Roads Maintenance Section Manager

The ideal candidate for the position of Roads Maintenance Section Manager will be an experienced people leader and operations manager who can impart strong visionary leadership. The King County Department of Local Services Road Services Division is responsible for all County-owned roads, bridges, and related infrastructure in unincorporated King County, managing and maintaining approximately 1,500 miles of roads and 185 bridges. Unincorporated-area roads support over one million trips per day as part of a larger transportation network, and people from all parts of the county— and beyond—use them; about half the trips on the high-volume roads originate in cities and other counties. The division is focused on the following strategic priorities: Keeping Roads Safe and Open; Advancing Equitable Infrastructure; Improving Sustainable Funding; Investing in our Facilities; Supporting Environmental Sustainability; and Investing in our People.

The daily operational needs of the Road Services Division (Roads) Maintenance Section require a high level of communication, fiscal, labor relations, and organizational skills to effectively manage a budget of $37 million and lead 235 full-time employees represented by one of ten collective bargaining agreements. This position serves on the Road Services senior leadership team and reports to the Division Director. The position works collaboratively with the County Road Engineer and a creative and skilled team of professionals working to identify and define innovative, industry-leading approaches to responsibly address the management of an aging asset base valued at about $40 billion dollars.

Individuals interested in joining our team must be committed to racial, social, and economic justice for ALL people in King County. We welcome applications from people who are committed to and will help us consistently demonstrate the values of equity, respect, and partnership.

SCOPE OF JOB DUTIES - Candidate must demonstrate, at a minimum, the skill or ability to:

• Create a thoughtful and systematic approach to work priorities, particularly in a reactive environment, and successfully communicate this approach.
• Be in the field on a regular basis.
• Relate to and empathize with on-site, shift, and customer facing employees, the challenges they face and be able to advocate for them and their needs.
• Provide clear, transparent, accessible, and accountable leadership including developing good working relationships with employees, labor, peers, customers, county leadership, and other agencies. Develop and share plans and rationale for work programs and decisions developed to be consistent with agency values and priorities.
• Together with their leadership team manage a diverse workforce of over 200 employees involved in performing road-related maintenance and operational activities; coordinate and direct all work and functions of the Maintenance Section.
• Advance the division’s journey to becoming a pro-equity, anti-racist organization where everyone experiences a send of belonging.
• Assess current operations, budget, assets and employees to determine ability to meet strategic division priorities and implement policies and practices to continually improve the performance of the section and division.
• Administer media communications, messaging, and public relations activities for the section. Work with section and division staff as well as the division/department Public Information Officer to craft communications and messaging related to natural disasters, road damage, snow and ice response, road maintenance budget, traffic safety, and other issues.
• Play a key role with governmental agencies during flood and snow events and other natural disasters.
• Be comfortable in and understand the organizational structure, existing operating systems, and have the ability to be politically savvy.
• Understand the importance of effectively building meaningful relationships with internal and external partners.