Deputy Executive Director – Enterprise Quality

Salary range is $165k to $315k with a midpoint of $240k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• 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.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Chief Quality Officer, the Deputy Executive Director of Enterprise Quality (DED-Enterprise Quality) provides strategic leadership and vision while directing a portion of the Enterprise Quality division. This role serves as a transformational leader, implementing the Enterprise Quality vision while managing and supporting staff within the team and around the Agency to lead by example, create and follow standards, and perform work correctly the first time.

We are hiring two Deputy Executive Directors who will serve as influential leaders and strong deputies to the Chief Quality Officer, responsible for different aspects of the Enterprise Quality vision. Both are focused on developing and maintaining a strong quality culture embedded throughout the Agency, to deliver high-quality outcomes for riders, employees, contractors, key stakeholders, and the communities we serve. These roles collaborate with internal departments, contractors, and consultants to foster shared ownership of quality and consistent adherence to the Agency’s Quality Management System and Agency Quality Plan.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Leads a team within the Enterprise Quality division. Responsible for setting individual and team goals and measuring performance against those.
• Drives the implementation of the Enterprise Quality vision and provides strategic thought leadership to advance a culture of quality across the Agency.
• Manages the organizational structure, staffing, and recruitment for the Enterprise Quality division, along with the peer Deputy Executive Director-Enterprise Quality and Chief Quality Officer.
• Leads, mentors, and provides timely, constructive feedback to assigned directors and staff to achieve high performance and continuous improvement.
• Resolves issues at the DED level and escalates efficiently when needed to the Chief Quality Officer.
• Develops key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor trends of those KPIs to assess Agency performance, along with other leaders within the Program Management Office.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with key stakeholders including peer Agency leaders, other staff, consultants, contractors, Agency partners at the federal, state, and local levels, and Agency leadership.
• Serves as an internal consultant to executive leadership on quality management, regulatory compliance, and performance monitoring of quality outcomes.
• Leads and champions continuous improvement initiatives across the division, department, and Agency.
• Maintains awareness of emerging industry trends, best practices and technical standards in quality management and evaluates opportunities to incorporate innovations that enhance outcomes.
• 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Quality Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or closely related field; Ten years of experience in capital project management and delivery, engineering, construction management, or manufacturing, preferably in the public sector; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Eight years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid state driver’s license. This position is responsible for responding to field locations on demand, 24/7. Some field and constructions sites may not be accessible by public transportation.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Training or Certified Lead Auditor
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM) or ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or the ability to obtain certification within 24 months of hire.
• PE (Professional Engineer) certification
• FTA-sponsored quality management training

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong leadership, relationship-building and management skills, with the ability to influence outcomes across organizational boundaries.
• Proven ability to lead and empower diverse teams within complex organizational structures, delivering high-quality outcomes under pressure.
• Demonstrates persistence, initiative, and a strong work ethic; focuses on delivering meaningful results rather than simply generating activity.
• Anticipates needs and plans ahead to influence outcomes effectively; engages quickly and confidently to address challenges and remove obstacles.
• Identifies and involves the right stakeholders in analysis, decision processes, implementation, and reassessment to ensure high quality outcomes and support the development of others.
• Able to determine high impact priorities, think strategically, generate breakthrough ideas, and inspire shared commitment to actions that position the organization for future success.
• Demonstrated experience establishing, strengthening, and sustaining a quality culture and quality management system within a complex, asset-intensive organization.
• Deep working knowledge of quality and safety regulations, and standards, including FTA, FRA, ISO, and APTA guidelines.
• Demonstrated ability to engage executive leadership and management addressing non-conformance reports, audit findings, root cause analysis, corrective and preventative actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading, integrating, and strategically transforming business processes to drive organizational change and culture improvement.
• Advanced knowledge of strategic asset management concepts, strategies, tools, and techniques, supported by both advanced education and real-word Application.
• Extensive experience across planning, design, construction, maintenance, operations, and safety programs within a regional transit authority or similar authority.
• Demonstrated experience managing a broad and complex portfolio in a senior leadership capacity.
• Independent judgment, strategic thinking, and problem resolution.
• Expertise in risk assessment, risk management, and strategic planning.
• Ability to forecast and mitigate emerging quality risks and non-conformance trends in design and construction through data analysis and trend identification.
• Strong presentation development and public speaking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication speaking skills.
• Proficiency in data gathering, analysis, and visualization to support reporting, decision-making, and transparency.
• Experience developing and overseeing complex, cross-functional programs that interface with multiple parts of the organization simultaneously.
• Knowledge of management principles, workforce training, and performance evaluation.
• Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration; including public-sector budgeting and administration.
• Experience developing, implementing, interpreting, and administrating policies and procedures, and clearly communicating them to staff and stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, active listening, sound judgement, and strategic problem-solving ability. decision-making, and influential leadership skills.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Proven leadership of a fully functioning Quality Management System (QMS), ideally aligned with FTA Quality Management Systems Guidelines and comparable FRA practices.
• Techniques in data collection, analysis, and visualization to support reporting, informed decision-making, and transparency.
• Advanced theories and practices of program development and administration; including public-sector budgeting and management.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office and field environment.
• Positions working in the field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Position is responsible for performing inspections and responding to incidents. May be subject to bending, climbing, crawling, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, repetitive motion, sitting, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Position requires on call to respond in the field on demand 24/7.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action 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.