Gunner Scott

About Gunner Scott

Gunner Scott (he/him) is a strategic and equity-driven public sector leader with more than 25 years of experience aligning people, culture, and strategy to strengthen public service delivery.As Senior Policy and Internal Strategy Manager in King County Metro’s Employee Services Division, he partners with executives and division leaders to advance workforce equity, organizational health, and internal communications. His work bridges policy, culture, and performance—leading initiatives that enhance employee engagement, strengthen leadership capacity, and create consistent, trauma-informed practices across the agency.Gunner’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to building systems where everyone can thrive. He previously served as Metro’s Senior Communications and Engagement Planner and as Director of Programs at Pride Foundation, where he guided multimillion-dollar grantmaking across five states through a racial equity lens. Earlier, as the founding Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, he led the successful five-year legislative campaign for the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, passed in 2011.A writer, facilitator, and coach, Gunner has published nationally on equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and organizational change, and he continues to support artists, activists, and leaders through his consulting practice, Making Waves Coaching & Consulting.He is driven by a belief that equitable, engaged, and aligned organizations are the foundation of effective public service—and that leadership is most powerful when it connects vision to people and practice.

Experience

1. Senior Policy & Internal Strategy Manager

   King County Metro Transit

   Jan 2022 — Present · King County, WA, US

   Leads organizational strategy, policy development, and internal communications for Metro’s Employee Services Division, supporting employees across multiple operational and administrative units. Serves as a trusted advisor to Metro executives and division leaders on workforce equity, engagement, and organizational health.Directs cross-divisional initiatives under Metro’s Organizational Health & Development portfolio, aligning people strategy with performance and culture goals.Designs and implements Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that improve consistency, accountability, and compliance across HR and service delivery functions.Leads division-wide internal communication strategies that improve employee understanding of policies, benefits, and workplace expectations.Partners with Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, HR, and Performance & Analytics teams to integrate trauma-informed and equitable practices across systems.Coaches, managers, and supervisors on people leadership, policy interpretation, and conflict resolution.Oversees budgets, professional development funds, and consultant contracts to ensure fiscal efficiency and strategic alignment.

Education

• New England School of Photography (NESOP)

  Digital Photography

  2011 — 2011

• School of the Museum of Fine Arts

  Foundations in 2-D Design

  2010 — 2010

• School of Visual Concepts

  Fundamentals in UX Design

  2018

• Goddard College

  Bachelor of Liberal Arts, Cultural Studies, Oral History, Public Policy, Queer/Transgender Theory

  2006 — 2009

Skills

• Public Relations
• Media Strategy
• Media Relations
• Public Policy
• Strategic Communications
• Board Development
• Grants
• Psychotherapy
• Social Media
• Strategy Development
• New Media Strategy
• Press Releases
• Digital Media
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Community Organizing
• Research
• Training
• Volunteer Management
• Program Development
• Nonprofits
• Public Speaking
• Digital Photography
• Cultural Competency Training
• Human Rights
• Staff Development
• Strategic Planning
• Inspiring People
• Fundraising
• Workshop Facilitation
• Philanthropy
• Grant Writing
• Leadership
• Advocacy
• Diversity Training
• Policy
• Coalitions
• Grassroots Organizing
• Program Evaluation
• Training Delivery