Planning Manager, Sound Transit 3 (Strategic Advisor 3- Engineering & Plans Review)

Position Description

Vision: Seattle is a thriving and equitable community powered by dependable transportation.

Mission: To deliver a transportation system that provides safe and affordable access to places and opportunities.

At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we are recognized across the country for our efforts in combining different modes of transportation to make travel easier and more convenient. As our city grows quickly, we're always thinking about how to make transportation more accessible, safe, affordable, and reliable for people who live in, work in, and visit Seattle. We're passionate about creating an equitable, sustainable, and vibrant city for everyone.

We have important jobs to do at SDOT. We look after the city's transportation network, add more bicycle and pedestrian paths, take care of over 240 bridges, and help people get better access to the regional transit system. We're a team of nearly 1,200 hardworking people, ready to serve Seattle's public transportation needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no matter the weather.

Position Overview:

In November of 2016, central Puget Sound region voters approved Sound Transit's ST3 program—currently one of the largest transit expansion programs in the United States. Within Seattle, ST3 includes the West Seattle Link Extension (WSLE) and Ballard Link Extension (BLE) projects that will design and construct 13 new or expanded stations and nearly 12 miles of light rail connecting neighborhoods of West Seattle, South Lake Union, and Ballard to downtown Seattle and the regional transit system, as well as key infill stations along existing light rail lines such as the South Graham Street infill station. While Sound Transit is the regional agency responsible to fund, design, and deliver these capital investments, the SDOT Sound Transit Program, a program office within SDOT, carries out essential City functions to plan and permit ST3 projects built within the city, particularly within City owned right-of-way and properties. The City’s program will also implement station access improvements and encourage transit-oriented development around new stations.

SDOT’s Sound Transit program is currently seeking a collaborative, organized, and accountable Planning Manager (under the City's classification title of Strategic Advisor 3- Engineering & Plans Review) to lead the ST3 Planning workgroup, a matrixed team of subject matter experts from several City departments. It is one of seven primary workgroups (Engagement & Partnerships, Engineering, Environmental, Funding & Finance, Permitting, Planning, and Real Property) formed to facilitate coordination between Sound Transit and the City on the planning, design, and delivery of ST3 projects.

The successful candidate will be comfortable with consensus building, conflict resolution, and stakeholder/elected official engagement. An ability to prioritize tasks across large and complex bodies of work and delegate activities across a matrixed team in an interagency setting is essential. The position will report to the Sound Transit Program Director.

Job Responsibilities

This position’s primary functions will be leading the ST3 Planning Workgroup, an interdepartmental body that coordinates the City’s efforts on station design, station area planning, street concept planning, and station access and other public realm improvements for future ST3 stations including 13 stations along WSLE and BLE, and the South Graham Street infill station.

Responsibilities include:

• Partners with the ST3 Station Area Planning Manager from the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) to lead the ST3 Planning Workgroup, matrix-managing across City departments all efforts related to planning for future ST3 stations and station areas, including station design, station area planning, transit access and integration, other public realm improvements, and coordination on Equitable Transit-Oriented Development with OPCD.
• Facilitates ongoing Co-Planning reviews with Sound Transit staff on station design and station context planning; Provides a bridge to ensure station design concepts comply with the project permit process.
• Manages City coordination on the ST3 Access Program, prioritizing potential access projects, seeking additional project funding opportunities, and monitoring projects through development and delivery.
• Coordinates with the City’s engagement team to reflect community feedback and advance community priorities in stations designs, access projects, and station area plans.
• Seeks opportunities to advance racially equitable project outcomes and demonstrates accountability through tools including the project Racial Equity Toolkit and the SDOT Transportation Equity Framework.
• Generates materials and analyses to support light rail station design reviews and associated environmental processes, including DEIS/FEIS, preliminary engineering plans, and Seattle Design Commission reviews and requests for information.
• Facilitates resolution of planning issues and resolves conflicts across disciplines. Analyzes and addresses conflicting policy issues and identifies new and updated policy recommendations, codes, and standards to advocate for City interests.
• Develops and monitors work plans, schedules, budgets, and status reports, providing frequent updates on program work and upcoming milestones.
• Participates in presentations, special projects, and assignments as directed.
• Supports department goals in promoting diversity, racial equity, and social justice.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires seven (7)+ years’ experience in multi-disciplinary land use planning, community planning, or transit-oriented development projects or related experience and a Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, transportation planning, urban planning or a related field (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the position).

Successful candidates will possess many of these additional qualifications or be able to demonstrate comparable experience and expertise:

• Experience working with elected officials, members of the public, private organizations, and public agencies.
• Ability to foster a collaborative team culture that values different perspectives while delivering on fast-paced project schedules and milestones.
• Demonstrated success advising and communicating complex recommendations to program management, executive leadership, and elected officials.
• Experience managing complex schedules and large budgets on public infrastructure projects or programs.
• Commitment to working in an inclusive, multicultural workplace with an emphasis on collaboration, anti-racism, and accountability.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment with hybrid options.
• May be required to work nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Overnight travel may be required.

Additional Information

Please attach both a cover letter and resume to your application.

Failure to do so will result in your application not being considered.

Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process, including potential background check.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The full salary range for this position is $57.45 - $86.16 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: Seattle Employee Benefits .

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, veterans and those with diverse life experiences.

Accommodations for people with disabilities are provided on request.

The City is a Drug Free Workplace.