Sound Transit · 19 hours ago
Program Manager- TOD Engagement (term-limited)
Seattle, WA
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
$81K/yr - $170K/yr
4+ years expSound Transit is a transportation agency focused on community development and transit-oriented development. They are seeking a Program Manager to develop and manage engagement activities and programs that support the implementation of their strategic plan for transit-oriented development, engaging with various stakeholders and overseeing programmatic goals.
Public TransportationRailroadTransportation
Responsibilities
Manages a strategic engagement program driven by goals/objectives derived from the program’s ongoing work and the TOD strategic plan; maximizing use of a variety of media sources; responds to a variety of public inquiries and constituent concerns
Develops a deep understanding of Sound Transit’s TOD program and its policies, including the agency’s Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Policy, the state 80/80/80 statute, and the program’s guidelines
Supports a team of 10 TOD professionals working on a variety of active real estate projects in various stages of being planned, offered, or developed into TOD, as they engage with communities, jurisdictions, political actors, and internal stakeholders
Supports the Community Development Office management team by preparing executive-level briefings, coordinating Board of Directors reporting, and managing internal and external components of the division’s TOD strategic plan development
Serves as an expert in community engagement with a specific focus in TOD, urban planning and land use to support and design engagement programs for upcoming TOD projects. This position will serve as an expert in interdepartmental and interagency teams and acts with autonomy and authority to align TOD objectives with communications business objectives. Uses collaboration and influence to move teams towards goals
Closely partners with Sound Transit’s Capital Programs, Equity and Inclusion, Government and Community Relations, Passenger Experience, Safety, and other departments to develop and select strategies to ensure consistent application of equitable engagement principles for TOD projects and Community Development programs
Serves as the point of contact for advocates, partner agencies, neighboring communities, emerging developers, and regional non-profits and provides guidance on best practices for engagement with TOD projects. Participates in various external meetings and committees, responds to a variety of public inquiries and provides appropriate information to resolve issues; tracks issues/complaints
Maintains awareness of new developments in the field of engagement and how to apply those in a TOD planning environment; communicates concepts to broad range of audiences and incorporates new developments as appropriate
Works with TOD program managers and project teams to understand process and schedule information and be able to communicate and offer the opportunity to provide feedback on TOD projects. Apply a consistent approach to TOD engagement across many geographic areas while developing and managing specific plans that meet the needs of individual communities
Ensures strategic, consistent processes and templates are used across TOD projects, and that lessons learned are applied iteratively to those processes and templates
Envisions, oversees and participates in the development and maintenance of engagement materials; drafts and edits a variety of public information materials including, surveys, website content, email list updates, fact sheets, print material, presentations or other digital content
Plans and staffs a variety of engagement activities including briefings and meetings, fairs/festivals, open houses, public hearings, and street team/staff volunteers
Develops and maintains evaluation methods to assess program strengths and identify areas for improvement. Tracks, analyzes, and communicates key program metrics such as quarterly engagement reports, TOD data, discounted land value data, and GIS databases; recommends program changes and solutions
Implements and manages changes and interventions to ensure project goals are achieved
Manages program budget including scope of work and invoice management for a robust consultant contract for TOD engagement, and resources supporting the agency’s engagement and communication efforts. Manages and provides leadership to internal staff, and consultants to carry out and implement community engagement measures
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
Required
Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Public Administration, or closely related field
Four years of experience working in community engagement, community relations, or public relations; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
Valid state driver's license
Methods and techniques of community engagement, outreach and education
General principles, practices and strategies of land use development and urban planning
Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration
Establishing and maintaining effective collaborative working relationships with internal partners, community members, community-based organizations, businesses, property owners and the general public
Developing and delivering compelling presentations to various audiences
Distilling highly technical information into concise, easy to understand messages for public consumption
Senior-level project management including ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and organizing work to meet challenging priorities and deadlines
Ability to right-size and grow a program to account for future growth and sustainability
Using influence and ownership across teams
Demonstrating strong interpersonal techniques and commitment to establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a diverse work group including other division staff, management, vendors and outside agencies
Resolving complex problems when collaborating with matrixed teams
Leading strategic conversations, chartering groups and creating planning documents
Conducting research and analysis and providing appropriate recommendations based on findings
Excellent written and oral communications skills including grammar, punctuation and spelling
Excellent customer service
Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases
Preferred
Subject matter expertise in transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and real estate development principles
Knowledge of equitable engagement topics applicable to transit-oriented development, including anti-displacement, community-led development, transit passenger experience, and placemaking
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.
Company
Sound Transit
Sound Transit is a public transit agency serving the Seattle metropolitan area.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Juan Higuera
Chief of Staff to CEO
John S. Henry, CPA, CMA, CTP
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Recent News
2025-12-05
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