Managing Director, Market Innovation (Seattle)

TAPPI

Seattle, WA 98108

United States

Posted July 1, 2025

{CONTRACTOR,INTERN}

Valid until July 31, 2025

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Job Description

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.

ABOUT KING COUNTY METRO TRANSIT:
King County Metro Transit is committed to providing transportation services that connect all people and all communities of King County, focus on the equitable distribution of our service and the equitable application of our work (inside and outside the agency), and combat climate change by doing our work in a sustainable manner. Metro Transit is King County’s largest Department, employing well over 5,000 people who primarily work in the field of transit operations, vehicle maintenance, transit facilities operations, and marine.

King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment, and radically improving urban air quality by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in this nation's public transportation industry.

JOB DUTIES

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 thedailyoperations of the Market Innovations section.Provide strategic direction and leadership across workgroups withinMarket Innovation;coordinate across the division and across the department to create clarity forMIteam and to ensure the success ofcross-agency work efforts involvingthe 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: Ensuretimelyandaccuratecompletion of section-level administrative functions(including but not limited to scheduling, leave and travel approvals, and expense processing).

Collaboration andPartnershipbuilding : 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 ensureappropriate representationon 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, andparticipatein assigned projects.Act as an escalation point for critical decisions and issues requiring input from senior leadership.

Budget and finance: Develop section budget.Overseeandensurefinancial performance,efficiency,and accountabilityof King County teams andcontractorswho provideservices to Metro.

QUALIFICATIONS

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

Organizational Leadership andEmployee Management:

Progressively responsible management and leadership experiencewith at least three yearsleading 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:

Proventrack recordof leadingthe development and implementation ofstrategies to achieve organizational prioritiessuch assafety,sustainability,and equity.