Rail Facilities Power Chief

Summary

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* This position is open to all King County employees and the general public. *

King County Metro Transit’s Rail Division has an exciting opportunity for a Rail Facilities Power Chief.

This leadership position is critical in ensuring the delivery of light rail transit services and the day-to-day coordination, direction, and supervision of Facilities Power personnel and the maintenance of all facilities substations, electrical distribution, and other power elements and controls.

The ideal candidate for this position will be able to communicate effectively with a diverse employee work group, proactively solve problems that impact service delivery, and encourage a safety culture while inspiring high standards of customer service excellence, as well as the ability to motivate employees through building respect and trust.

About Metro Transit's Expanding Rail Division

King County Metro Transit's Rail Division manages and maintains Sound Transit's Link light rail service and City of Seattle’s streetcar system. Link light rail currently spans a 50-mile route from Federal Way to Lynnwood and a 6.6-mile route from Redmond to South Bellevue. By the end of 2026, light rail is projected to expand to nearly 60 route miles, adding seven new stations. Additional expansions to the Link system will be coming online for years to come.

Seattle Streetcar includes the 1.3 mile South Lake Union line and the 2.5 mile First Hill line, proudly serving the diverse and vibrant communities around Seattle’s downtown core. These rail services complement Metro's extensive fixed-route bus system and mobility services. Puget Sound transit agencies are collaborating to create an integrated transit network that enables people to travel farther, faster, and more easily.

This recruitment may immediately fill up to two (2) Career Service positions and may also be used to establish an eligibility list for future Career Service, as well as any fully-benefitted Term-Limited Temporary (TLT)/Special Duty Assignment (SDA), vacancies, valid up to 12 months or until the list is exhausted, and at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who May Apply

This position is open to King County employees and the general public.

To Apply:

Those interested must submit:

An 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.
Completed supplemental questions.
A cover letter, detailing how your experience and background meet or exceed the qualifications for this position.
A current resume, detailing experience, and education.

Anticipated Timelines

This posting will remain open until filled. Initial application review will be conducted 14 days following the posting date of this announcement, or on or after May 11, 2026. Applications received after that date will be reviewed on a weekly basis. Interviews will be scheduled with selected candidates beginning the week of May 25, 2026, and ongoing thereafter until the positions is filled.

Want to make sure your application materials are as competitive as possible?

We highly recommend visiting the Workforce Development Services website for tips and examples on how to make your application materials most effective:

Workforce Development - King County, Washington

Job Duties

As the Rail Facilities Power Chief, you will:

Plan, operate, and maintain Facilities Electrical Power operations for Rail Division.
Assign and verify inspections, service, and repairs.
Assist in the development and management of budget.
Build, support, and foster a culture of care within the Facilities Power department.
Assist with training and certification activities, including High Voltage qualifications.
Consult with engineering, warranty, safety, environmental, materials, transportation, contracts, and other staff in the development and implementation of maintenance programs and standard maintenance and operating procedures.
Ensure a safe High Voltage work environment for Facilities Electrician’s employees and other affected personnel.
Participate in accident investigation teams and recommend corrective actions as necessary.
Manage contract administration of maintenance and service providers.
Supervise, develop, and direct Facilities Electrician personnel and equipment maintenance at bases and in the field as well as management support for the training of staff.
Exhibit positive leadership and role modeling to encourage and support staff while managing employee performance. Chiefs assist in the selection of staff, coordinate, and assign work, counsel, and discipline subordinates in accordance with labor contracts and agreement provisions and Light Rail rules and procedures.
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the Rail Division, with Sound Transit and in Metro.
Participate in labor and employee relations activities for the Division.
Represent management at disciplinary hearings and grievances, interpret labor contract provisions in support of supervisory role, including grievance resolution, establishing, and developing collaborative relationships with Union leadership, and assist in labor negotiations and contract changes as needed.
Work closely with Human Resources and Labor Relations staff to track and resolve personnel issues and other related labor issues.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Minimum Qualifications:

Two years of work experience in electrical systems maintenance.
Two years of experience in a supervisory or leadership capacity.
Two years of experience working with high voltage and knowledge of safety principles and all applicable regulations, including the WAC, IEEE, NEC, NESC, and ASME.
Working knowledge of the principles of organization, training, motivation, supervision, and personnel management.
Knowledge of principles of mechanical systems, electricity, electronics, digital circuits, and software used in modern electrical applications.
Knowledge of the theory, operation, maintenance, overhaul, repair, and troubleshooting of electrical, electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems used in Facilities systems.

Desirable Qualifications:

Knowledge of principles of mechanical systems, electricity, electronics, digital circuits, and software used in modern electrical applications.
Knowledge of principles of quality assurance, including preventative maintenance.
Knowledge of theory, operation, and use of computers and computerized diagnostic and test equipment used in modern electrical applications.
Problem-solving & analytical skills are required to assess employees' technical proficiency and productivity issues.
Skill in planning, scheduling, prioritizing, and organizing the work of the maintenance function for optimal effectiveness and efficiency while meeting established standards and deadlines.
Ability to provide effective supervision in light rail maintenance practices, incorporating new methods, technology, and approaches as appropriate.
Knowledge of national, state, and local electrical codes and means of compliance.
Ability to effectively supervise employees, and interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, and labor contract provisions.
Ability to establish and maintain a productive and motivational maintenance environment, and cooperative and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to successfully communicate with senior management, labor representatives, business and community groups, governmental agencies, customers, and staff.

Necessary Special Requirements:

A valid Driver's License, with an acceptable driving record. If you possess an out-of-state driver’s license, you must obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.
Work requires remaining available for work 24 hours per day during scheduled rotational assignments as on-call Chiefs.
Willingness and availability to work varying shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays as required to support staff and critical work and consistent with negotiated agreements.
Work may require reporting for extended duty hours during adverse weather events and other emergencies.

Supplemental Information

Application & Selection Process

Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews.

Work Schedule
This position is anticipated to be full time, assigned 40 hours per week. Work schedule may include non- standard work hours including evenings, weekends and holidays as needed. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay.

SAFETY SENSITIVE

These positions are considered safety sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety-sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, subsequent to the commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

Union Membership: This position is represented by Protec17.

Work Location: Employees may report to any of the following locations:

2505 S 320th St, Federal Way, WA 98003
Maintenance of Way North (MOWN) 920 N 137th St Seattle, WA
Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) Central at 3407 Airport Way S., Seattle, WA.
Operations & Maintenance Facility (OMF) East at 1925 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA.
And any future Sound Transit Link facilities.

CLASS CODE / PAY GRADE: 8730700/169

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Ebony Ware, Human Resource Analyst, at eware@kingcounty.gov.

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 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.

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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

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