Senior Researcher (PPM III)

King County Metro Transit is seeking a Project/Program Manager III (Senior Researcher) to lead and support research, evaluation, and data collection efforts that inform policies, programs, and service design across Metro. This role is part of the Research & Innovation workgroup within the Mobility Division, supporting Metro’s commitment to equity, safety, sustainability, reliability, and customer‑centered mobility.
Project & Program Management

Act as project manager for research, evaluation, and data collection projects, including large‑scale and multi‑phase efforts.
Coordinate roles across internal teams, external partners, consultants, academic research partners, and cross jurisdictional groups.
Manage project schedules, deliverables, budgets, and communications.
Support consultant solicitation processes, including RFP development and proposal evaluation (if applicable to classification).
Large-Scale Survey Project Leadership

Lead the coordination, implementation, and oversight of a large‑scale survey project, including sampling, instrument design, implementation best practices, segmentation, and weighting.
Manage multiple survey modes (e.g., online, mail, in‑person, onboard).
Ensure methods and practices align with equitable research guidelines.
Research & Analysis

Conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses using Census, administrative, customer survey, and other data sources.
Synthesize findings and prepare high quality reports, presentations, and visualizations (charts, dashboards, graphs, maps).
Develop tools that downstream users need to plan, develop, and manage transit services, programs, and products.
Facilitate interpretation of research findings by agency staff and leadership and support evidence‑based decision making.
Communication & Engagement

Present research findings to diverse audiences, including senior management, community groups, and technical teams.
Translate technical and quantitative information into clear, accessible language for non‑technical audiences.
Support community engaged research processes when applicable.
Other Responsibilities

Represent the Research & Innovation section on assigned projects or committees.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Business, Social Science, Statistics, Urban Planning, Marketing, or related field and 3+ years relevant professional experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience providing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Experience independently managing small and large projects, including cross‑functional teams.
Knowledge of research design, survey methods, and data collection approaches (quantitative and qualitative).
Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret complex data and produce visualizations (charts, tables, dashboards).
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing reports and presenting to senior audiences.
Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects and priorities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and common research/analysis tools (e.g., Power BI, Qualtrics, SPSS, R, Python, Tableau, ArcGIS).
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
Desirable Qualifications

Five or more years of related experience.
Experience with advanced quantitative methods, including weighting, statistical testing, power calculations.
Experience with community engagement or equity‑focused research and evaluation.
Experience conducting behavioral or attitudinal research, including segmentation, user testing, focus groups.
Experience with mapping software such as ArcGIS.
Experience managing consultant contracts or RFP processes.
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.

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