Project Manager

Job Description

PROJECT MANAGER

Req #: 245861 Department: COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Appointing Department Web Address: https://depts.washington.edu/cossar/ Job Location: Seattle Campus Posting Date: 05/29/2025 Closing Info: Closes On 06/12/2025 Salary: $5,800 - $6,500 per month Other Compensation: Shift: First Shift Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.
The Center on Collaborative Systems for Security, Safety, and Resilience (CoSSaR) is looking for a Project Manager (Program Operations Specialist ) to manage the second phase of the Sound Transit Unified Control Center (UCC) Innovation Project. This phase focuses on the successful development of a user-centered UCC that integrates multiple tools and workflows to support the expanding Link Light Rail System, which builds on the strategic needs and opportunities identified in Phase 1. Using various design and ideation-focus project management techniques, the Project Manager will efficiently guide Phase 2 from conception to completion by creating innovative solutions, products, or services through a structured process of brainstorming, conceptualizing, and prototyping. This position will develop policies and procedures for the Project Team, work with the Grants Manager on budget preparation and tracking, and prepare financial reports for the sponsor and other stakeholders.
Reporting to the Co-Creation Program Manager, this role involves managing a complex project with multiple stakeholders, including transit operators, IT teams, designers, and external partners. The Project Manager must be able to balance multiple priorities and deadlines in a complex environment, with demonstrated ability to prioritize essential tasks with short lead times, mitigate risks, and ensure alignment with both Sound Transit and CoSSaR’s objectives. The position requires strong facilitation skills to lead collaborative ideation sessions and design workshops. Additionally, the Project Manager will be responsible for financial tracking, providing regular reports to the sponsor, vendor interactions, project team tools and accounts, and data analysis to measure project success and project team performance.
The Project Manager will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Sound Transit’s control center operations. The successful implementation of this project will directly impact the efficiency, safety, and scalability of the Link Light Rail system. This role will also enhance the University of Washington’s reputation for innovation and collaboration in public infrastructure projects by contributing to research-driven, user-centered transit solutions.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Management

Lead the implementation and execution of the Phase 2 project plan, focusing on understanding users' needs, preferences, and pain points to create functional and aesthetically pleasing solutions.

Develop and maintain a comprehensive project roadmap, with clear objectives, deliverables, and measurable success criteria. Proactively identify risks, dependencies, and critical paths to ensure smooth execution.

Lead structured brainstorming sessions, co-creation workshops, and iterative prototyping efforts with stakeholders to refine the vision and functionality of the UCC.

Coordinate logistics and information flow for co-creation stakeholder activities, manage virtual meeting logistics, and ensure smooth activity execution.

Implement project methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Hybrid) with CoSSaR’s Co-Creation methodology at the center, ensuring stakeholder-driven innovation, iterative solution development, and seamless integration of user needs into project execution.

Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project success, operational efficiency, and stakeholder satisfaction. Prepare detailed reports and presentations for sponsors, leadership, and external stakeholders.

Ensure effective use of project management tools (e.g., monday.com, Slack, Mural, Figma, SharePoint) to support collaboration, task tracking, and workflow automation.

Train and mentor team members on best practices.

Identify and mitigate potential risks related to project execution, compliance, and stakeholder expectations.

Develop contingency plans to ensure seamless project progression despite unforeseen challenges.

Oversee project documentation, reporting, and presentations to internal and external stakeholders.

Identify and mitigate project risks while aligning with Sound Transit and CoSSaR’s objectives.

Provide guidance and training to the project team, develop onboarding materials, and foster a positive work environment.
Project Budget Management

Prepare budgets and financial reports, ensuring transparency and accountability in project spending.

Track expenses and ensure all financial transactions are accurately recorded and within budget.

Prepare detailed financial reports and forecasts and provide to the project team, CoSSaR leadership, sponsors, and stakeholders.

Provide regular updates to the sponsor and the project team on the budget status and financial health of the project.

Negotiate and manage contracts with vendors and suppliers, ensuring timely payment of invoices and management of financial agreements.

Assist with the preparation and management of grant proposals and funding applications.

Ensure all financial activities comply with grant requirements and university policies.

Implement financial controls to prevent overspending and ensure accountability.
Stakeholder and Communication Management

Develop and execute a stakeholder engagement strategy that ensures transparency, buy-in, and alignment across all project phases.

Serve as the primary point of contact for project stakeholders, including transit operators, IT teams, designers, and external partners.

To develop user-centered workflows that improve operational efficiency and safety, facilitate collaboration across disciplines, and ensure all devices are integrated into the design and decision-making process.

Synthesize insights from Phases 1 and 1.5 and stakeholder feedback to guide iterative design and prototyping efforts.

Facilitate communication within the project team, use various tools to ensure smooth information flow, and provide updates and reports to the Co-Creation Program Manager, the sponsor, and stakeholders.

Coordinate project communications, ensuring precise and timely updates to all relevant stakeholders.

Mediates conflicts and helps resolve issues to maintain a positive and collaborative team environment.

Assign tasks based on individual strengths and expertise to maximize efficiency and productivity.
Policy and Procedure Development

Develop project governance frameworks and best practices that can be scaled as the project evolves.

Develop and implement project-specific policies and procedures to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor guidelines.

Establish documentation and workflow processes for stakeholder collaboration and project execution.

Identify gaps in current procedures and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency and transparency.

Ensure project compliance with regulatory standards and transit industry best practices, proactively identifying gaps and mitigating risks.
Other Duties as Assigned

Participate in college/center meetings and contribute to committees.

Serve on event teams to support large events, site visits, and conferences.

Taking on ad-hoc projects that may arise and need immediate attention.

Other duties as assigned.

The Project manager provides functional leadership across a matrixed project team, ensuring alignment and execution across multiple stakeholders, including graduate student research assistants, transit operators, IT specialists, UX designers, and external vendors.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Project Management, Transportation, Urban Planning, Human-Centered Design, Operations Management, or related disciplines).

3+ years of project management experience, preferably in transportation, public infrastructure, innovation projects, or stakeholder engagement.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

High level of professionalism, organization, scrupulous attention to detail, and the ability to manage workload, prioritize effectively, and work as part of a team.

Ability to exercise independent judgement and work independently to resolve problems.

Ability to work collaboratively and independently with a high degree of reliability, accuracy, and productivity.

Demonstrated experience leading meetings, assigning and tracking deliverables, planning projects, managing resources, mitigating risks, maintaining stakeholder communication, ensuring quality, and providing regular project updates.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

PMP or other project management certification.

Experience in transit operations, control center environments, or technology integration projects.

Knowledge of human-centered design, systems thinking, and agile project management.

Familiarity with tools such as monday.com, MURAL, Figma, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office

Experience managing projects within a university, government, or public-sector setting.
Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected] .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .

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