Asset Management Strategy Manager (Strategic Planning Manager II)

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division has an exciting opportunity for an Asset Management Strategy Manager (Strategic Planning Manager II).

The Asset Management Strategy Manager reports to the Rail Senior Maintenance Manager and provides senior-level leadership, strategic direction, and technical oversight for Sound Transit’s enterprise-wide Transit Asset Management (TAM) and State of Good Repair (SGR) programs on behalf of King County Metro – Rail Division. This position is responsible for collaborating with the Sound Transit asset management team in developing, implementing, and maturing long-range asset management strategies that ensure Sound Transit’s rail assets—including track, signals, traction power, overhead catenary, rail facilities, and light rail vehicles—operate safely, reliably, efficiently, and in compliance with federal and industry standards.

This role co-leads planning efforts; oversees lifecycle management, risk assessment, and capital investment prioritization; ensures compliance with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) TAM requirements; and advances enterprise asset management system capabilities to support sound, data-driven decision-making.

• A culture of safety and care
• Provide operational excellence
• Deliver on time expansions
• Maintain healthy and resilient partnerships with Sound Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation, our partners in Rail Service Delivery

Who May Apply

This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants. This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) career service Asset Management Strategy Manager (Strategic Planning Manager II) vacancy. This recruitment may also be used to establish a list or pool of qualified candidates for any future openings in the classification within the next twelve months. Placement onto an eligibility list/pool is not a guarantee of placement into a future position.

Application Requirements

• A complete online King County application, updated with accurate contact information, and relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all job duties.
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions
• Letter of Interest (1-2 pages) describing the following:
  • How your experience and background meet or exceed the qualifications for this position,
  • Your experience leading diverse group conversations and interacting with multiple agencies,
  • How you have applied equity and social justice principles in your current and/or previous role(s) (experience may include roles in either a professional or volunteer setting).

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ABOUT METRO TRANSIT'S EXPANDING RAIL DIVISION

King County Metro's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link Light Rail, a growing network spanning 60 miles and serving 41 stations across the Puget Sound region. Together with Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services, the Link Light Rail system is the backbone of an integrated regional transit network that gives people real freedom of movement. As Puget Sound transit agencies work together to build a seamless, connected system, our Light Rail system plays a central role in expanding access, reducing barriers, and ensuring that everyone across our region can get where they need to go.

Joining Metro's Rail Division means joining an organization that is shaping the future of public transportation in the Pacific Northwest and setting the standard for modern rail operations nationwide. This is a division that values strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to the people we serve, both our riders and our teams. Whatever your role, your work here contributes to something that matters, a system that thousands of people count on every day.

Learn how Metro connects you with whatmatters.
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of this work. As theAsset Management Strategy Manager,you will also be responsible for the following:

Strategic Asset Management Leadership

• Leads the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of agency-wide asset management strategies aligned with Sound Transit’s safety, reliability, sustainability, and service delivery goals.

• Develops asset class specific strategies for rail vehicles, fixed guideway assets, signals, traction power, facilities, and related infrastructure.

• Establishes agency wide asset management policies, standards, and governance frameworks in alignment with ISO 55000 principles.

• Provides strategic direction to ensure long-term optimization of asset performance, lifecycle cost, and risk mitigation.

Lifecycle Planning, Risk Management & Capital Investment

• Oversee lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA), reliability and risk modeling, obsolescence assessments, degradation forecasting, and scenario-based capital planning.

• Develops prioritized, risk-informed capital renewal and replacement programs that support long-range financial planning and annual budget development.

• Identifies asset needs, funding gaps, and long-term investment requirements to maintain SGR for Sound Transit’s rail assets.

• Advises senior leadership on asset-related risks, including safety, reliability, regulatory, and state-of-good-repair impacts.

Transit Asset Management (TAM) & State of Good Repair (SGR) Program Oversight

• Leads the development and maintenance of FTA-compliant TAM documents, including asset inventories, condition assessments, performance targets, and prioritized investment lists.

• Oversees agency processes for demonstrating and sustaining SGR across all asset classes.

• Develops and monitors SGR performance indicators and dashboards for executive-level visibility.

