WTA is hiring a limited-term, full-time salaried Capital Project Manager. This grant-funded position is needed to advance WTA's Bellingham Station Transit Oriented Development at the former Public Market site.
This is for a 3 year limited term position.Applications must be received by Monday, November 30 , 2026, at 9:00 pm PST for consideration.Please attach a resume and cover letter to the application. The cover letter will be attached to the same location as the resume. Your cover letter should address why you are interested in this position. At least 3 references need to be professional.
In-person interviews are tentatively scheduled to be held on Wednesday, January 13, 2027. Please plan to be available. Position starting on Monday February 1st. JOB SUMMARY:
This position is responsible for representing Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) in the planning and development of a Transit Oriented Development (TOD). The position serves as a senior-level project manager responsible for ensuring that planning, design, financing, construction, and development activities are effectively integrated with community goals, and WTA transit infrastructure, operations, and safety requirements. This position coordinates with public agencies, jurisdictions, consultants, contractors, utilities, and community stakeholders to maximize ridership potential, safeguard transit assets, manage public risk, and ensure compliance with applicable public agency regulations, zoning requirements, environmental requirements, agreements, and transit-specific safety and design standards.
This is a grant-funded, limited-term position.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
1. Represent WTA throughout the planning, procurement, negotiation, community outreach, development, and implementation of the Transit Oriented Development.
2. Assist with the development of selection criteria, procurement documents, requests for proposals (RFPs), evaluation processes, and selection of qualified advisors.
3. Monitor and enforce compliance with WTA requirements, TOD guidelines, joint development agreements, air rights leases, development agreements, and other applicable contractual obligations.
4. Monitor performance against approved project schedules, milestones, key performance indicators, budgets, deliverables, and other requirements established in the comprehensive agreement.
5. Coordinate project planning, design, and construction activities to maintain continuity of active transit operations and minimize impacts to passenger circulation, access, service, facilities, and commuter safety.
6. Review and coordinate plans to ensure compatibility with WTA facilities, transit infrastructure, operational needs, design criteria, pedestrian access, circulation, and future transit opportunities.
7. Lead change management processes, including aligning stakeholders, communicating project impacts, and managing transitions.
8. Navigate and coordinate compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and requirements, including Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements, WTA design criteria, environmental review requirements, zoning and land-use regulations, permitting requirements, and transit-specific engineering and safety standards.
9. Coordinate project interests and activities among local jurisdictions, city planners, engineers, architects, consultants, utility providers, contractors, WTA staff, and the private development team.
10. Identify, evaluate, and monitor project risks, including construction, operational, environmental, financial, contractual, regulatory, and schedule risks, and develop or recommend appropriate mitigation strategies to protect public assets and capital.
11. Monitor the financial and operational health of development partner as necessary to identify potential risks to WTA and the successful completion of the project.
12. Prepare clear and transparent project updates, briefings, audits, reports, presentations, and other materials for WTA leadership, governing bodies, partner agencies, and other stakeholders.
13. Serve as a public-facing representative for the project by participating in town halls, community board meetings, stakeholder briefings, public meetings, and other community engagement activities.
ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
1. Research emerging TOD, P3, joint development, air rights, transit infrastructure, and public capital project practices and recommend improvements to WTA processes and project delivery strategies.
2. Assist with the development, review, and negotiation of project-related agreements, amendments, memoranda, leases, easements, and other legal or contractual documents.
3. Provide technical and project management guidance to WTA staff and consultants and coordinate special assignments related to capital development, real estate, transit facilities, and strategic initiatives.
4. Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, each essential function must be performed satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, experience, skill, and ability required.
KNOWLEDGE:
• Public-private partnership (P3) structures, procurement, contracting, and project delivery practices.
• Transit-oriented development principles, including transit-adjacent land use, pedestrian-oriented design, multimodal connectivity, and development strategies that support transit ridership.
• Public capital project planning, design, construction, and project management principles and practices.
• Joint development agreements, easements, air rights, leases, development agreements, and other real estate and property-related instruments.
• Federal, state, and local regulations applicable to public transportation, capital projects, land development, environmental review, zoning, permitting, and public agency procurement.
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements and transit-specific design, engineering, accessibility, operational, and safety standards.
• Construction management principles, scheduling, phasing, quality assurance, cost control, and risk management.
• Financial, contractual, and performance requirements associated with large-scale public-private development projects.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• Manage complex, multidisciplinary capital projects involving public agencies and private-sector partners.
• Exercise sound judgment and diplomacy when balancing public accountability, community interests, transit operations, and private-sector commercial objectives.
• Negotiate effectively with private developers, consultants, contractors, public agencies, and other project stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Interpret and administer complex agreements, leases, development requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Analyze project schedules, budgets, risks, performance measures, and financial information.
• Identify potential project issues and develop practical solutions and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate multiple projects, activities, priorities, and deadlines in a complex development environment.
• Read, interpret, and evaluate architectural, engineering, construction, site, utility, and development plans and documents.
• Communicate complex technical, regulatory, contractual, and financial information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Prepare concise, accurate, and transparent reports, presentations, briefings, and project documentation.
• Facilitate effective meetings and public discussions with elected officials, community members, agency representatives, consultants, and private-sector partners.
• Effectively represent WTA's interests in negotiations, stakeholder meetings, public meetings, and project discussions.
• Work independently and exercise initiative while maintaining alignment with WTA policies, procedures, and strategic objectives.
• Establish priorities, organize work, and meet deadlines while managing changing project requirements.
• Use standard office technology and project management, scheduling, document management, and communication software.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation and exercise appropriate confidentiality and discretion.
WORKING CONDITIONS, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:
Work is performed primarily in an office environment with regular travel to project sites, construction areas, WTA facilities, public meetings, partner agency offices, and other locations associated with project development and construction. Work may require exposure to active construction sites, traffic, weather conditions, noise, dust, uneven surfaces, and other construction-related conditions. The position requires frequent use of computers, telephones, mobile devices, standard office equipment, presentation equipment, project management and document management systems, and other technology necessary to perform the duties of the position.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Real Estate, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in public capital project management, public-private partnership oversight, transit-oriented development, commercial development, construction management, real estate development, or a related field, including experience managing medium- to large-scale projects and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
Other combinations of education and experience which would provide the applicant with the desired qualifications required to perform the job may be considered.
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATES:
• Valid Washington State driver's license at time of hire in order to operate WTA vehicles.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, electronically, and in public meeting settings.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout office environments, transit facilities, project sites, and construction areas as required to perform job duties.
• Ability to safely access and navigate active construction and project sites, including uneven terrain, stairs, and other site conditions.
• Ability to perform occasional physical activities associated with site inspections, including walking for extended periods and climbing stairs.
• Ability to lift and carry materials and equipment weighing up to twenty-five pounds on an occasional basis.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Participation in WTA's Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program is a requirement of employment which includes reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing.
COMPENSATION: 2027 Rates- $101,664 - $130,000 annual salary
To view the compensation and benefits document: Compensation and Benefits Document
