Managing Director, Market Innovation



Job Details

Managing Director, Market Innovation

This listing closes on 7/10/2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada); Tijuana.

Employer

King County

Salary

$147,890.29 - $187,459.38 Annually

Location

Seattle, WA

Job Type

Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2024ECB22734.2

Department

MTD - Metro Transit

Division

Mobility

Opening Date

06/26/2025

Closing Date

7/10/2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada); Tijuana

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Full- or Part-Time
Full Time
Hours/Week
40 hours/week

Summary



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Learn how Metro connects you with what matters
*This position is open to all qualified candidates, including King County Employees and the general public.*

Join one of the nation's leading transit agencies during an exciting period of growth and innovation! King County Metro has an exciting leadership opportunity for a Market Innovation Managing Director. This leadership role is integral to Metro’s transformation into a cutting-edge mobility agency, with high-capacity transit at the center and shared mobility services complementing the regional system.


We are seeking a dynamic leader with a proven track record of inspiring and optimizing team performance. The ideal candidate will possess an innovative mindset, a solid understanding of the transit industry, and experience with research practices. They should be dedicated to customer satisfaction and equity, with a strong ability to build and nurture partnerships with diverse internal and external stakeholders. This role is critical to Metro’s mission to evolve into a forward-thinking mobility agency that delivers solutions to meet customer needs that align with Metro’s values- equity, safety, and sustainability.


The Market Innovation (MI) section develops mobility solutions that fill gaps for customers by fostering innovative problem-solving based on customer research and robust evaluation. The section is comprised of approximately 40 team members and includes collaborative self-starters who work in partnership with others in Metro, local cities, transportation providers, and the business community. Market Innovation is comprised of three main workgroups:


Market and Business Development includes the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Business Programs teams. Both teams focus on increasing access to existing mobility options by providing the information, tools, and incentives people need to choose a non-drive-alone transportation mode. The TDM team focuses on working with individuals and community partners, while the Business Program team manages our employer Passport program, which enables over 800 employers to provide commute benefits to their employees.


Fare Policy leads the development of fare and pricing policy, and manages the Enterprise Fares Initiative, which includes fund management policy updates, the simplification of reduced fares, increasing use of ORCA, and the development of the cashless transition plan.
 
Research and Innovation includes the Research, Innovative Mobility, and Connecting to Transit teams. The Research team supports the Department with up-to-date information on customer perceptions, attitudes, and needs, and provides evaluation of programs and projects to inform decisions. Innovative Mobility tests new services for efficacy in reaching new markets and increasing ridership on alternate modes. Connecting to Transit is leading the development of mobility hubs, expanding bike and walking access, and managing our park-and-ride network to maximize the use of these assets.

Job Duties

Applying

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a 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 the work. In this role, the primary duties will be focused on supporting critical operations across the section’s teams and will be responsible for a range of leadership work, including:

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Supervise, develop, lead, and support the daily operations of the Market Innovations section. Provide strategic direction and leadership across workgroups within Market Innovation; coordinate across the division and across the department to create clarity for MI team and to ensure the success of cross-agency work efforts involving the section. 

  • Innovation Leadership: Drive the development and adjustment of new mobility services and policies based on industry trends, disruptive technologies, and market research. Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, testing, implementing, and evaluating new products and services.  

  • Strategic Vision: Position King County Metro's innovation around mobility services centered on equity, sustainability, and safety. 

  • Team Development: Create an inclusive and respectful work environment where the team continuously learns and works together. 

  • Administrative Oversight: Ensure timely and accurate completion of section-level administrative functions (including but not limited to scheduling, leave and travel approvals, and expense processing). 

  • Collaboration and Partnership building: Work with supervisors and leads to drive results, solve problems, and address resource and staffing challenges. Gather and coordinate input from across the section to ensure appropriate representation on priorities, new mobility services, budget proposals, and employee engagement. Cultivate business and community relationships to advance regional mobility transformation. 

  • Product Development: Lead the development of products, services, and processes to support the transformation of mobility services and champion innovation within Metro. 

  • Project and change sponsorship: Provide strategic, section-level leadership for special projects and department initiatives, such as developing the department’s budget proposals, piloting new transportation technology, and transforming our mobility services lines of business, along with continuous improvement and employee engagement efforts. 

  • Policy and Reporting: Develop mobility policy recommendations and management reports for senior leadership, liaise with County officials, and participate in assigned projects. Act as an escalation point for critical decisions and issues requiring input from senior leadership. 

  • Budget and finance: Develop section budget. Oversee and ensure financial performanceefficiency, and accountability of King County teams and contractors who provide services to Metro. 

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

 Qualified candidates for this role will have the following experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills: 


Organizational Leadership and Employee Management: 

  • Progressively responsible management and leadership experience with at least three years leading people. 

  • Experience working across large teams to foster equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. 

  • Demonstrated understanding of how to support employee performance and provide opportunities for growth and development. 

Strategic Vision: 

  • Proven track record of leading the development and implementation of strategies to achieve organizational priorities such as safety, sustainability, and equity. 

  • Ability to coordinate collaborative problem-solving across teams and levels. 

Analytical and Decision-Making Skills: 

  • Ability to analyze and anticipate problems, assess financial and operational impacts, and provide proactive solutions. 

  • Strong decision-making skills, demonstrating fairness, respect, equity, inclusivity, and credibility. 

  • Proven ability to analyze situations, evaluate information, and make reasoned judgments to solve problems effectively. 

