Deputy Executive Director-Quality

Salary range is $165k to $315k, with a midpoint of $240k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

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

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Executive Director-Enterprise Quality, the Deputy Executive Director of Quality provides strategic leadership, judgment, and vision while directing and leading the Quality team. This position is responsible for ensuring that Agency, state, and federal requirements, guidelines, and regulations are consistently applied, implemented, and continuously improved through effective, proactive, and data-driven quality management. The Deputy Executive Director of Quality serves as a transformational change management leader to ensure consistent quality outcomes across the capital program and for the Agency's state of good repair program.

Directs and manages the operations and activities of quality programs; develops and implements associated plans, procedures, and program activities related to Quality Assurance and Quality Control. Oversees compliance with compliance to federal and state quality requirements, coordinates compliance with quality certification requirements for new capital projects, and serves as a liaison with various municipal departments, local governance, and state and federal agencies. Ensures that quality programs, policies, and procedures align with Agency values.

The Deputy Executive Director of Quality ensures that a quality culture is embedded in all decision-making processes to guarantee high-quality outcomes in all work, preserving the integrity of the Agency for riders, employees, contractors, key stakeholders, and the communities we serve. Collaborates with other agency organizations, contractors, and consultants to foster a quality culture. Additionally, the Deputy Executive Director of Quality ensures that the Agency shares responsibility for implementing and adhering to the Quality Management System, delivering a unified quality program.

This position will hold the responsibility to escalate issues to the Executive Director on emerging quality issues.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Support organizational structure, staffing, and recruitment for the Quality team and ensures a robust, process-oriented quality management system compliant with Agency, state, and federal requirements (most specifically the Federal Transit Administration's Guidelines for Quality Management Systems). Drives the vision of quality management and provides strategic thought leadership to establish and advance a culture of quality across the Agency, in partnership with peer leaders.
• Leads the agencywide Quality program and ensures the assigned directors provide the appropriate management structure, staffing, programs, policies, and processes to reflect agency needs, best practices, and while fulfilling Agency, state, and federal quality management requirements.
• Provides leadership and guidance to the assigned directors, along with timely and constructive feedback to achieve quality management system compliance and continual improvement. Provides mentorship to the quality staff to promote a culture of quality, assure quality management system compliance, and ensure focus on quality-related risks and outcomes.
• Ensures key performance indicators (KPIs) are developed to assess quality management performance, achieve quality outcomes, and monitor trends to ensure continuous improvement on KPIs; champions design of new processes, programs, initiatives, and efforts to meet targets and Agency goals.
• Establishes and maintains a risk management program for quality management and ensures monitoring and implementation of mitigation strategies.
• Coaches, engages, empowers, and motivates management and staff to do their work right the first time and continue to learn and grow.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with key stakeholders including peer leaders, consultants, contractors, Agency partners, federal, state, and local officials, and Sound Transit leadership as needed.
• Serves as an internal consultant to executive leadership, in the areas of quality management, regulatory compliance, and performance monitoring of quality outcomes.
• Translates Agency organizational goals and strategies into corresponding quality management goals and objectives with action plans.
• Develops and provides recommendations to quality leadership regarding various issues and reports out on outcomes.
• Leads and champions continuous improvement efforts across the division, department, and Agency.
• Maintains awareness of latest industry trends and developments in the quality management field and explores incorporation of new developments as appropriate and technical standards of excellence.
• Evaluates and documents the effectiveness of the quality management system and leads changes/advances to operational model to improve outcomes.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• 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.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Quality Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or closely related field; ten years of experience in capital project management and delivery, engineering, construction management, or manufacturing experience, preferably in the public sector; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Eight years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Construction Quality Manager or ASQ Certified Quality Auditor.
• Valid state driver's license. Position is responsible for responding in the field on demand 24/7. Some field/constructions sites have no public access or public transport available.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.
• Project Management Institute (PMI) Certified Project Manager.
• Completion of FTA-sponsored quality management training.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated experience establishing, strengthening, and/or maintaining a quality culture within a complex, asset-intensive organization. Must demonstrate previous experience successfully establishing or strengthening a quality management system and quality culture within a complex, asset-intensive organization.
• Leading and empowering teams of diverse staff to navigate complex organizational structure and deliver thoughtful outcomes under pressure.
• Strong leadership, relationship-building and management, and ability to positively influence the work of others.
• Quality management and assurance. Experience leading a fully functioning quality management system, ideally specifically within the context of the Federal Transit Administration's Guidelines for Quality Management Systems and similar practices within the Federal Railroad Administration. Demonstrated understanding of how to engage management in processing non-conformance reports, audit issues, addressing root causes, corrective actions and actions to prevent recurrence, solving quality issues, and achieving continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, improve, integrate, and strategically-transform business processes, driving organizational and culture change.
• Advanced knowledge of strategic asset management concepts, strategies, tools, and techniques acquired through advanced education and hands-on application in a real-world setting.
• Extensive experience with planning, design, construction, maintenance, operations, safety programs, and activities within a regional transit authority.
• Knowledge of interpreting and applying applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Independent judgment, strategic thinking, and problem resolution.
• Applicable safety codes, transit codes, and references of standard safety and operations practice in transit environments as they relate to design and construction.
• Risk assessment and management and strategic planning.
• Forecasting potential nonconforming quality trends with design and construction by leveraging data.
• Contract and procurement strategies and management principles.
• Presentation development and public speaking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and active listening.
• Data gathering, analysis and visualization for reporting, decision making, and transparency of decisions.
• Developing and overseeing complex programs that interface with multiple parts of the agency simultaneously.
• Principles of management, training, and performance evaluation.
• Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration; public sector budgeting and administration.
• Policy and procedure development and implementation, along with interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing and competing priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, decision-making, and influential leadership skills.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Data gathering, analysis, and visualization for reporting, decision making, and transparency of decisions.
• Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration; public sector budgeting and administration.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office and field environment.
• Positions working in the field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Position is responsible for performing inspections and responding to incidents. May be subject to bending, climbing, crawling, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, repetitive motion, sitting, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Position requires on call to respond in the field on demand 24/7.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action 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.