Research Lead, Market Innovation Section (PPMIV)

This position is open to current employees in the Market Innovation Section who have passed their initial probationary period. King County Metro's Market Innovation section within the Mobility division is currently hiring a Research Lead (PPMIV). This position is a Special Duty Assignment and is expected to last through April 30th, 2025, with possibility of extension. This recruitment will be used to fill 1 Special Duty Assignment position. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for special duty assignment vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. The eligibility pool will be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority. 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. As Research Program Lead you will: Lead and oversee the work of Metro's Research Program, and support and supervise program staff. Provide oversight and guidance to Research Program staff or others at Metro regarding the development and implementation of data collection tools such as survey instruments, question guides for interviews or focus groups, etc. Ensure the Research Program team works effectively with individuals and groups in different positions and with different backgrounds and is able to respond to needs for data and evidence. Develop or oversee development of sound research and evaluation plans and learning agendas for Metro teams or business units and advise on/oversee implementation as needed. Lead or oversee the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate software tools (R, Qualtrics, etc.) and contribute to/review findings summaries. Lead or oversee the synthesis of data from multiple sources to answer questions of interest to Metro. Ensure that tools and resources are available to data users. Lead or oversee preparation of materials that communicate evidence and data-informed insights to internal and external partners. Lead or oversee capacity building efforts that build comfort and facility with interpreting data, distilling actionable insights, and applying insights to decisions and actions. Build and manage relationships with internal and external partners"”including those at Metro engaged in research, evaluation, data collection, or analysis and consultants and academic researchers. Collaborate with and support leaders, individuals, teams, and projects across Metro, representing the Research team's goals and vision, providing insight on best practices for conducting research and evaluation or otherwise building evidence, and upholding Metro's commitment to data-informed decisions. Present and communicate data and evidence to an array of internal and external audiences. Demonstrate a commitment to social justice and sustainability, promoting an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment. Perform other duties as assigned. To be considered for this SDA role, candidates will have the following REQUIRED qualifications: Currently working within the Mobility Division's Market Innovation Section. Previous lead or supervisor experience. Master's degree in a social science, statistics, business, marketing, mathematics, or a related field, and 2-3 years of work experience in related field OR any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge, and abilities required to perform the work. Strong experience with development and implementation of research designs, methodologies, data collection, and data analysis approaches"”including outcome and impact studies, descriptive studies, and quantitative and qualitative methods and analytic approaches. Strong experience programming surveys and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate methods and software tools (R, Python, Qualtrics, STATA, etc.). Experience providing consultation in the areas of research, evaluation, or evidence-based learning. Strong project and program management skills. Capacity to identify new opportunities for research and evidence building and use, and to initiate, develop, and manage partnerships and projects, and experience with writing requests for proposals for consultant services and negotiating satisfactory contracts and work agreements. Strong written, visual, and oral communications, and experience preparing project communications and presenting data to a variety of audiences. Experience with visual analytics platforms, such as Power BI, Tableau, ArcGIS, etc. People management experience and demonstrated skills regarding empathic listening, inter-personal communication, healthy conflict management, collaborative orientation, commitment to continuous improvement, prioritization of needs, and problem solving. Strong comfort and skill to navigate and help manage uncertainty and risk in a dynamic, multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder project landscape. Dependability, good organization, and other soft skills that increase the ability to work effectively with (help strengthen) a team. Knowledge of equity and social justice principles and practices as they apply to data-and research-related activities. The following qualification is DESIRED: Able to speak a language other than English. Application & Selection Process Who May Apply This position is open to current employees in the Market Innovation Section who have passed their initial probationary period. Required Application Materials: An online employment application, answers to the supplemental questions, and a letter of interest describing your qualifications are required. The required letter of interest should explain why you are interested in this position, how your experience at Metro has prepared you for this role, and how you meet the qualifications described in this job posting. Selection Process Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Formal offers are contingent on successful references and/or a record review. It is important to note that you must get approval from your current supervisor/manager to accept a Special Duty assignment. Pay for SDA will be in accordance with the Personnel Guidelines or the selected employee's collective bargaining agreement. Work Schedule The work week is generally 8-5, Monday through Friday, day shift; a flexible work schedule is available with approval. Union Representation/Classification/Grade This position is represented by PROTEC17 : Professional and Technical Employees, Local 17 / 2441400 / 68. Work Location The primary location for this position is King Street Center 201 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, WA. The Research team typically works in-person two days per week, and the rest remotely. Teleworking Requirement The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities as needed. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. 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: Tracy Bylund . Forbes 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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-02-18