Director of Better Bus Network

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, sustainability, and culture. 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 Director, Better Bus Network oversees the MBTA’s team implementing and coordinating the Better Bus Network, including the Bus Network Redesign, and reports to the Senior Director of Bus Transformation. The Bus Transformation Office is within Bus Operations.

The Director is dedicated to implementing the Better Bus Project, a portfolio of activities at the MBTA, all of which aim to make bus travel an easy first choice for more travelers. Since some of these initiatives are underway under the supervision of other sponsoring departments, the Director of Better Bus Network is responsible for coordinating, identifying gaps, and leading a portfolio of projects implementing the Better Bus Project, including initiating any new projects to fulfill the vision.

In particular, the Director oversees the implementation of the MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign. The Redesign is a fundamental re-thinking of the bus network to realign bus service with where riders live, work, and travel. The Redesign will require changes and upgrades to thousands of bus routes, bus stops, signs, communications, and capital projects. The Director is responsible for maintaining, managing, and successfully implementing both the operating and capital components of the Network Redesign over its planned five-year timeline, including coordinating with all internal MBTA teams.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee a staff of employees, contractors, and task orders to successfully implement the Bus Network Redesign over five years. Oversee project budget, contractual affairs, and staffing/personnel.
• Assist the Senior Director of Bus Transformation to build a team culture of mutual respect and trust, centered on a passion for improving the bus service at the MBTA.
• Coordinate the implementation of a portfolio of projects comprising the Better Bus Project, including those not already housed in other departments.
• Identify, launch, and maintain initiatives to help achieve the vision of Bus Transformation, as defined by the Senior Director.
• Will be expected to lead and influence cross-functional teams through consensus-building, negotiation, and other collaborative processes.
• Manage internal and some external communication about progress in the implementation of Better Bus Project Initiatives. Develop and periodically publish internal and external performance metrics for the Better Bus Project to measure success.
• Identify operating and capital requirements of the Bus Network Redesign and maintain the Implementation and Phasing Plan. Develop and implement new capital projects to support the Redesign, including bus stops and other passenger and operator facilities. Identify and resolve any dependencies or risks with other Better Bus Project initiatives.
• Represent the MBTA and Bus Transformation Office through clear, concise, and timely communications, including in public forums such as Council meetings, public events, and presentations. Attend and participate in public meetings, often occurring in evenings after regular work hours.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders for bus capital project initiation and review, including Safety, Bus Operations, Capital Delivery, Service Planning, Systemwide Access, Customer Experience, Customer Technology, Vehicle Engineering, and others, to ensure that all projects align with the vision of Bus Transformation.
• Organize and prioritize the workload across the staff. Highlight needs for resources and allocate available resources according to the priorities of the Bus Transformation.
• Consult with, and stay familiar with, adjacent planning studies and processes that inform and/or impact bus service and policy, including related transit plans, proposed changes to bus infrastructure and facilities, Transit Action Plans, development projects, roadway maintenance, and other initiatives
• Regularly interact with the Senior Director of Bus Transformation, OPSS leadership, internal MBTA stakeholders such as Service Planning, Operations, Transit Priority, and Capital Delivery, and external MBTA stakeholders such as municipalities, other public agencies, and vendors.
• 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 throughout the MBTA service area.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Supervision

• Supervise a staff of project managers, financial support staff, and a variety of private consultants working on an on-call basis and through task orders.

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college.
• Five (5) years of experience in transportation planning, engineering, project management, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience managing large programs of comparable scale and complexity, such as the Better Bus Project, e.g., multi-jurisdictional, multi-stakeholder, etc.
• Experience leading a team, including managing direct reports or contractors, maintaining and directing work programs, and matching business needs with resources.
• Experience communicating with customers, employees, vendors, contractors, designers, public officials, and/or municipal, state, and federal agencies.
• Demonstrated excellent 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
• Ability to complete a writing and Excel assessment.

Substitutions Include

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• An Associate Degree from an accredited institution with an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• 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 a related field substitutes for one year of experience.

• Master’s degree in civil engineering, urban planning, public policy, public administration, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience with managing public engagement, planning, and/or infrastructure projects, including planning studies, design and construction, and public agency coordination
• Familiarity with NACTO standards.

• Leadership – establishes clear roles and responsibilities; communicates a vision and direction; demands accountability to clear goals; gives staff resources required to meet goals; delegates and trusts staff to complete tasks and exercise judgment.
• Interpersonal - Focuses on building a team based on trust and mutual respect; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
• Strategic - Analyzes market and competition; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Judgment - Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions.
• Professionalism - Reacts well under pressure; Accepts responsibility for own actions.
• Adaptability - Manages competing demands.

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except if participating in an approved high school internship / co-op program.
• 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 diverse workforce 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 current student or 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 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.
• Intern / co-op staff must be enrolled full or part-time in an accredited educational program and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 for the entire duration of the internship / co-op. Additionally, interns / co-ops must have valid work authorization and U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting their positions and throughout the duration of their program.

Disclaimers and Definitions: