Sociology Jobs in Seattle, WA

System Impacts Coordinator (Transportation Planner III)

King County Metro Transit's Bus Operations division has an exciting opportunity available for a tech-savvy, safety-driven individual to utilize their transit system knowledge and project management skills as a career service System Impacts Coordinator (Transportation Planner III).

The Bus Operations Division is comprised of two sections, the Bus Management Section and the Service Management Section. The Construction Information/Trolley Impacts Coordinator position will provide support in the Service Management Section, System Impacts work group, which mitigates the effect construction and special events have on our transit services, facilities and customers. These positions will work to make sure that our service is predictable, safe and accessible for our customers to enjoy and utilize.

Body of work: The candidate selected for this position will be required to do both the Construction Information Coordinator and Trolley Impacts Coordinator bodies of work:

• Construction Information Coordinator The body of work for the Construction Information Coordinator (TP III) will include the development of strategic transportation plans that affect Metro Transit Electric Trolley Bus Systems. Duties will include implementing transportation-related projects that involve multiple departments, agencies and/or jurisdictions and the private sector. This assignment requires frequent travel throughout King County for meetings to ensure deliverables are on schedule.
• Trolley Impacts Coordinator King County Metro Transit has approximately 160 electric trolley buses. These electric buses connect passengers in downtown Seattle, Ballard, Queen Anne, the University District, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Beacon Hill and the Rainier Valley. The Trolley Impacts Coordinator will play a vital part in ensuring these buses keep rolling and service continues to expand throughout King County.

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In these roles you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As a Transportation Planner III, you will also:

• Work with both the City of Seattle and private contractors to manage projects that impact Metro's Electric Trolley Bus System. Work will include intake of projects, determining the impact projects have on Transit operations, tasking staff with segments of the planning and attending construction/planning meetings and site visits.
• Keep internal Power and Facilities staff and other external transit departments informed of potential trolley system impacts. Coordinate changes as needed.
• Coordinate with Metro Transit Vehicle Maintenance section on impacts to vehicle assignments as it relates to service areas and conditions.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity and sustainability. Promote an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment and support diversity and inclusion goals.
• Prepare rider alerts as needed regarding impacts to Metro's Electric Trolley Bus System.
• Coordinate with System Impacts staff and others in internal planning and work groups as well as external partners and stakeholders such as SDOT and WSDOT.
• Lead work teams toward assigned objectives, including ensuring that team objectives are met, assigning tasks within the group, facilitating group discussions, prioritizing work and resolving group conflicts. Analyze work team or consultant work products/reports.
• Prepare written recommendations and action plans as needed.
• Compose and distribute time-sensitive information to transit staff related to changes in service, and emergencies.
• Attend weekly Service Impacts staff meetings and respond to internal and external questions related to construction affecting Transit service.
• Ensure that ordinance compliance issues are resolved promptly, and weekly invoicing is completed. Maintain detailed records of actions taken for future reference.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

We are looking for candidates who meet the following MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience managing and coordinating projects and/or processes
• Demonstrated project management skills, including ability to prioritize project activities
• Critical thinking skills related to construction and/or project management, process improvement, and continuous improvement
• Experience in either Transit Operations, Transportation Planning Construction or project management, or an equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities.
• Experience managing and coordinating competing stakeholders' project and processes
• Skill providing easily understandable information and direction to diverse audiences
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to develop solutions to complex problems
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds with diverging opinions and viewpoints
• Skill in solving problems, negotiating differences, and resolving conflicts among multiple stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, manage numerous projects simultaneously
• Experience working in an environment that may include ambiguity and political sensitivity
• Experience preparing project communications and documents
• Strong time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, multiple projects, and daily operational responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Skill in problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution among multiple stakeholders
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel
• Possess a valid Washington State driver's license (or ability to obtain Washington State driver's license upon hire) or alternate ability to travel to off-site locations

We are highly interested in candidates who also possess the following DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in planning, economics, transportation, sociology, environmental science, or related field
• Experience in handling invoices as part of business operations. This may include creating invoices, tracking payments, resolving discrepancies, or auditing for accuracy.
• Experience coordinating transportation or construction projects.
• Experience with handling multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of Metro Transit routes, policies, and procedures
• Knowledge of trolley operations and the trolley overhead
• Skill in negotiation and conflict resolution