Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Recruitment Announcement ABOUT SOUND TRANSIT The Sound Transit District is home to 52 cities and more than 40% of Washington State’s population. In 2015, Sound Transit will provide nearly 34 million rides on its trains and buses. The agency is also underway with building roughly 35 miles of light rail in the Puget Sound region. Additionally, the agency has recently secured $15B in additional revenue authority to shape a ballot measure
in 2016 that will meet the ridership demands of the thriving and rapidly growing Puget Sound region. The University Link light rail extension, with new stations in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood and at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium, is on track to open in early 2016, six to nine months early and approximately $150 million under budget. Sound Transit is looking for a new CEO to help lead the agency as it continues to grow and evolve the regional transit system.
Demand for regional transit is growing With the region’s population set to grow 30 percent by 2040, Puget Sound residents are already using transit at historic levels. • 43% of downtown Seattle employees ride transit to work. • 17% of downtown Bellevue employees ride transit to work. • Light rail has experienced double-digit ridership increases every year since 2009. A 30 percent increase is forecasted for 2016 when new stations open. • Many express buses operate during peak commute with up to 50 percent of passengers standing. Sound Transit ridership is rising rapidly: • 1.4 million riders in 1999 • 18.8 million in 2009 • 33.8 million in 2013 The agency forecasts carrying 101 million riders in 2025 when its current expansion projects are complete.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Recruitment Announcement
ABOUT THE POSITION Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer provides strategic and visionary leadership and is responsible for the overall performance and organizational effectiveness of the Agency in carrying out its mission. This position provides guidance, advice, and counsel to the Sound Transit Board of Directors regarding key strategic, policy, and legislative issues, and assumes responsibility for implementing decisions made by the Board. The CEO is also responsible for the Agency’s robust capital program and for day-to-day administration and operations. The CEO is charged with leading the Agency’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing organizational culture to ensure successful implementation of voter-approved programs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: • Assumes full management responsibility for all activities and operations of Sound Transit to ensure the implementation and achievement of Sound Transit’s mission and goals to build and operate an integrated, regional high-capacity transportation system serving the three-county Sound Transit district including commuter rail, light rail, and regional express bus services and other transit-related capital facilities.
• Leads the Agency’s strategic planning processes and ensures effective alignment of all resources including talent, infrastructure, and funding to the Agency’s mission, and the strategic business plan; leads the Executive Leadership Team in continuous enhancement of business practices, leveraging efficiencies, and maximizing financial and environmental sustainability.
• Provides support to the Board and the Agency on key strategic, policy, and legislative issues; serves as the leader of the Executive Leadership Team, identifies key challenges, risks, and opportunities; engages the Board of Directors in collaborative development of solutions.
• Promotes a consistent, equitable, and inclusive culture to maximize Agency’s talent potential, supports an environment of continuous learning and growth, preserves and further develops critical knowledge and skills, coaches, develops, motivates, and retains high–performing team members, and addresses performance weaknesses as appropriate.
• Fosters effective mission-critical working relationships with legislators, congressional representatives, media, labor, businesses, advisory groups, advocacy groups, and regulatory and oversight agencies to advocate the Agency’s policy positions as recommended by the Board of Directors. • Engages and partners with municipalities, neighborhood community groups, and local associations on current and planned programs and services. • Manages the current and trending conditions of programs, including financial, construction, and operations; develops innovative approaches, as well as effective and responsive solutions to transit funding challenges.
• Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the Agency’s operating and financial budgets; directs, monitors, and evaluates all aspects of the Agency’s fiduciary responsibilities; approves the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary. • Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints; explains Agency programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Recruitment Announcement
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES • The current CEO, Joni Earl, is retiring. She is well known and respected for her leadership in promoting regional solutions to transportation challenges facing Puget Sound and for building partnerships based on shared vision. Under her leadership, Sound Transit has thrived and is internationally recognized as an innovative and wellrun transit organization. • Sound Transit 2 (ST2) includes a major expansion of the Link Light Rail system. Light rail is currently operating between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport and in downtown Tacoma. An extension from downtown Seattle to the University of Washington is scheduled to open in 2016. The challenge is to continue to deliver ST2 on-time, onbudget, and consistent with established long-range regional transportation and land-use plans.
