Research & Innovation Supervisor
King County Metro is seeking a supervisor to lead the Research & Innovation (R&I) workgroup located in the Mobility Division. The R&I team partners to drive smart innovation scaffolded by strong evidence, so that Metro’s investments and solutions are durable, deliver meaningful outcomes for people and places, advance agency goals, and—where possible—reduce costs. This mission helps Metro and the traveling public navigate an evolving transportation landscape by advancing strategic research and evaluation, exploring new connections to transit, and expanding mobility options. This team of researchers, planners, and innovators focuses on using evidence to guide decisions, developing new mobility concepts, and improving access to transportation.
The ideal candidate will have strong leadership qualities that emphasize collaboration, the ability to lead through change and bring out the best in teams, an innovative mindset, and familiarity with the mobility industry and research practices. The R&I Supervisor will be part of a leadership team in the Market Innovation Section and will have key opportunities to help shape the strategic direction of the section and beyond, working closely with the Managing Director and the Supervisors of Market and Business Development and Fare Strategy & Policy.
As supervisor of the R&I, this position manages, supervises and directs 16 highly motivated and independent staff who make up three focused programs: the Research, Innovative Mobility, and Connecting to Transit programs. Each program has a lead and staff include transportation planners, project/program managers, research specialists and analysts.
This recruitment will be used to fill 1 Career Service position. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for future Career Service, Term Limited Temporary, and Special Duty Assignment vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. The eligibility pool will be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.
Job Duties
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 to all aspects of the work. You will:
Leadership & Team Management
- Supervise, develop, and direct daily operations of the R&I team.
- Collaborate with R&I leads to drive results, make decisions and effectively solve problems, with keen understanding of resource and staffing challenges as well as regional political and community realities.
- Ensure assigned supervisor level leader administrative functions are completed appropriately and in a timely manner (including but not limited to scheduling, leave and travel approvals, payroll, and contract and expense processing).
- Identify, manage and serve as escalation point for critical decisions, requests and risks/issues requiring the input of Market Innovation Managing Director.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Apply an entrepreneurial, adaptable mindset and support a culture of innovation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as a voice for innovation at Metro and work across the agency to test, implement, evaluate, and adjust new products and services.
- Find innovative ways to plan, develop and implement projects that support our customer needs.
- Deploy cutting-edge solutions to transportation challenges, advancing data and community-driven decisions regarding the integration and implementation of mobility solutions.
Strategic Research & Evidence-Based Decision Making
- Supervise and coordinate the development, presentation and communication of research results and resulting recommendations regarding transit policies, programs, projects, service levels and fares to transit management, elected officials, community groups and stakeholders.
Represent R&I in strategic planning and implementation of Metro programs, pilots, projects, and services.
Collaboration & Partnership
- Demonstrate organizational savvy and the ability to manage and navigate internal cross divisional efforts.
- Evaluate and identify business needs and strategic priorities and advocate for work group.
Develop collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders internally throughout the organization and externally throughout King County, including but not limited to businesses, community groups, mobility partners and providers. - Share the Metro strategy in a wide variety of internal and external work groups, project teams, committees and task forces; prepare and deliver presentations to elected officials, regional transportation authorities, transportation stakeholder groups, the private sector, and other related groups.
- Ensure alignment between program delivery and Metro policy and strategy
Communication
- Provide workgroup level communications on Division or Section level processes, opportunities, initiatives, etc.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum Qualifications:
- Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience managing professional-level staff, including responsibility for performance management, coaching, and team development. Demonstrated success in leading collaborative problem-solving efforts across organizational silos and levels.
- Experience fostering a high-performing, inclusive, and growth-oriented team culture, including supporting employee development plans, empowering staff to stretch and grow, providing coaching and mentoring, and ensuring a fair and just workplace.
- Ability to evaluate and identify business needs and strategic priorities and effectively advocate for the work group within a complex organization. Demonstrated organizational savvy and the ability to manage and navigate internal cross divisional efforts. Ability to analyze and anticipate problems, assess risks and opportunities, and provide proactive solutions that meet critical business needs.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present research findings, policy recommendations, or technical information to varied audiences such as senior leadership, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience in communications and decision-making that reflect fairness, respect, equity, and inclusiveness.
- Demonstrated experience in supporting and building on a culture of employee engagement, which supports the development, coaching, and team building necessary for the workforce of the future.
- Experience and expertise in transit customer experience and perceptions
- Knowledge of and experience with operationalizing racial equity and inclusion principles, strategies, and indicators.
Desired Qualifications:
- Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible management experience, ideally in a complex, mobility, innovation, or research-focused environment.
- Customer service orientation and skill in navigating a political environment with those who may have diverging opinions and viewpoints such as elected officials, internal and external agency staff, and the general public are strongly desired.
- Champion for data with deep understanding and appreciation for research science.
- Familiarity with the effective application and dynamics of customer research and market analysis.
- Experience in managing project/program evaluations.
- Experience developing and implementing mobility innovations
- Experience using change management principles within a complex organizational change or transformation project
- Experience negotiating and developing cross-sector partnerships
- Experience developing or managing projects to improve access to transit including but not limited to non-motorized infrastructure, mobility hubs, parking management, and micro mobility.
Supplemental Information
Who May Apply
This position is open to King County Employees and the General Public.
Required Application Materials
- An online King County application, updated with accurate contact information and all relevant work history going back 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly in the work experience section of the application.
- Attach a resume.
- Answer supplemental questions.
- Selection Process
- Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or file review
Work Location: This is a hybrid position. The main work site for this position is King Street Center, 201 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104. The team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. Currently, there will be a minimum of one day per week required in the office. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Work Schedule
The work week is normally 40 hours, Monday through Friday. Alternative work schedules may be possible. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and therefore is not eligible for overtime pay.
Union Membership: Protec17
Job Code/Grade:871580 Transit Supv – Service Dev. / 73
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: Tracy Bylund at tbylund@kingcounty.gov.