Communication and Interpersonal Skills: 

  • Clear and effective communication skills, both oral and written, for a variety of internal and external audiences. 

  • High emotional intelligence and the ability to foster trust and respect from others. 

  • Demonstrated ability to create clarity for teams operating in complex technical, operational, or political environments 

Adaptability and Innovation: 

  • Receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and feedback, fostering an environment conducive to innovation. 

  • Willingness to embrace change and pivot strategies as needed in a dynamic environment. 

Ideal candidates will bring a unique mix of the following desirable experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills:  

  • Proven success leading innovation and/or product development for large public agencies, preferably transit organizations; experience leading a team of highly experienced supervisors in these areas. 
  • Track record of building highly engaged team cultures that support the development, coaching, and team building necessary for the workforce of the future; formal organizational development and/or leadership training. 
  • Knowledge of transportation trends, legal and policy issues, and technology changes that may affect Metro customers. 
  • Knowledge of and experience with operationalizing racial equity and inclusion principles, strategies, and indicators; formal training in diversity, equity and inclusion best practices. 
  • Lived experience that represents the people and communities Metro serves. 
  • The ability to generate novel ideas and solutions, thinking outside the box to tackle challenges in unique ways; the capacity to align innovative efforts to achieve organizational goals 
  • Proven ability to lead through collaboration with diverse teams

Supplemental Information

Recruitment information: This recruitment will be used to fill one career service Managing Director position for the Mobility Division's Market Innovation section. Additionally, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility list for future career service vacancies in this classification (Transit Section Manager) and section. If created, the eligibility list would be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority. 


Application and Selection Process 

A completed online employment application, resume, and a cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position are required. Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in one or more interviews.

  • Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. The work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., but this position may require additional hours as necessary, including being on-call evenings and weekends, particularly during adverse weather events, civic events, and other emergencies. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime-eligible. 

  • Remote and Onsite Work Details: The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of onsite and remote work arrangements. Typically, the Market Innovation Manager will be on-site at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St., Seattle) 3-4 days per week. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. 

  • Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements. 

  • Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union. 


If you have any questions, please contact the recruiter, Emily Clark: emclark@kingcounty.gov .
 
Teleworking Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking and onsite work or meetings as needed. 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. 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.

Forbes 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 team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work, and play.

Forbes 2019 Best-in-State Employer badge for Washington, powered by Statista. 

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 Americans 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.
 
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions 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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being.  Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

  • Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
  • Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
  • Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
  • Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
  • 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite activity centers
  • Employee Giving Program
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
  • Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.  If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.  
 
NOTE:  Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
 
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff
02
Are you applying to this position as a Priority Placement Program participant and is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time and do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
  • Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. AND, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
  • No
03
How many years of professional experience do you have building and leading teams?
  • No Experience
  • 1-2 Years Experience
  • 3-5 Years Experience
  • 5-10 Years Experience
04
How many years of professional experience do you have directly related to Transportation/Mobility industries?
  • No Experience
  • 1-2 Years Transportation/Mobility Experience
  • 3-5 Years Transportation/Mobility Experience
  • 5-10 Years Transportation/Mobility Experience
  • More than 10 Years of Transportation/Mobility Experience
05
If you indicated Transportation/Mobility industry related experience in Question #4, briefly describe your experience. If you have no experience, please answer "N/A"
06
Please describe your previous budget development/oversight experience. Include the size of the budget for which you were responsible, and the role(s) that you played in development, negotiation, implementation and management of the budget. If you have not directly been involved in budget issues, please answer "N/A"
07
Please indicate if you have experience with the following transportation demand management strategies. Choose all that apply.
  • Active Transportation
  • Commute Trip Reduction Programs
  • Parking Management
  • Incentives and Subsidies
  • Marketing and Promotion
  • ITS
  • None of the Above
08
MTD - Where did you first hear about this employment opportunity?
  • a. King County Metro Employment Site
  • b. King County Metro Employee
  • c. Indeed
  • d. LinkedIn
  • e. King County Careers/Government Jobs.com
  • f. Job Fair
  • g. Trades/Transit Job Board, or other website
09
MTD - If you selected "f" or "g" to the previous question, indicate which job fair or "other" source where you found out about this opportunity.
10
MTD -Do you have any relatives who work for King County's METRO Transit Department?
  • YES
  • NO
11
MTD - If you answered yes to the previous question, please provide the employee's name, position, and your relationship.
12
MTD - If you answered "yes" to question #10, please provide the Division of King County Metro that they currently work in. Select all that apply.
  • a. Bus Operations Division
  • b. Capital Division
  • c. Employee Services Division
  • d. Facilities Division
  • e. Finance & Administration Division
  • f. General Manager's Office
  • g. Marine Division
  • h. Mobility Division
  • i. Rail Division (including Streetcar)
  • j. Safety, Security & Quality Assurance
  • k. Vehicle Maintenance
  • l. I do not know which Division my relative works in at Metro Transit
  • m. I do not have a relative that works for King County Metro
13
If you have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, will you need accommodation in the recruitment process? This confidential information is solicited for the purposes of providing reasonable accommodation for the recruitment process only.
  • YES
  • NO
14
I certify that the statements made by me on the application and supplemental questions are, to the best of my knowledge, true, complete, and correct. I understand that any misrepresentation or material omission of fact on this or any other document required by King County may constitute grounds for rejection, or if employed by King County, for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
  • Yes
  • No

* Required Question

Employer
King County
Phone
206-477-3404
Website
http://www.kingcounty.gov/
Address
King Street Center
201 South Jackson Street
Seattle, Washington, 98104

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