Technology, Data Systems & Analytics

• Oversees enterprise asset management systems (EAMS) such as IBM Maximo, GIS integrations, predictive analytics systems, and decision-support tools.

• Ensures data governance, quality assurance, and standardized condition assessment methodologies across the organization.

• Leads the adoption of advanced technologies including predictive maintenance tools, digital twins, and AI-enabled analytics.

Collaboration, Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partners with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Safety, Capital Programs, Finance, and regional partner agencies to ensure asset strategies are practical, achievable, and aligned with service delivery commitments.

• Leads cross-functional working groups and manages external consultants supporting asset management initiatives.

• Provides mentorship, guidance, and direction to staff involved in asset analysis, planning, condition assessment, and long-range capital forecasting.

• Prepares and delivers reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior leadership, Boards, committees, and external partners.

Procurement, Project Development & System Expansion Support

• Supports procurement strategies for new rolling stock, systems, and facility upgrades by integrating lifecycle planning, operational readiness, and obsolescence mitigation.

• Partners with Project Development and Construction Management divisions to embed asset management and SGR principles in expansion projects, ensuring long-term maintainability and lifecycle efficiency.

Minimum Qualifications

This senior role demands a forward-thinking leader who combines deep rail/transit domain knowledge with data-driven expertise and the ability to foster enterprise-wide alignment, ensuring assets remain in a State of Good Repair while supporting safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable operations in a regulated, resource-constrained setting. We are looking for candidates who have the following:

• Option 1: Four (4) or more years of experience in asset management, strategic asset planning, or a related field.

OR

• Option 2: Associate degree in engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, Industrial), asset management, business or related field; and three (3) or more years of experience in asset management, strategic asset planning, or a related field.

OR

• Option 3: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, Industrial) asset management, business or related field; and two (2) or more years of experience in asset management, strategic asset planning, or a related field.

And

• Five (5) years of experience in railroad and light rail operations, including knowledge of rolling stock (revenue vehicles), track infrastructure, signal systems, traction power, overhead catenary, electrical/mechanical facilities, and related maintenance practices.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams, collaborating in a multi-faceted organization, mentoring staff, and driving organizational change in a safety-critical environment.
• Experience developing or implementing asset management strategies and lifecycle planning programs.
• Experience using risk-based decision-making to assess risks, prioritize work, and use asset condition data for long-term planning.
• Understanding of ISO 55000 principles (particularly ISO 55001), FTA Transit Asset Management requirements and State of Good Repair (SGR) principles.
• Experience effectively using enterprise asset management systems such as IBM Maximo or similar data tools, and analytics to support data-driven, risk-informed decisions.

Desired Qualifications:

• Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible experience in asset management, capital planning, infrastructure maintenance, or a related field.
  Three (3) or more years of experience in a leadership or strategic planning role.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in strategic asset planning for rolling stock and/or fixed rail infrastructure (track, signals, catenary/TES systems, facilities Elec/mech).
• Demonstrated experience effectively developing and implementing asset management plans that achieve or maintain State of Good Repair, including lain State of Good Repair, including lifecycle and risk-based prioritization lifecycle and risk-based prioritization.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference?Come join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.


Guided by our"True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities 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. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Application & Selection Process
Submit an online employment application and attach a letter of interest athttps://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a test and one or more interviews. Applications that are not complete or do not include the required attachments may be disqualified and not advance in the process.

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application requirement listed above carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have questions, please contact Skyler Jones atskjones@KingCounty.gov.

Work Schedule
This classification is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore NOT eligible for overtime pay. Work schedule is normally a 40-hour week Monday through Friday. Alternate work schedules may be considered. Work outside of the normal workday will be required for meetings, events, and outreach events.

Work Locations
The final work location will be determined at the time of hire. Employees may report to any of the following locations: Rail Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) Central at 3407 Airport Way S, Seattle WA 98134, OMF East 1925 120th Ave NE Bellevue WA 98005, or any additional locations that may open in the future.

Teleworking Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment working in the office and at home.The expectation is to be in the office 4 days a week. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Union Representation:This position is not represented by a union
Class Code:2453100 Strategic Planning Manager II
Questions about this recruitment?Contact Skyler Jones, 206-263-0629,skjones@kingcounty.gov