Strategic risk management principles and practices involving supplier performance, manufacturing delays, technology risks, operational integration risks, fleet readiness, contract performance, and organizational readiness.
• Executive-level reporting, governance, and decision-support practices including development of business cases, executive briefings, Board presentations, performance reports, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.
• Leadership of large multidisciplinary teams consisting of project managers, engineers, technical staff, operations personnel, maintenance personnel, consultants, suppliers, and contractors.
• Building and maintaining collaborative relationships with executive leadership, regulators, manufacturers, transit agencies, consultants, contractors, partner organizations, elected officials, and external stakeholders.
• Negotiating complex technical, contractual, operational, commercial, and organizational matters involving multiple stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Developing and implementing organizational readiness, change management, training, workforce development, maintenance preparedness, and operational transition strategies associated with major fleet programs.
• Establishing performance measures, accountability frameworks, quality standards, governance structures, and continuous improvement practices supporting successful program delivery.
• Preparing and analyzing complex technical, operational, financial, contractual, manufacturing, and risk-related information to support executive decision-making.
• Communicating complex technical, operational, financial, and strategic information effectively to executive leadership, the Sound Transit Board, partner agencies, regulatory organizations, community stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Developing, monitoring, and administering multi-year capital budgets, program schedules, manufacturing plans, operational readiness plans, and program performance objectives.
• Supervising, mentoring, leading, and delegating authority to professional, technical, and managerial staff while fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation, and organizational excellence.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience leading major rail vehicle procurements, fleet expansion programs, or large rolling stock manufacturing contracts.
• Experience with North American light rail vehicle design, manufacturing, testing, commissioning, and acceptance processes.
• Experience with fleet modernization, fleet replacement, or fleet expansion programs in a rail transit environment.
• Experience implementing vehicle technology innovations, digital systems, automation technologies, condition-based maintenance programs, or predictive maintenance strategies.
• Experience working with public transit agencies, rail vehicle manufacturers, federal funding agencies, and transportation regulatory organizations.
• Experience managing programs involving new vehicle deployment, operational readiness, maintenance readiness, and transition to revenue service activities.
• Knowledge of progressive procurement, collaborative delivery methodologies, supplier relationship strategies, and innovative rail vehicle acquisition practices.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:  

• Work is performed in a standard hybrid office, field, shop, warehouse environment, and transit vehicles.

• Work is performed in a hybrid environment with an expectation of working in office a minimum of 3 days 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 is responsible for Light Rail Vehicle, maintenance and field work inspections. This may be subject to bending, climbing, crawling, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, kneeling, pushing or pulling, reaching, repetitive motion, sitting, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and carrying/lifting up to 25 pounds.  
• 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.