Senior Manager, Employee Experience bei Metropolitan Council, MN

About the Department

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

Metro Transit is one of the country's largest transit systems, employs more than 3,000 people, and provides more than 80 million rides a year through an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter trains, as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike in the Twin Cities. 

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region: 

The Senior Manager, Employee Experience plays a vital role in advancing Metro Transit Forward and providing senior leadership to our Great Workplace program. The position provides guidance to our emerging Peer Support Program, leads our Workforce Task Force, and serves as a strategic partner with Human Resources to ensure alignment of Metro Transit Forward and our culture and organizational priorities. The position champions an inclusive, equitable, and positive workplace culture by engaging employees and leaders at all levels to embed Great Workplace Norms, enhance employee satisfaction, strengthen support systems—particularly for front-line staff—and improve retention. This role works collaboratively across all departments and divisions and partners closely with the Metro Transit executive team and Metropolitan Council stakeholders to drive cultural transformation, implement workforce strategies, and advance engagement initiatives. It is instrumental in fostering innovation and building a high-performing, inclusive, and resilient workforce. 

Position Duties

• Lead the development, implementation, and oversight of strategic workforce initiatives—including broad program leadership and direct supervision of the Peer Support Program Manager and Great Workplace Program Manager to ensure effective day-to-day operations, strong program performance, and communications that engage employees at all levels to foster an inclusive, engaging workplace culture across Metro Transit. 
• Provide strategic direction and lead the creation, execution, and evaluation of workforce plans and projects—including facilitation of the Workforce Task Force and pilot initiatives—aligning organizational goals with improved workplace culture, employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
• Ensure alignment between workforce and culture initiatives and organizational goals by fostering cross-department collaboration, transparently reporting progress, and leveraging data collection and analysis to assess effectiveness, inform recommendations, and drive continuous improvement in employee engagement.
• Lead organizational change efforts and manage work plans and budgets to ensure workforce policies, practices, and culture initiatives align with Metro Transit’s long-term strategic goals, while championing best practices to enhance recruitment, retention, and employee satisfaction. 
• Lead and share workforce forecasting efforts across the Metropolitan Council to support budget and resource development and ensure service capacity meets evolving organizational needs. 

Minimum Qualifications

Any of the following combinations of experience (in leading high-profile public sector or nonprofit workforce planning, employee engagement, or organizational culture or business process transformation efforts with an emphasis on strategic workforce initiatives) along with project management experience including but not limited to the development of work plans, resource plans, and facilitation of work groups to tackle complex, cross-functional initiatives, and completed education (degree field of study in organizational development, business, psychology, sociology, human resources, language, or closely related field):

• High school diploma/GED with eleven (11) years of experience and at least seven (7) years project management experience.

• Associate degree with nine (9) years of experience and at least five (5) years project management experience.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher with seven (7) years of experience and at least three (3) years project management experience.

• Ability to drive culture change in large, complex organizations.
• Experience partnering effectively with executives, labor organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Experience using data to inform decision-making and performance improvement.
• Experience with workforce planning.
• Ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives from planning through implementation.

• Knowledge of workforce planning, organizational development, and employee engagement strategies.
• Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles and initiatives.
• Knowledge of change management best practices and methodologies.
• Knowledge of data analysis techniques to assess workforce culture initiatives.
• Skills in leadership and project management skills, especially in cross- functional environments.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to present to diverse audiences
• Skills in strategic planning and execution skills, with a focus on workforce culture and engagement.
• Skills in conflict resolution and negotiation skills to manage organizational change and stakeholder alignment.
• Ability to foster collaboration and build strong partnerships across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to drive organizational cultural transformation and align initiatives with strategic goals.
• Ability to inspire and motivate teams to embrace change and adopt workplace norms.

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area. 
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement. 
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Other Qualifications

Union/Grade:  Non-Represented /Grade K
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive:  No 

What your work environment would be:
You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications. 
• We request your Work Record Evaluation (ATU employees only).
• We rate your education and experience. 
• We conduct a structured panel interview. 
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:
  
If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history.  A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job.  If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.
  
If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.  A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.