Senior Director of Alternative Service

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.

The MBTA plays a central role supporting the economic competitiveness, livability, and equity of the Greater Boston region. The MBTA has embarked on a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar effort to address deficiencies and modernize our rapid transit system. The scale of this modernization effort requires frequent suspensions of MBTA subway and commuter rail service. In order to meet the needs of MBTA riders during this work, particularly transit-critical populations lacking good alternatives, the MBTA oversees a large and evolving system of alternative service options to meet customer needs. Effective and talented leadership of our delivery of alternative service during suspensions will be critical to the MBTA's success in providing quality service to our customers. Reporting to the Chief of Operations Planning, Scheduling, and Strategy (OPSS), this Senior Director will oversee the Contracted Bus Services and Alternative Service Planning team focusing providing bus service to support emergency and planned subway and commuter rail closures, often with contracted private bus operators. This team is also responsible for the management of contracted private bus operators who provide fixed route bus service, in some cases with MBTA buses. The teams reporting to the Senior Director will consist of planning staff responsible for engaging with internal and external stakeholders ahead of a planned rail service outage to develop an alternative service plan that considers the accessibility, ridership, operational needs, and cost effectiveness; contract management staff responsible for working with procurement, providing contract and vendor oversight, and ensuring prompt payment for services rendered; and field staff responsible for preparing for and monitoring the delivery of private bus service to ensure service rendered is meeting expectations and adjusted as needed. This position will work internally across MBTA planning, bus and rail transportation, operations control center, infrastructure, vehicle maintenance, safety, system wide accessibility, procurement, and construction departments; and externally with private bus operators, municipal staff, construction staff, and traffic enforcement. Additional responsibilities will include overseeing the procurement and oversight of various other bus service contracts to support the MBTA provision of flexible or fixed route services; provide reporting of operations data submitted annually to the National Transit Database; and coordinating with Scheduling on rail

• Responsible for overseeing teams that create, plan, organize, manage, and oversee alternatives services programs with team focused on planning, procurement, and field operations for rail closures and other bus service contracts.
• Work collaboratively with other departments and external partners to constantly strive to improve and innovate on alternative service and customer experience during planned and unplanned diversions, including customer technology and wayfinding.
• Responsible for being the department's primary liaison with Capital, Operations, and Administration leadership, and other MBTA leadership as needed, and a variety of other external agencies and regulatory bodies during the development, planning, and execution of all bus shuttle services.
• Responsible for creating, planning, organizing, managing, and overseeing budgets to support planned and emergency closures, as well as coordinating reimbursement from capital projects as supporting service to the capital program.
• Responsible for monitoring and approving expenses related to a multi-million dollar a year budget to support the Alternative Services office, including the contract team in preparing all required federal, state, external, and internal financial reporting; conducting analyses related to program performance; maintaining multi-project budgets and reviewing cost estimates; preparing financial management reports including monthly, annual, and ad-hoc reports; performing analysis, preparing special reports and presentations for use by department managers, senior executive management, and the MBTA Board.
• Responsible for vendor and contract management, ensuring contractors meet all service level agreements and contractual obligations.
• Oversee the development, issue, review and award of RFPs and RFIs, collaborating with all necessary departments.
• Responsible for setting and communicating project priorities necessary to deliver private bus services consistent with the goals and timelines to support planned rail closures.
• Manages the review of planned (CIP) projects to determine alternative service needs and budget planning.
• Assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships, identifies opportunities for improvement, and directs and implements change.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, charts, and presentations utilizing Microsoft Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint, as required.
• Participates in presenting to a variety of internal and external boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Responding or reporting to work as directed by supervisory personnel for emergencies, extreme weather conditions, or any other abnormal conditions that impair service or the safety of service, twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
• Must be available periodically to support planned rail closures and monitor implementation in the field or remotely of private shuttle service outside of regular work hours.
• Upholding the rights and interests of a workforce by ensuring the fair and consistent application and strict adherence to the rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable) and policies of the Authority including the EEO, Anti-Discrimination, and Anti-Harassment and Anti-Retaliation policies.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned

• Oversee the Contracted Bus Services and Alternative Service Planning team

• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution.
• Five (5) years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in fields of project management, planning, budgeting, contract management, business administration, engineering, operations, or other related field.
• Effective organizational, analytical, confidentiality, quantitative, writing, multi-tasking, and time management skills.
• Proficient with the use of MS Office, PowerPoint, and Graphic applications.
• Effectively communicate with customers, employees, vendors, contractors, designers, public legislators, and state and federal agencies.

• 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 and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
• A master's degree in a related subject substitute 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.

• A Master's Degree in a related field.
• Experience in transit operations, transit planning, and/or transit policy, and/or transit budgeting.
• Experience in vendor management.

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English
• 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 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 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 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.

• 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 [email protected].

• 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.

Employment Benefits at the MBTA

The MBTA offers comprehensive benefits packages to employees. Types of benefits offered at the MBTA are subject to the union affiliation / Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of the position to which you apply. Benefits that may apply to your position include the following:

• Insurance: Health, Dental, Vision, Life (basic and supplemental), Long-Term Disability
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Vacation, Personal Days, Sick Leave, Paid Holidays
• Retirement: pension or deferred compensation 401(a), plus MBTA contributions
• Tuition Reimbursement (up to $10,000 per year)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for student loans
• Commuter Choice Parking Program: pre-tax benefits for parking
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): pre-tax benefits for healthcare-related expenses
• Discounted tickets for concerts, movies, travel / vacation, etc. via TicketsAtWork.com
• Shopping discounts via GovX.com
• Verizon and AT&T service discounts
• And more...

The MBTA is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer