Executive Director - Government & Community Relations

Description

• Supports the agency’s work on regional policy matters, including service integration, fares, equity, access and TOD through internal collaboration and strategic external engagement.
• Plans, directs and manages the work of assigned staff; may assign work activities and coordinate schedules, projects and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.
• Maintaining confidentiality and communicating with tact and diplomacy.
• Directs and manages the work of the Government and Community Relations team, including coordinating and ensuring consistency of strategy, message, and approach related to external engagement in support of the agency’s mission, services and capital projects, system expansion and service delivery programmatic engagement.
• Directs and manages inter-Departmental relationships to ensure deep collaboration with work teams; consistency in leveraging resources to support agency leadership, programs and services; and collecting and surfacing external stakeholder perspectives in support of effective Agency decision-making.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups and the general public.
• Managing a complex set of projects and issues.
• Oversees and directs the work of the Government and Community Relations team to engage elected officials at various levels of government, their staffs and key regional partners and groups to keep them well-informed of agency activities and priorities and advocate in support of Sound Transit priorities with these partners, under the strategic guidance of the Agency Chief of Staff, the CEO, and senior management.
• Analysis of media dynamics and understanding of the role news media plays in public policy.
• Public speaking and developing and delivering presentations and presenting ideas and concepts orally and in writing.
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Research and analysis on specific political and technical issues related to transportation policy and project development.
• Represents the agency in venues across the region.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.
• Ensures that Government Relations functions are strategically aligned to meet agency objectives for capital project delivery, service activation and community relations in operating corridors.
• Supports the Chief Executive Officer, Agency Chief of Staff, senior management, ST Board members and ST staff/project teams by providing strategic guidance on emerging issues of political significance as they relate to the Agency’s strategic goals.
• Applying policy analysis and government relations techniques with specialized knowledge of the transit industry.
• Directs the agency’s Tribal, federal, and state government relations programs to ensure Tribes, state legislators and staff, Governor's office, WSDOT, and Congressional offices in all corridors stay informed about Sound Transit projects and services, and work to bring the perspectives and interests of those key partners into ST decision-making.
• Ensures that a robust engagement strategy with Tribal, federal, state, regional and local representatives, community leaders and advocacy groups, is planned and implemented in collaboration with senior management and in alignment with the agency’s external engagement, communications and public relations strategies.
• Coaches, trains and supervises staff; coordinates and encourages staff training; manages employee relations and performance reviews; manages the workflow and prioritization of projects and measures performance of the assigned staff and takes appropriate action when necessary; provides direction and counsel to staff; works with the Agency Chief of Staff to develop the work program for the division.
• 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.

Requirements

• Ability to produce high quality work quickly, and to work on several projects simultaneously.
• Strong English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Ability to use good judgment and adapt to rapidly changing political environment.
• Familiarity with stakeholder communities involved in regional transportation issues, and the communities impacted by and benefiting from Agency projects and services.
• Using good judgment and adapting to rapidly changing political environment.
• Understanding of local codes, motions and ordinances, taxes and taxing authorities and jurisdictions and financial analysis.
• Having the willingness to take initiative in the absence of clear direction, and ability to juggle multiple tasks.
• Understanding how public policy processes relate to local governments.
• Principles and practices of policy development and public administration.
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Understanding of key ethics and elections rules and laws, which dictate how Government & Community Relations staff can do their job in a dynamic political environment.
• Modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and statistical databases.
• Operational characteristics, services and activities of Local Puget Sound Government and Community Relations, as well as external engagement in support of capital programs.
• Experience working with or for elected officials or candidates for public office.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work cooperatively with other Sound Transit staff and diverse groups and individuals.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• State and federal environmental law, as they apply to regional transportation projects; how local governments and state governments develop and pass laws; and intricate knowledge of various legal and political processes.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.

Benefits

• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• 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.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• 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.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Work is performed in a standard hybrid office and field environment.
• Pet Insurance.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• 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.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance