Salary : $129,968.18 - $164,742.03 Annually
Location : King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Term-Ltd
Job Number: 2026MT27183
Department: MTD - Metro Transit
Division: General Manager
Opening Date: 06/24/2026
Closing Date: 6/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time

Summary
Learn how Metro connects you with what matters

*This recruitment is ONLY open to current King County Metro employees who have completed their initial probationary period.*

King County Metro Transit's General Manager's Office is seeking a strategic and collaborative Communications Manager to lead the Internal Communications and Employee Engagement team.

In this role, you will shape and execute communication strategies that inform, engage, and connect a large, diverse, and predominantly deskless workforce. Leveraging the power of communications and storytelling, you will help strengthen employee engagement, foster organizational alignment, and reinforce Metro's culture, values, and priorities.

As the Internal Communications Manager, you will lead and oversee a team responsible for coordinating and implementing internal communications strategies across Metro's divisions, ensuring employees receive timely, relevant, and consistent information. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping communicate Metro's vision, key initiatives, and long-term goals in ways that inspire understanding, connection, and action. You will also oversee the development and implementation of communication plans that support organizational objectives and enhance the employee experience.

This position also plays a critical role in creating meaningful employee engagement opportunities that advance Metro's values and commitment to equity. Working collaboratively with communications professionals across King County, you will build strong partnerships, align messaging, and contribute to a cohesive employee experience that supports organizational success.
This recruitment will fill one (1) Special Duty Assignment expected to last until 11/6/26 and may be used to generate a pool for future Career Service, Term Limited Temporary (TLT), and Special Duty Assignment (SDA) positions that may occur in this classification in MTD. The pool would be retained for twelve months from date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.
Who May Apply
This recruitment is ONLY open to current King County Metro employees who have completed their initial probationary period.

Job Duties

Applying 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 the Internal Communications Manager, you will:

• Develop and execute internal communications strategies
  • Design and implement strategic communication plans that include leadership messaging, employee communications, presentations, talking points for people leaders, listening/feedback opportunities, and supporting materials to foster transparency, trust, and meaningful employee engagement.
  • Work with internal customers or key stakeholders to assess communications and employee engagement needs, target audience, and objectives; design special activities to meet those needs and improve employee morale.
  • Provide strategic communications counsel and advice to senior management, people leaders, and other internal customers; advise on communications implications, risks, and outcomes.
  • Identify opportunities to adopt new technology and/or innovative approaches to internal communications.
• Create and manage employee communication
  • Research, write, edit, and coordinate the production of internal communication materials, ensuring they are clear, consistent, and aligned with agency goals.
  • Coordinate content review and approvals from key collaborators.
  • Plan and facilitate engagement activities for individual contributors and people leaders, such as town halls and annual meetings.
  • Utilize journalism principles to research, write, edit, and publish clear, accurate, and engaging content for various communication channels.
• Foster collaboration
  • Build strong partnerships with teams and divisions across Metro. Act as a connector between teams to promote collaboration and alignment across the agency.
  • Apply a holistic lens to internal communications, seeking opportunities to tell a "big picture" story that employees can see themselves within.
  • Partner with other communications managers and subject matter experts across King County departments to support organizational alignment.
  • Participate in consultant and vendor-selection process; oversee the work of consultants and vendors for branding, editorial content, and style to align with Metro's values and initiatives.
• Supervise direct reports, delegate tasks, and manage deliverables
  • Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of communication projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and meet organizational objectives.
  • Mentor and coach direct reports, support the creation of work plans, and delegate tasks.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
We are looking for candidates who have the following:

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in communications and employee engagement OR a combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties effectively.

• Experience supervising direct reports, including coaching and delegation of tasks OR a combination of experience that demonstrates the ability to supervise others
• Experience leading projects and/or work groups that include members from diverse audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences, including employees, consultants, and leadership.
• Ability to translate technical information for non-technical audiences.
• Experience creating and utilizing style guides and branding standards in written and graphic communications.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive projects.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects involving diverse teams and colleagues while ensuring effective communication across multiple audiences.
• Strong project management skills, including time management, organization, and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Ability to take initiative, multitask, and work effectively in high-pressure situations with shifting priorities.
• Deep understanding of equity and social justice principles, including the impact of race, gender, policy, and systemic inequities on marginalized communities.
• Commitment to applying an equity lens to communication strategies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to evolving priorities.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage diverse colleagues.

Desired Qualifications (not required):

• Experience working in public transit, including familiarity with industry standards, policies, and operational challenges.
• Knowledge of transportation issues and Metro's operational practices, values, and culture.
• Knowledge and experience with photography, video production, and graphic design.

Supplemental Information
Required Application Materials

1. An online employment application
2. A Letter of Interest indicating how you meet the qualifications and why you are interested in this position.
3. Answers to all supplemental questions

NOTE: Applications that do not include the required materials may be rejected as incomplete and will not advance in the process.
Selection Process

All required application materials will be screened for qualifications, competitiveness, completeness, communication skills, and responsiveness to the above application instructions. The most competitive candidate will be selected based on their application materials and letter of interest. Management may require an interview to make a final selection. Management will make the final selection of the candidate to be placed in the special duty assignment. The SDA will also be dependent on approval from your current supervisor.
Who May Apply
This recruitment is ONLY open to current King County Metro employees who have completed their initial probationary period.

Work LocationThis is a hybrid role and involves a mix of remote work and on-site responsibilities, with an expectation of being in the office for meetings, tasks, and assignments as needed. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
Work Schedule
This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay. Work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 40-hour work week.

Union Representation/Job Code/Grade
This position is not represented by a labor union.

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: Manal Tirhi, mtirhi