• Sound Transit has begun the process to shape a ballot measure that voters will consider in November 2016. Additional funding authority includes property taxes, sales taxes, and motor vehicle excise taxes. This Sound Transit 3 (ST3) measure will build upon the existing mass transit system of light rail, commuter rail and bus services, and will identify options for expanding and improving the system in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. • Further establishing Sound Transit’s role in land use, transit oriented development, and housing to support the rapid growth of the region.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Recruitment Announcement
CANDIDATE PROFILE The ideal CEO candidate will be a passionate transit advocate; exceptional negotiator and balanced leader; comfortable with managing and leading in a highly political, complex, and transparent environment; and someone who is capable of building bridges internally and externally to create opportunities for advancement of the Agency’s strategic objectives. The CEO will provide “hands-on” leadership and support to the Sound Transit Board and the Agency on key strategic, policy, and legislative issues, including organizing efforts to secure a positive ST3 vote. The new CEO will have a successful track record of managing
capital programs of considerable scale, overseeing public transit projects, understanding campaigns for public approval of ballot measures, and working with local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials. Sound Transit values workplace diversity and seeks to create an environment and culture that embraces employee differences. You will find an exceptionally diverse group of people at Sound Transit with regard to culture, beliefs, communication styles, and life and work experiences. The new CEO will be expected to continue to support and build upon a diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS • Graduate degree in management, planning, public administration, engineering, or closely related field and 12 years of senior management experience, including six years in an executive-level position with supervisory, budgetary, and management responsibility over multiple divisions and functional areas. • Experience working in or with the public sector/ public transportation industry, local government, or transit organizations is highly desirable.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Recruitment Announcement
KNOWLEDGE OF:
SKILL IN:
• Advanced principles and practices of government and legislative processes, public administration and local government administration.
• Commitment to cultural competency that enables effective outcomes and maintains working relationships in cross-cultural situations.
• Best practices in working with city, county, state, and federal government officials including appointed and elected office holders.
• Identifying and responding to Board of Directors, community representatives, customers, and organizational issues, concerns, and needs.
• Ballot initiative rules and practices.
• Managing and directing a comprehensive regional transit authority in coordination with the Board of Directors, departments, divisions, consultants, and associated staff.
• Institutional grants and the process of securing them. • The local cultural and political landscape for the Agency’s public transportation planning and operations. • Strategic long-term fiscal planning and cost management, financial management, and information management systems required to operate a high-capacity transit system. • Economic, political, social, environmental, and psychological factors related to the provision and use of public transit. • Planning, designing, and management of public transit projects; campaign procedures for public approval of bonding and taxation. • Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration. • Operations, services, and activities of a regional transit authority. • Principles and practices of governmental budget preparation and administration. • Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Leading high-level exceptional negotiations and effectively partnering with local jurisdictions and agencies, utilities, contractors, and community groups. • Leading, motivating and influencing staff using superior interpersonal and management techniques and demonstrating a consistent commitment and ability to working with diverse work groups and individuals. • Fostering a positive, diverse, and progressive culture in a customer service environment. • Preparing and administering large capital projects and associated complex budgets. • Interpreting and applying applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations. • Using a variety of professional management and/ or technical concepts in accordance with Agency objectives to solve complex problems in creative and effective ways. • Working effectively under pressure, meeting deadlines, and adjusting to changing priorities.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Recruitment Announcement
APPLICATION PROCESS Persons interested in this job must submit a cover letter, salary history and a current resume to
[email protected]. If you have questions regarding this announcement, please call Marissa Karras at 360-956-1336. The position will remain open until filled; however the screening process will move quickly. In order to be considered for the first round of interviews please submit your application materials as soon as possible but no later than September 4th, 2015.
COMPENSATION The annual salary mid-point for this position is $251,000. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance; a 401A retirement plan; holiday, vacation, and sick leave; employee assistance program; ORCA transit pass and guaranteed ride home. Sound Transit is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are considered in accordance with applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, marital status, or veteran status or any other legally protected status.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Recruitment Announcement
LIVING IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION Spectacular natural surroundings, world-class education systems, thriving urban centers, vibrant neighborhoods, and a lively arts and cultural scene are just some of what makes Puget Sound a great place to live and work. Ringed by snow-capped mountain peaks, crisscrossed by waterways, home to urban centers, small cities, and vibrant neighborhoods, the Puget Sound region is a commercial center and a major hub for TransPacific and European trade. Some of the world’s most successful and innovative companies are based here,
including Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Costco, Paccar, Weyerhaeuser, and Nordstrom. Outdoor activities are especially plentiful given the area’s natural beauty and mild climate. Hiking in the Olympic or Cascade Mountains, kayaking in Lake Union, or cycling on one of the many rails-to-trails paths are just a few of the options available. Washington is viewed as a progressive and innovative state where people are outgoing and friendly.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512 360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
