Rail Signal & Communications Chief
King County - Washington
Work at King County
Overview
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Overview
Are you ready to take on an exciting leadership role in the field of Rail Signals and Communications?
King County Metro Transit is seeking to hire multiple career service Rail Signals and Communications Chiefs to join the Rail Wayside Maintenance Section. As a crucial member of the rapidly expanding Rail Division, you will oversee the coordination, direction, and supervision of personnel responsible for maintaining railway signals and communications equipment. This position offers incredible benefits, and the opportunity to lead a highly skilled workforce in contributing to Metro's mission of providing safe, reliable transportation options to our community.
Our ideal candidates will be able to utilize their strong knowledge of Rail Signals and Communications systems to provide technical expertise to the team and be able to effectively support and communicate with a diverse employee work group in order to proactively solve problems that impact service delivery. The most competitive candidates will demonstrate their ability to encourage a culture of safety, inspire high standards of customer service excellence, and be able to motivate employees through relationship building, respect, and trust. Our Chiefs promote teamwork, resolve conflicts that arise, and promote a collaborative environment.
About Metro Transit's Rail DivisionKing County Metro Transit's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link light rail service and City of Seattle’s streetcar system. Link light rail currently spans a 33-mile route from SeaTac to Lynnwood and a 6.6-mile route from Redmond to South Bellevue. By the end of 2026, light rail is projected to expand to nearly 60 route miles, adding seven new stations. Additional expansions to the Link system will be coming online for years to come.
Seattle Streetcar includes the 1.3 mile South Lake Union line and the 2.5 mile First Hill line, proudly serving the diverse and vibrant communities around Seattle’s downtown core. These rail services complement Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services. Puget Sound transit agencies are collaborating to create an integrated transit network that enables people to travel farther, faster, and more easily.
Recruitment Information: This recruitment will be used to fill multiple Career Service Signals & Communications Chief positions within the Rail Wayside Maintenance Section and may be used to create an eligibility pool for future Career Service vacancies in this classification that occur within the next 6-12 months and to be utilized at the discretion of the hiring authority.
Who May Apply: We areaccepting applications from all qualified applicants, internal and external to King County.
NOTE: These positions are considered safety sensitive. Applicants are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and subsequent to the commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substance testing program protocols.Applyingequity and social justice principles isa daily responsibilityanda foundational expectation forallKingCounty employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to allaspects of the work. As a Rail Signals and Communication Chief,you willalso perform the below:
Management duties:
- Build,support,andfosteracultureof carewithintheSignalsandCommunicationworkgroupandRailDivision.
- Supervise, develop, and direct the work of Rail Signal and Communications personnel and equipment at bases and out in the field. Provide management support for the training of staff.
- Exhibit positive leadership and role modeling to encourage and support staff while managing employee performance. Chiefs assist in the selection of staff, coordinate, and assign work, counsel, and discipline subordinates in accordance with labor contracts and agreement provisions and Light Rail rules and procedures.
- Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the Rail Division, with Sound Transit and in Metro broadly.
- Participate in labor and employee relations activities for the Division.
- Represent management at disciplinary hearings and grievances, interpret labor contract provisions in support of supervisory role, including grievance resolution, establishing and developing collaborative relationships with Union leadership, and assist in labor negotiations and contract changes as needed.
- Work closely with Human Resources and Labor Relations staff to track and resolve personnel issues and other related labor issues.
- Plan, operate, and maintain Signals operation for the Rail Division.
- Consult with engineering, warranty, safety, environmental, materials, transportation, contracts, and other staff in the development and implementation of maintenance programs and standard maintenance and operating procedures.
- Collaborate withSound Transit,Rail Division management, peers,andcontractors to assure asafe,reliable,and efficient Light Rail operation.
- Identifyandparticipateinprocessimprovementandotherimprovementefforts.
- Lead safety and security, including coordinating andadvising safety and security committees andmake recommendations to management.
- Respond to questions and provide technical advice on project requirements, specifications,and material requirements.
- Maintain and verify various records regarding work performed, time spent, materials used,operating logs and related information; enter and extract data using automated systems; maintain manual records as required.
- Participate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive preventative maintenance program for signals & communications and associated features of the light rail system; prepare records and document maintenance and diagnostic data.
- Respondtoemergencysituations.Prioritizeanddetermineworkprioritiesforemergencymaintenancetasks.
- Act as Project Manager for various projects and contracts.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Two (2) years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity which included leading, selecting and coaching a highly talented employee group; AND
- Two (2) years of experience performing railway signaling and communications maintenance, repair, or installation, preferably on transit systems.
OR equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the desired skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the work. Note: Education cannot replace a minimum of two years of lead or supervisory experience in a related field.
Additional minimum qualifications include:
- Strong motivation to manage a diverse employee team, promoting a culture of care,inclusion, and belonging while building relationships and trust with employees.
- ExperiencewithAPTA,FRA,FTA,andAREMAstandardsandbestpractices.
