Manager-Operations Fire Life Safety

Salary range is $104k to $206k, with a midpoint of $155k. 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 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, manages the commissioning and testing program for complex transit systems. This management role defines the commissioning and systems testing program for our growing agency. This role manages direct and consultant staff in the oversight and management of activation and commissioning activities necessary to transition from the project construction phase to revenue service operations for light rail vehicles; communications; traction electrification; signals; supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA); and fire/life/safety, facility mechanical, facility electrical, and tunnel operating systems.

Manages the fire protection system assets and life cycle support, including confidence testing program development and supervision, and oversight of all in service system deficiencies, impairments, and operational enhancements including: transit maintenance and operating facilities, public transit station facilities, transit tunnel fire protection systems, transit guide way systems, and control centers. In addition, this role will serve as the operations principal subject matter expert in fire, life and safety systems in operational service. Complementing these strong technical skills is the need for effective collaboration with the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), Senior Sound Transit Leadership, Sound Transit Facilities, King County Rail, fire systems engineers in the Project Services Organization (PSO), Sound Transit Facilities and Safety and Quality Management (SQM) departments, design and construction review, and testing/commissioning support of fire detection and suppression systems.

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.

• Provides management, lead oversight, and staff development for the Operations Fire Life Safety Team.
• Organize and manage Emergency Response Matrix creation and control review board changes, Fire Life Safety guidance Drawings and Specification Standards.
• Oversees the support and testing associated with keeping all in service fire-life-safety systems in a high state of good repair.
• Act as a mentor and guide to more junior fire life safety engineers.
• Provides Operations Department fire protection reviews of design and construction submittals.
• Implement and promote continuous improvement initiatives related to fire and life safety processes and procedures.
• Provides engineering support and coordination associated will all in service fire-life-safety system testing required to ensure a high state of readiness.
• Implement and maintains a comprehensive document control system for all fire and life safety-related documentation.
• Provides information and prepares report/requests for concurrence from the local fire and building officials; provides a variety of status reports and responds to required audits.
• Prepare reports and communications to senior sound transit leadership on Fire Life Safety Impairments, deficiencies, and state of good repair.
• Provides support to the Operations Engineering and Technology division on matters as directed; participates on a variety of committees as assigned; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; ensures processes, policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• Develop and maintain Authority Having Jurisdiction Fire Life Safety agreements, ensuring compliance with local and national regulations.
• Develop training and support programs for internal teams on fire and life safety protocols and procedures.
• Be available for testing and commissioning support during construction. Works closely with Capital, ATO, and SQM department engineers to determine reliable and cost-effective means of meeting Agency Goals.
• Act as the primary operations fire protection and detection liaison with local Fire Departments and Authorities having jurisdiction. Support and foster mutual respect, cooperation, and productive working relationships with other senior individuals in cities and municipalities who are responsible for Fire/Life Safety activity.
• Conduct comprehensive facility orientation session with Fire Departments at the end of construction projects to facilitate communication and understanding between project teams and emergency responders.
• 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 Engineering or related field. Five years of technical systems engineering experience, including working with consultants and contractors, preferably in a rail or transit related environment; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Three years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• National Fire Protection Association Codes and Regulations
• NFPA 130 Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems.
• Fundamental scientific electrical engineering concepts and relationships.
• Established fire protection engineering and fire alarm engineering principles, methods, and techniques in the areas of fire protection management, fire dynamics, active and passive fire suppression systems, and egress and occupant movement. .
• Techniques to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Proficiency in English, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, CAD, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Testing and Commissioning of facilities.
• Engineering system support, coordination and testing.
• System troubleshooting and repair techniques.
• Directing field work.
• Applying fire protection engineering and fire alarm engineering principles and procedures.
• Reviewing or checking the work products of others to ensure conformance to standards.
• Performing advanced mathematical calculations.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups and the general public.
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Presentation development and public speaking skills.
• Applying appropriate oral and written communication skills to various individuals ranging from Agency employees, engineering consultants, and local, state, and federal agencies.
• Interpreting and applying applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.
• Working cooperatively with other departments, Agency officials, and outside agencies.
• Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports.
• Reviewing and developing Construction Specification Institute formatted contract specifications and test procedures; developing design criteria; creating standards.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a standard hybrid office, shop, and transit vehicles, and field environments.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Position includes 24-hour on call program and weekend/night shifts; position is responsible for providing supervision and maintenance of emergency repairs.
• This position is responsible for providing engineering support, coordination, testing, and commissioning support associated with fire-life-safety system testing. May be subject to bending, climbing, crawling, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, repetitive motion, sitting, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and carrying and lifting up to 25 pounds.
• 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.