Project Program Manager III - Transit Employee and Labor Relations

King County Metro Transit Employee and Labor Relations team is hiring a Project Program Manager III to be a point person for overseeing, tracking, developing standard work and reporting on Employee and Labor Relation issues. 

This position is responsible for leading and facilitating large scale meetings, managing complex, highly sensitive projects that require coordination across multiple departments, legal partners, labor relations staff, and operational leadership. As the project manager you will establish and support standardized processes, develop tracking and reporting mechanisms, and serve as the primary coordinator for Requests for Information (RFIs) supporting litigation, arbitration, and other legal proceedings.

The Transit Employee and Labor Relations (TELR) team supports employees at Metro Transit, most of whom are represented by collective bargaining agreements. TELR’s mission is to engage with Metro Transit employees and their representatives to support a workplace culture that inspires innovation, creative problem solving, collaborative negotiations, and continuous improvement in our drive toward service excellence.

Position Information: This recruitment will be used to fill one (1)  Special Duty Assignment (SDA)/Term Limited Temporary (TLT), Project/Program Manager 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:

• Lead implementation and tracking of grievance settlement agreements, ensuring all settlement terms are completed timely and accurately.
• Supports the disciplinary administration of King County Metro's Drug and Alcohol Program by coordinating and processing documentation associated with employee drug and alcohol policy violations. Tracks disciplinary actions associated with drug and alcohol violations to ensure accurate records, timely processing, and compliance with applicable policies procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and regulatory requirements. Serve as a liaison between Drug and Alcohol, TELR and Metro people Leaders to facilitate communication, assist with drafting disciplinary documents, monitor case progress, and ensure disciplinary actions are processed consistently, accurately and in accordance with established timelines. 
• Lead and coordinate Requests for Information (RFIs) related to grievance arbitrations, ensuring timely collection, review, tracking, and production of responsive records.
• Facilitate, lead, and manage litigation tracking and coordinate litigation-related RFIs in partnership with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Human Resources, management, and other stakeholders.
• Manage the Transit Employee Labor Relations shared inbox and department tracking systems (grievances, investigations, RFIs, arbitrations, litigation, settlements, discipline, compliance, etc.).
• Serve as the primary coordinator for external agency requests, including but not limited to Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), unemployment matters, and other regulatory agencies.
• Coordinate and track Interest Arbitration activities, Demand to Bargain requests, associated RFIs, and related labor-management projects.
• Develop standardized processes, project plans, metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to improve efficiency, transparency, and compliance across assigned programs.
• Analyze trends and provide recommendations to leadership regarding litigation, arbitration, settlements, compliance activities, and workload.
• Act as the point person for assigned agency-wide projects.
• Coordinate, lead and facilitating large scale meetings as assigned.
• Communicate with people inside and outside the Agency; represent the organization to customers, the public, government agencies and other departments.
• Preform special projects or other duties as required.

We are looking for candidates who have: 

• Three (3) years of experience managing complex projects from concept through implementation, preferably involving labor relations, human resources, legal operations, compliance, or public sector administration OR a combination of education, training, and/or professional experience which provides the equivalent background required to effectively perform the work of this position
• Skilled in organizing and facilitating large-scale meetings for leaders at all levels.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills with the ability to lead technical meetings, training sessions, and cross-functional workgroups.
• Excellent organizational, customer service, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Skill in serving as a liaison between multiple departments.
• Ability to manage department shared inboxes and triage high-volume, time-sensitive inquiries.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple large-scale projects with competing priorities while consistently meeting critical legal, labor, and operational deadlines.
• Advanced project management skills, including planning, scheduling, prioritization, risk management, implementation, and continuous process improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to manage politically sensitive and high-profile projects requiring significant attention to detail and sound judgment.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional work involving executive leadership, attorneys, labor organizations, regulatory agencies, and operational partners.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships with leadership, organized labor, employees, legal partners, and external agencies while fostering trust and professionalism.
• Strong analytical skills with experience developing reports, dashboards, metrics, and data-driven recommendations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality while managing highly sensitive personnel, legal, and labor relations information.
• Ability to manage complex case files with accuracy and consistency.
• Strong record-keeping and document control skills, especially for RFIs, investigations, settlements, and litigation tracking.
• Experience interpreting labor agreements, employment laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and other project management and tracking systems.

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

• Experience working with large public sector agencies or governmental organizations
• Knowledge of King County Metro’s operations, mission, and policies

• Experience developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), business process documentation, and workflow improvements.
• Knowledge of drug and alcohol compliance requirements (e.g., DOT regulations).
• Familiarity with external agency processes (L&I, WSHRC, EEOC, unemployment claims).
• Understanding of litigation procedures and legal document handling.

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 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. Note: Special duty assignments are subject to reference checks, record review, and approval from the candidate’s current supervisor.

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. Current onsite workdays for this position are Monday and Thursday.

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. Typical schedule Monday–Friday, with occasional hours outside standard business times depending on project and business needs.
 
Union Representation: The position is not represented by a union
Class Code: 2441300 PROJECT/PROGRAM MANAGER III 

Safety Responsibilities for an Employee:

• Responsible for understanding Metro Transit Safety 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.