- Experience inanalyzing, evaluating, and diagnosing malfunctions inelectrical and electronic railway equipment, including determining repair requirements.
- Knowledgeofandskillin maintainingandtroubleshootingmechanicalandhydraulicequipment.
- Knowledge or traffic safety techniques and procedures for establishing maintenance and repair work sites, as well as skill in applying industrial safety techniques, principles, and procedures, including working from elevated platforms and equipment, and working at railway crossings with train and automobile traffic.
- The ability to assess employees'technical proficiency and productivity issues and address themthrough coaching and training.
- Skill in planning, scheduling, prioritizing, and organizing the work of maintenance functions to ensure optimal effectiveness and efficiency while meeting established standards and deadlines.
- Strong problem-solving and time managementskills, and the ability to effectively balance daily responsibilities, multiple simultaneous projects, and competing priorities from various internal and external stakeholders and partner agencies.
- Abilityor skillin managing a highly unionized workforce, building strong relationshipswithUnion partners,and attaining mutually beneficial solutions.
- Professionalwrittenand verbalcommunicationskills,andstronginterpersonalskills
- Experience using computer software such as Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint) and ability to use an Enterprise Asset Management System (EAMS, or similar asset management system.)
- Advanced skills in reading and interpreting blueprints, schematics, and drawings.
- Knowledge of budget monitoring.
- Ability to listen carefully to others with an open mind and give and receive feedback.
- Ability to learn principles and techniques of curriculum planning, training needs assessments, testing, and training program development.
- Skill in performing and documenting investigations into employee misconduct, including customer and stakeholder complaints.
- Experience overseeing project management coordination between departments/divisions (construction, contracts, etc.) through all project phases.
- Ability to obtain Hi-Rail, bucket truck,forklift,mobile crane, fall protection certification as well as various other specialty certifications within the workgroup.
- Validdriver'slicense(Washingtonlicensebydateofhire)andanacceptabledrivingrecord.
- Work requires remaining available for work 24 hours per dayduring scheduled rotational assignments as on-call Chiefs.
- Willingness andavailability to work varying shifts on weekdays, nights,weekends, and holidays asrequired to support staff and critical work and consistent with negotiated agreements.
- Workmayrequirereportingforextendeddutyhoursduringadverseweathereventsandotheremergencies.
- Must pass drug and alcohol testing provision for safety-sensitive positions as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655.
The work performed for this position is primarily on-site at any one or combination of Link Light Rail Operation and Maintenance facilities. Currently there are 3 reporting locations as well as various warehouse and Administrative facilities, with more being added soon. Work locations may change in the future based on operational needs.
This position may be assigned to work on various shifts (Day, Swing, or Graveyard) including weekends; days off may vary. This classification is exempt from the provisions of the FLSA and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. This position will have on-call responsibilities and may require incumbents to remain available for work 24 hours per day during scheduled on-call rotational assignments, and work may require reporting for extended duty during adverse weather events and other emergencies.
Work Conditions
Work will be performed both indoors and outdoors and in inclement weather. This position requires the use of standard office equipment and supplies, and the field of work also requires working in high places from mechanical lifts and structures and in high-voltage environments. The position requires physical skill and effort to operate tools, equipment, vehicles, and supplies to demonstrate and teach repair procedures to others. Duties may require stooping or bending motions when inspecting work.
To Apply
The following application materials are required:
- Anonline King County application,updated with all relevant work history going back10 years(or more,if necessary), with all duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
- Responses toallrequiredsupplementalquestions.
- Attach an updated and accurate resume.
- Attachacoverletter(orletterof interest)thatrespondstothefollowing:
- Why does this job opportunity interest you?
- How do you meet the minimum qualifications outlined for this position? (Note: only the first 2 pages of your letter will be reviewed)
Selection Process
Applicants will be screened for clarity, thoroughness, competitiveness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The employment history detailed in your application MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions, resume and cover letter. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates may be invited to complete skills testing or participate in one or more interviews. Employment offers will be finalized only after candidates have successfully completed required pre-employment drug screens. Reference checks, King County employment record reviews, and reviews of driving records will also be conducted prior to any final offer of employment.
Applications without the following may not be accepted:
- King County application
- Answers to all required Supplemental Questions
- Resume
- Cover letter
Union Membership: PROTEC17:ProfessionalandTechnicalEmployees,Local17-- TransitChiefs
Class Code: 8730400 TRANSITCHIEF-RAILWAY,SIGNALS& FACILITIES
Questions? Contacttherecruiter,Brenna Burbank, at
#RailJobs #TradesJobs
ABOUT KING COUNTY METRO TRANSIT
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 well over 5,000 people who primarily work in the field of transit operations, vehicle maintenance, transit facilities operations, and marine.
King County Metro Transit is a regional Leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment, and radically improving urban air quality by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a Leader in this nation's public transportation industry.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. 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.
Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities 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. 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.
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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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