Metro's General Manager's Office is seeking an outstanding leader to serve as the agency's Gender Equity Manager (Strategic Planning Manager I). This position will support Metro in furtherance of its commitment to ensure that all employees have equal opportunities to thrive and grow in their careers.
The Gender Equity Manager will work directly with Metro’s General Manager, senior leadership, employee resource groups, and operational employees and report to Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer. The successful candidate will join a stellar team of dedicated professionals and experts in civil rights law, equitable employment practices, and universal accessibility.
This position will be responsible for the strategic implementation of recommendations to ensure that women, particularly on Metro’s front lines, are given the equal opportunities in their careers at Metro. These recommendations were developed through Metro’s 2026 EEO Program Report, Women’s Needs Assessment, and the County’s Black Women’s Experience Project. It will also develop strategies and tools for Metro to better understand and meaningfully integrate a more holistic and equitable approach to gender and its intersections with race.
About King County and Metro:
As the only county in the United States named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Metro proudly seeks to live up to his principles and values of equity and social justice for all. King County is home to many diverse communities, and at Metro we cherish all that is unique about them. We seek to ensure that our services are culturally responsive to all communities within our service area.
Metro strives to build an enduring legacy of diversity and inclusion, equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovation, continuous improvement, safety, and environmental sustainability. King County government and Metro Transit have adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance this legacy. We are actively developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all our residents and our employees. We are changing the way government delivers service--for example by actively engaging the people we serve in our planning processes. Through innovations like these Metro has won national recognition as a model of excellence.
At King County Metro Transit we believe:
Our diverse culture encompasses the unique perspectives, knowledge, skills and abilities, and the rich dimensions of identity each member of the Metro community brings to work every day. These perspectives and human dimensions are built through life experiences and membership in socially defined groups. The diverse experiences and perspectives of our employees help us serve King County residents in an equitable, and culturally responsive way.
Position Info: This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Special Duty Assignment (SDA)/Term Limited Temporary (TLT) Strategic Planning Manager I classification vacancy.The SDA/TLT is anticipated to last until 12/31/2027 and may be extended.
In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for future Special Duty Assignment (SDA), Term Limited Temporary (TLT) vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. The eligibility list will be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.
Who May Apply: This recruitment is ONLY open to current King County employees. We are not accepting external applications. Please refer to the "Supplemental Information" section of this job bulletin for the required application materials.
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. This position is comprised of the following core duties:
- Lead Metro in the strategic planning and execution of its Women in Metro Strategy by developing the agency’s strategic plan with direction from agency-specific leadership, and incorporating input from other appropriate stakeholders.
- Identify, recommend and communicate a clear vision and direction, expected outcomes, and appropriate timelines for ensuring women have the equal opportunity to thrive in all aspects of their employment
- Manage or lead projects related to agency strategic initiatives and ensure activities undertaken by the agency are managed responsibly and comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and County policies.
- Develop objectives timeframes, deliverables and assessment criteria. Report on project status, budget, schedules and other issues.
- Coordinate the development of the agency-wide budget and forecasting and identify and recommend financial improvement opportunities for agency projects and/or for new business ventures in order to meet organizational commitments.
- Regularly present updates and receive feedback from stakeholders including operational employees, the WOMEN ERGs, and the Metro Leadership Team
- Partner with County and Metro workgroups, including the Department of Human Resources and Metro’s Systems and Information Management Team to build and understand data sets to inform future work
- Participate as a core leadership team member and ensure consistency of activities with agency mission and goals; develop annual objectives, work priorities and work plans.
- Participate in workgroups designed to coordinate efforts amongst Metro’s Human Resources Business Partner, Transit Employee Labor Relations, Equity Inclusion and Belonging, and EEO teams.
- May supervise strategic business planning, communications, and/or budget staff.
- Participate in the development of the unit’s annual budget and monitor expenditures.
- Other duties as assigned.
We are looking for candidates who have:
- Five (5) years of progressively responsible technical and leadership experience in program management, strategic planning, community engagement and partner relations, specifically large government institutions AND Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Gender Studies or a related field OR a combination of education, training, and/or professional experience which provides the equivalent background required to effectively perform the work of this position.
- Expert level knowledge and experience advancing policies and outcomes for women, nonbinary, and gender expansive people in employment settings using nuanced and intersectional analyses.
- Knowledge of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, nondiscrimination law, and Federal Transit Administration regulations on ensuring nondiscrimination in employment.
- Experience developing and utilizing data sets to inform decision making, balancing quantitative and qualitative data.
- Knowledge of project management techniques and principles.
- Knowledge and skill in financial planning and quantitative performance analysis for a public agency with multiple and diverse services.
- Written and oral communications and presentation skills, including experience creating educational materials and program evaluation report.
- Ability to create and facilitate open dialogue such that multiple and diverse perspectives and style are heard and respected and to facilitate difficult conversations related to power and privilege, particularly related to race, ability, gender, and other protected classes.
- High integrity, exhibit strength with composure, possess a good sense of self, knowing personal strengths, weaknesses and biases and the impacts of these on others.
- Experience working independently and as a part of a team in a fast-paced work environment with changing priorities.
Highly competitive candidates will have (desired, but not required):
- Experience working with large public sector agencies or governmental organizations, particularly in the transit industry.
- Knowledge of King County Metro’s operations, mission, and policies.
Note: Candidates are encouraged to translate life experiences to show how they meet required experience, knowledge, education and skills.
Supplemental Information
Who may apply: This recruitment is ONLY open to current King County employees. We are not accepting external applications.
To Apply
The following application materials are required:
- An online King County application updated with accurate contact information and relevant work history.
- Completed supplemental questions.
- Resume
- A cover letter that tells us why you are interested in this position and how your skills and qualifications make you a good candidate for the role. Please also describe your theory of how change happens in large and complex institutions like Metro.
Selection Process:
Applications that do not include all of the required materials listed above will not be considered. Only the materials explicitly requested will be reviewed, additional documents or information will not be evaluated. Application materials will be screened for completeness and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review.
If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application/assessment process, or have questions, please contact: Sabrina Brazzle at sbrazzle@kingcounty.gov.
Other Position Information
Work Location: This position requires a minimum of3 days per week onsite to support team collaboration, coaching, and in-person leadership presence, consistent with King County Metro's hybrid work expectations for supervisory roles. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104.
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.
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
Work Schedule: The position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. The typical work week is 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday.
Union Representation: The position is not represented by a union.
Class Code: 2452100 STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER I
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.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.