At the MBTA, we envision a thriving region enabled by a best-in-class transit system. Our mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. MBTA’s core values are built around safety, service, equity, and sustainability and each employee that works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values. This includes attendance, participation, and contribution in local safety committee meetings as needed.
Job Summary
The Project Manager in Transit Priority Planning support the MBTA's Transit Priority Group and report to the Director of Transit Priority. The Transit Priority Group is within the Operations Planning, Scheduling, and Strategy Department (OPSS)and improves bus travel time and reliability by implementing capital improvements to municipal and other roadways.
The Project Manager is directly responsible for initiating new projects based on bus delay data and with the cooperation of internal and external stakeholders and leadership, coordinating municipal engagement, including managing implementation of transit priority projects within those municipalities.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead conceptual design activities, advancing transit priority designs for bus lanes, busways, traffic signals, and changes to streets and intersections that put bus riders' needs first.
- Manage design and engineering consultant contracts to ensure project and program requirements are fulfilled, and that contract cost and schedule requirements are met.
- Lead the development project scopes, budgets, and schedules as part of the capital planning process.
- Manage the procurement of consultants and contractors, as required.
- Negotiate project assignments, task orders, amendments, change orders, and make recommendations for approval.
- Represent the MBTA and Transit Priority Group with clear, concise, and timely communications, at public forums/meetings including occurrences that may be outside regular work hours
- Coordinate project tasks with MBTA Capital Delivery Department colleagues, including contract administration, field staff, and other project coordinators, as required.
- Coordinate project activities with colleagues across the MBTA including but not limited to Bus Operations, Systemwide Accessibility, Information Technology, and others.
- Manage reporting of activities in compliance with FTA/FHWA requirements.
- Manage coordination of activities with outside entities (e.g. institutions, residents, abutters) as required.
- Lead the creation, negotiation, and execution of interagency and municipal agreements (e.g., MOUs) and other third-party agreements.
- Prepare for and make project presentations to elected officials, community groups, and others as necessary.
- Work independently in addressing complex tasks in a time-sensitive environment. Follow up on actions required for task and project completion while seeking guidance as necessary.
- Respond to each inquiry, whether from a customer, vendor, or co-worker in a courteous and professional manner consistent with the Authority's Customer Service quality standard.
- Lead approvals process including but not limited to environmental permits and approvals, real estate actions, and approvals, force accounts (e.g., utility, traffic, railroad operator).
- Organize and prioritize workload and be proactive in identifying project needs/requirements. Prepare project-related correspondence, reports, charts, and presentations utilizing Microsoft Word, Excel, Database, and PowerPoint.
- Uphold the rights and interests of the Authority while building and maintaining an effective relationship with employees.
- Visit work sites and/or attend off-site meetings, occasionally outside of usual workdays and hours as necessary.
- Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned
Minimum Requirements & Qualifications
- An Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, construction management, facilities management, urban planning, public policy, public administration, or a related field from an accredited institution.
- Five (5) years of experience in transportation planning, engineering, construction management, or a related field
- One (1) year of supervisory or lead experience managing large projects
- Experience with managing public engagement, planning, and/or infrastructure projects, including planning studies, design/construction, and public agency coordination
- Experience communicating with customers, employees, vendors, contractors, designers, public officials, and/or municipal, state, and federal agencies
- Demonstrated customer service, conflict resolution, negotiation, and communication skills
- Effective organizational, analytical, quantitative, and time management skills
- Proficiency with office productivity software such as Microsoft Office, Slack, and similar applications
Substitutions Include
- A master's degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
- A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in Project Management may substitute for one (1) year of experience.
Preferred Experience and Skills
- Five (5) years of experience in the planning, design, and/or construction of infrastructure, roadway, or transit projects.
- Demonstrated experience working on municipal or state-level projects.
- Experience with traffic signal design, TSP strategies
- Demonstrated area of specialization, including at least two years of verified experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Traffic engineering and/or signalization plans (including transit signal priority)
- Service planning/scheduling
- Civil engineering and construction management
- Active transportation planning and design
- Accessible/universal planning and design
- Complete streets planning and design
- Community engagement, stakeholder facilitation
- Demonstrated experience with FTA and FHWA grant programs.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Civil or Traffic Engineering or City/Regional Planning, Architecture, Urban Design, or Landscape Architecture.
- Master's degree from an accredited institution in Engineering or City and Regional Planning, Architecture, Urban Design, or Landscape Architecture.
- Registered Professional Engineer in Civil or Traffic Engineering.
- Familiar with MBTA, and MassDOT rules and regulations regarding project delivery, environmental requirements (MEPA/NEPA), and permitting.
- Familiar with NACTO, MassDOT, AASHTO, ADA and MBTA standards.
Job Conditions:
- Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English
- Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
- Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences
- Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team (or supervise, if required)
- Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers
- Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies
- Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records (infractions and/or offenses occurring after the closing of the posting and before the filling of a vacancy may preclude a candidate from consideration for selection)
- Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and / or medical Clinic screening, potentially including a physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings
- Ability to work all shifts and / or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit / operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service
Disclaimers and Definitions:
- General Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe a summary, general nature, and complexity of typical job functions and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position.
- Application Deadlines: Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large applicant pool is established.
- Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. See job description for role-specific requirements.
- Work Eligibility: Although the MBTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, all employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer and on an unrestricted basis (the MBTA does not sponsor non-US citizens). However, if you have an unrestricted work authorization, or sponsored by a separate entity, you are welcome to apply for open positions. International students taking part in CPT / STEM / OPT programs through a university are eligible for internships and co-ops with the MBTA. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
- Interviews: Candidates should ensure they arrive on time, are prepared, can remain for the duration, and if remote, are in a quiet place without distraction, for the interview. Candidates who do not attend their interview without advance authorization, including an email confirmation of a rescheduled time/date from Human Resources, will be considered a no-show and disqualified from consideration for the position. Related to rescheduling, on a one-time basis, and due to something emergent, you may be allowed to reschedule the interview. In addition, Human Resources may require documentation supporting the request. However, should you need to reschedule, you will need to contact your Recruiter directly by email.
- Safety Sensitive Positions: Employees working in this classification will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing.
- On-call or 24/7 Positions: Employees working in this classification must be available to respond to page / text / call and report to work as determined by assigned department or the Authority.
- Essential / Emergency Staff: During declared "states of emergency," employees working in this classification are required to report to work for their assigned work hours or as directed by management.
- ADA Accommodations: The MBTA makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during this process, please contact the MBTA's ADA Unit at 617-222-5751 or hradaaa@mbta.com.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The MBTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. For terms, descriptions, and definitions related to diversity, equity, inclusion, veteran status, and immediate family members that you may find on the application form, please visit mbta.com/careers-app-definitions.


