Hybrid Deputy Director of Bus Technology at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

About the Department

The Deputy Director of Bus Technology will manage, operate, and maintain systems that track buses, provide dispatching tools to operations staff, and are foundational to real-time service information for MBTA riders. They are responsible for ensuring that the MBTA is using high-quality, modern tools to empower front-line operations staff and manage transit service in real-time. 

This position reports to and works closely with the Senior Director of Transit Technology. Key responsibilities include automated stop announcements, vehicle tracking, the bus dispatch environment, and service management tools for front-line staff (e.g., the Skate dispatch app). The Deputy Director coordinates closely with other Technology Innovation staff and contractors, as well as staff in Operations, Plans & Schedules, Vehicle Engineering, Information Technology, and others on regular system operations as well as strategic MBTA initiatives.  

Position Duties

• Manages dispatch and operations technology systems such as automated stop announcements, vehicle tracking systems, the bus dispatch environment, and service management apps for operations staff. These systems are sometimes referred to in the industry as computer-aided dispatching and automated vehicle location (CAD/AVL) or Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).?
• Builds strong relationships with peers and staff in MBTA Operations and other partner departments to ensure that the Authority’s bus technology investments are aligned with the needs of front-line staff and other operations users.
• Establishes and maintains effective practices for monitoring bus technology effectiveness, responding to issues, and supporting users in coordination with technology and operations peers across the Authority.

• Coordinates team responses to competing request, priorities, and strategic initiatives. 

Strategic Implementation

• Provide input into MBTA and departmental strategic planning processes to ensure the long-term quality of technology for MBTA riders and operations staff.
• Review artifacts of strategic planning, to help refine them and identify unrealistic goals.
• Help cross-functional teams think and act strategically towards goals and outcomes.
• Proactively consider risks to team goals and outcomes and escalate them as necessary.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities to serve emergent MBTA and stakeholder objectives.
• Based on MBTA and departmental technology strategy, identifies and executes on modernization and technology capital improvement projects using appropriate project management, product management, engineering, and design resources. 
• Assists in developing and executing a transit technology roadmap that ensures the long-term quality and cost-effectiveness of tools for MBTA riders and operations staff.  

Stakeholders

• Maintain regular meetings and workflows with key program stakeholders.
• Identify risks to stakeholder relationships and the need for investments in relationship-building.
• Facilitate collaboration between teams and their stakeholders, balancing a positive vision. 
• Represents the MBTA with external stakeholders (e.g., public, private, academic, and other companies/institutions) to ensure the Authority is aligned with and driving industry best practices in the rapidly evolving transportation technology space.

Vendor Management

• Hold vendors accountable to performance expectations, including by monitoring performance data and organizing relevant meetings.
• Ensure use of vendors aligns with MBTA priorities, architecture, and strategy.
• Review and approve vendor invoices as well as other routine documents and requests.

Finance & Procurement

• Create and communicate analyses and artifacts that are inputs into both cyclical and one-off financial requests.
• Manage routine finance processes such as capital forecasting.
• Work with departmental internal ops team to manage procurement processes, including drafting RFIs/RFPs, creating evaluation criteria, and decision-making for vendor selection.

People Operations

• Draft job analyses and job descriptions for program staff (e.g., project managers, program managers).
• Provide inputs into job requirements for other functions working within the program (e.g., software engineers, designers, and product managers).
• Organize hiring panels, interview processes and facilitate decision-making about candidate selection.
• Identify staffing gaps or needs for the outcomes owned by the program.
• Managing or assisting in onboarding of new team members.
• Administer performance review processes for program staff.

• Responds to each inquiry, whether from a customer, vendor, or co-workers in a professional and courteous manner.  
• Upholds the right and interest of the Authority while building an effective relationship with employees.  
• Assists in the management 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.  
• As a member of TID leadership, this role is responsible for leading, practicing and upholding TID’s working agreements, which are essential to the department’s success.
• Available on-call to respond to emergencies outside of normal business hours (as part of a rotating on-call schedule). 
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations.   See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions. 

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Available to work all shifts and locations as assigned or directed
• Available to work as per assignment by the MBTA twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as directed by supervisory staff for severe weather conditions, emergencies or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service
• Have the ability to work any and all shifts and/or locations assigned or directed. 

Supervision

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years of professional experience in Technology, Transportation Operations, and/or Transportation Scheduling and Planning.
• Two (2) years of supervisory, managerial, and/or leadership experience.
• Experience with coding, scripting, or databases.
• Experience working with train control, CAD/AVL, ITS, or other transit dispatching or real-time technology.
• Experience with product or project management practices in a technology company or civic technology (e.g., public sector digital team) context.
• Experience managing vendors or outside consultants.
• Experience with GTFS, real-time APIs, or other open mobility data standards.

Preferred Experience and Required Skills

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Consulting or management experience.
• Public procurement experience.

Minimum Education 

Other Qualifications

• 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’s 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 substitutes for two (2) years of general experience. 
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one (1) year of experience.

Job Conditions

• 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.
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, background screening, and the MBTA’s medical requirements, including a physical examination and drug and alcohol screening. 
• Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting, 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). 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and complexity of the work being performed by staff assigned to this job, and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position.

1. Safety Sensitive:  Incumbents will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing 
2. On-call 24/7:  Employee must be available to respond to page/text/call and report to work as determined by assigned department or the Authority  
3. 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