Apprenticeship and Pathways Project/Program Manager III

Metro Transit’s Employee Services Division seeks a dynamic Apprenticeship and Pathways Project/Program Manager III to develop and manage projects in Metro Transit’s Apprenticeship and Pathways Team. You will bring creativity, a passion for employee development, and a proven track record in supporting projects to completion. 
  
You will work in partnership with the team to build and manage apprenticeship and pathways programs to meet the needs of a growing and changing organization. In partnership with our current workforce, we are creating programs that enable employees to grow their careers at Metro and that provide more pathways into the organization.

Metro is committed to providing transportation services that connect all people and all communities of King County, focus on the equitable distribution of our service and the equitable application of our work (inside and outside the agency), and combat climate change by doing our work in a sustainable manner. Metro Transit is King County’s largest Department, employing over 5,000 people who primarily work in the field of transit operations, vehicle maintenance, transit facilities operations, and marine.

Position Information: This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Service Project/Program Manager III (PPM III) classification vacancy. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for future Special Duty Assignment (SDA), Term Limited Temporary (TLT), and Career Service (CS) vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. The eligibility list will be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.  

Who May Apply: We welcome applications from all interested candidates, including current King County employees and the public. Please refer to the "Supplemental Information" section of this job bulletin for the required application materials.

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and 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 this work. This position is comprised of the following core duties:

• Develop and manage Programs: Support apprenticeship and pathways program development, implementation, management and coordination across divisions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Move work forward: Organize people and activities to accomplish strategic work plans and deliverables within established timelines.
• Develop project tools: Develop pro-equity, innovative, people-centered work plans, charters, and project documents as a collaborator and team assuring effective operations, communications, partnerships, reporting, and continuous improvements.
• Partner and facilitate groups: Partner with and facilitate groups of employees, labor union representatives, and County management to implement and manage Metro’s apprenticeship and pathways programs.
• Inform decision-making: Work with organizational and Division decision-making structures to identify and accomplish tasks and successfully implement projects.
• Strengthen career pathways: Identify and strengthen career pathways with a focus on underserved communities to obtain employment or career advancement opportunities within Metro.
• Deliver project results: Manage project schedules, issues, risks, quality, and project deliverables.
• Report to leaders: Support the sponsor and members of leadership to ensure tasks are completed, timelines met, and deliverables achieved.
• Communicate program progress: Develop and provide program reports, updates, and presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Evaluate and improve programs: Engage in evaluation and continual improvement of program activities; may organize focus groups, listening sessions, surveys, and other tactics, using the learnings to adjust and refine program approach.
• Monitor and report outcomes: Develop key data metrics, analysis, and reporting on project progress. May lead, mentor, and assign work to other team members.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• A minimum of three (3) years' experience in taking projects from concept through completion, that engage employees or the community OR a combination of work experience, training, and/or education that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the responsibilities of the position.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships, with a variety of audiences, including operational employees, frontline leaders, and labor representatives, using practices that advance equity and inclusion.
• Advanced skills in goal setting with the ability to organize people and activities to accomplish work plans and deliverables within established timelines.
• Experience in managing and developing people-focused or people development projects, such as on-the-job learning, apprenticeship, technical training, professional development, and other programs.
• Strong customer service, organizational, analytical, time management, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well independently or as part of a team.
• Comfort and flexibility in navigating a complex hierarchy while managing multiple competing priorities, projects, and customer relationships.
• Engaging facilitation skills applied to technical meetings with multidisciplinary staff and leading groups to accomplish specific tasks.
• Demonstrated understanding of key concepts in equity and social justice education around topics of race & other social identities, and a leader’s role in creating equitable and inclusive work environments.
• Experience and ability to navigate working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing operational demands.
• Excels in working collaboratively on a team and individually; and the ability to adapt and contribute in both settings.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office software including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.

Highly competitive candidates will have (desired, but not required):

• Experience working with large public sector agencies or governmental organizations.
• Knowledge and experience in King County Metro’s operations, mission, policies and procedures; ideally with experience in project and/or program management.
• One year of demonstrated experience developing, managing, and/or implementing programs that support workforce and employee development.
• Ability to manage highly visible and politically sensitive projects and tasks.
• Skill in data gathering, analysis, and developing data tools for various audiences.
• Ability to comfortably work in a high volume, multi-focused, and fast-paced environment, following established processes.

Who may apply: We are accepting applications from all qualified individuals including current King County employees and the general public.

To Apply 

The following application materials are required: 

1. An online King County application updated with accurate contact information and relevant work history.
2. Completed supplemental questions. 
3. Resume
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. 

Selection Process: 

Applications that do not include all of the required materials listed above will not be considered. Only the materials explicitly requested will be reviewed—additional documents or information will not be evaluated. Application materials will be screened for completeness and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review.  

Other Position Information
 
Work Location: This position follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of 2 days per week onsite at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. consistent with King County Metro's hybrid work policy. Remote workdays may be adjusted based on operational or business needs.

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. 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.
  
Work Schedule: The position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. The typical workweek is 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday.
Union Membership: This position is not represented by a union.
Class Code: 2441300 PROJECT/PROGRAM MANAGER III

Safety Responsibilities for an Employee

• Responsible for understanding this policy and their role in safety
• Report all safety concerns
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system

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.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Sabrina Brazzle at [email protected]. 

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.