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Sound Transit · 4 days ago

Product Manager - ORCA (Term-Limited Appointment)

Seattle, WA

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

$78K/yr - $180K/yr

5+ years exp

Sound Transit is a regional transit authority providing public transportation solutions. The Product Manager will lead efforts in developing and enhancing the ORCA fare payment system, focusing on customer satisfaction and innovative payment solutions.

Public TransportationRailroadTransportation

Work & Life Balance

Responsibilities

Lead product initiatives for ORCA, the regional transit fare payment system, from inception through completion, ensuring timely, cost-effective delivery within defined scope and budget

Develop and manage product roadmaps, clearly aligning product features with user needs, market trends, and strategic objectives

Facilitate regular multi-agency meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagements across seven Puget Sound transit agencies

Drive the product and business planning processes for cross-functional and intra-agency teams

Coordinate agile methodologies, including backlog prioritization, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives using the Optimal Product Process as a framework

Manage vendor and consultant relationships, specifically overseeing the main fare collection system integrator

Conduct market analyses, user research, and competitor evaluations to inform continuous improvement of product offerings

Provide comprehensive documentation, training, and ongoing support to stakeholders and operational teams

Manages ORCA related projects from scope development through project closeout and handover to operations. Develop and execute detailed project plans to be shared with stakeholders, vendors, and other ROOT staff members, defining clear milestones and deliverables

Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues, proactively communicating potential impacts and developing solutions

Ensures all projects are delivered on-time, within scope, and within budget while maintaining quality

Evaluate and optimize operational processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness of fare collection systems

Prepare and deliver presentations, status updates, and reports to leadership, stakeholders, and partner agencies

Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards across all project activities

Collaborate with technical teams to translate business requirements into technical specifications clearly and effectively

Actively identify market trends, assess peer products, and integrate user feedback to continuously improve product offerings. They will play a pivotal role in aligning product strategies with business objectives, translating complex technical information into clear and actionable strategies for stakeholders across the organization

The role will also encompass traditional project management duties, including detailed project planning, scope management, resource allocation, schedule adherence, and risk management to successfully deliver projects within established timelines and budgets

Collaboration with multiple transit agencies across the region, specifically involving regular interaction and coordination with representatives from seven participating partner agencies

Oversight of vendor and consultant performance, ensuring effective implementation and delivery of payment solutions across diverse regional stakeholders

Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency

Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy

It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees

It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices

Other duties as assigned

Qualification

Product managementAgile methodologiesData analysisProject managementUser experience (UX)Vendor managementStakeholder communicationPresentation skillsConflict managementAttention to detailWritten communication

Required

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Product Management, Project Management, Information Systems, Engineering, Communications, Public Administration, or closely related field

Five years as an individual contributor in the following or related roles: product manager, project manager, or business analyst; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Processes, procedures, and practices of product management, project management and business analysis

Strong knowledge of product lifecycle management, including roadmap creation, prioritization, and iterative enhancement

Proficiency in agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and associated tools (Jira, Confluence)

Experience in defining product requirements, conducting user research, and translating user needs into clear product features

Expertise in data analysis, user experience (UX) principles, and using analytics to inform product strategy and improvements

Proficient in detailed project planning, including defining clear project scope, establishing timelines, and setting milestones

Experienced in tracking project deliverables, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely completion of project phases

Proficient in identifying project risks, developing mitigation strategies, and proactively resolving issues to ensure successful project delivery

Proven ability to effectively manage stakeholder communications and build consensus across multiple agencies and teams

Strong vendor management and negotiation skills, particularly involving technology vendors and system integrators

MS Office including SharePoint and experience of two years which must have been acquired within the past five years

Sound judgment and the ability to escalate issues when necessary

Strong experience managing and leading change within an organization

Strong facilitation skills including conflict management, issue resolution, brokering agreements, and removing roadblocks

Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, and outside agencies

Strong attention to detail

Independent judgment, personal initiative, and resourcefulness

Working effectively under pressure, meeting deadlines, and adjusting to changing priorities

Strong oral and written communication skills for various individuals ranging from Agency employees, consultants, contractors, the public, elected officials, community leaders, and local and state agencies

Presentation development and public speaking skills

Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations

Preferred

Knowledge of various payment systems, methods (credit/debit cards, digital wallets, ACH, etc.), and industry standards

Familiarity with public transportation systems, ticketing solutions, fare collection methods, and transportation regulations

Familiarity with payment processing technologies, APIs, encryption, and security protocols

Ability to analyze data and trends to make informed decisions and optimize payment processes

Familiarity in market and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and inform strategic product decisions

Familiarity developing prototypes or mock-ups to visualize and validate solutions

Knowledge of testing methodologies, test planning, and quality assurance practices

Knowledge of deployment processes to ensure smooth software release cycles

Benefits

Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.

Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.

Employee Assistance Program.

Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).

Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.

Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.

Pet Insurance.

ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.

Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.

Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.