Marketing Statement
Help shape the future of public transit. This role is designed for a strategic problem solver who thrives in complex environments and wants to make a measurable impact. Working with senior leaders across Metro, you will advance high-priority initiatives that strengthen infrastructure performance, improve operational effectiveness, and support the long-term reliability of the region's transit network.
Job Summary
The Manager Strategic Initiatives is responsibility for leading the implementation of, and/or supporting high-profile initiatives to improve agency economic efficiency, service quality and overall performance aligned with the vision, strategy and goals of the Authority. Duties include, but are not limited to, identifying and scoping key business challenges across the organization, managing and coordinating strategic projects, building relationships across departments to facilitate collaboration, gathering and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to identify business process improvement opportunities, supporting and monitoring the implementation of recommendations, and communicating this process and the findings across the organization.
Principal Job Duties
- Leads the design, management, coordination and control of major departmental business improvement projects that deliver economic efficiencies, and improve productivity, safety and performance.
- Designs, conducts and coordinates advanced data analysis and presents findings and recommendations to direct the Authority’s response to critical operational and administrative problems, including but not limited to the following: budgetary analyses, reviews of work systems and procedures, development of performance standards and measures, workflow and economic analysis, productivity analysis, inventory planning, contract management, and organizational configuration management.
- Oversees and manages the department’s strategic approach to data analysis, balancing the need for projects to be data-driven and evidence-based alongside the business need to deliver results in a timely manner that impact on performance and delivery.
- Proactively examines existing internal operational and administrative processes and identifies opportunities for improvement across the Authority.
- Builds and manages multiple agile teams comprising external internship candidates, colleagues from departments being supported on projects, and other external personnel or personnel from across the Authority based on the skill requirements of specific projects, including but not limited to engineers, analysts, technicians and inspectors.
- Builds collaborative partnerships with internal and external partners to enhance the capacity and capabilities of the Authority’s department to identify and deliver innovative solutions to critical business problems.
- Supports the implementation, monitoring and assessment of corrective action plans from internal and external departments.
- Regularly produces analytical reports relating to organizational and project-based delivery to inform the Authority’s strategic decision-making.
- Supports the Principal Strategic Program Manager to plan, coordinate and oversee the department’s overall administrative, financial and operational activities, procedures and staff.
Other Duties
- Participates in the development of strategic goals, methods and action plans to include measurable, data-driven objectives, fixed responsibilities and established timelines. Monitors, evaluates and recommends changes in the plan when appropriate.
- Contributes to and supports the establishment of effective operating policies, procedures, rules and regulations. Ensures the enforcement of policies and procedures.
- Supports the Principal Strategic Program Manager in high level administrative activities (e.g. Emergency Preparedness Planning) and liaison with internal leadership on issues that affect safety and security.
Safety Sensitive
- Maintains and promotes awareness and accountability with safety policies and procedures while performing job functions. Promotes a positive safety culture and encourages reporting of safety concerns consistent with our Agency Safety Plan, other regulatory requirements within the Safety Management System and just culture principles.
The functions listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.
Responsibilities
Knowledge
- Extensive knowledge of and applied experience with data systems, data management, and a wide range of applied quantitative and qualitative data research techniques, including experimental design, data collection and controls, data analysis and data visualization.
- Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of project management, to coordinate, review and provide expert management of multiple, independent projects.
- Demonstrated knowledge of budgetary and contract management, and laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, policies and procedures that govern the activities of a complex public sector agency.
- Preferably, demonstrated knowledge and understanding of a complex transit organization and the various operational requirements, challenges and constraints.
Skills
- Strong, effective communication skills and team building skills, evidenced by the ability to organize, structure, and frame ideas, issues, and strategies in a clear, focused, and persuasive manager, and to work effectively across organizational lines, at different levels of the organization to establish and maintain rapport with colleagues and outside officials.
- Advanced statistical analysis skills in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VBA and macros.
- Preferable applied skills and experience with Machine Learning, a querying language (e.g. SQL, Hive), a scripting language (e.g. Python, Matlab), and a statistical language (e.g. R, SAS).
Abilities
- Demonstrated ability to independently explore, comprehend and define complex problems, and develop imaginative, data-driven and workable solutions that deliver results to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency in a challenging operational environment.
- Demonstrated ability to design, manage, coordinate numerous complex and concurrent projects, and ensure compliance with policies and procedures while maintaining current knowledge of the latest developments and pending requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective strategic and operational collaborative partnerships at all levels within an organization, and with external agents.
Machine, Tools, Equipment, Software, Hardware Required
- Personal Computers; Copy Machines; Telephones and other office machinery
- MS Office Suite; Maximo and similar management information systems
Supervisory Responsibility
Supervises work of others, including planning, assigning and scheduling work, reviewing work and ensuring quality standards, training staff and overseeing their productivity. May offer recommendations for hiring, termination and pay adjustments, but does not have responsibility for making these decisions.
Qualifications
Minimum Education
- A Bachelor’s degree in Science, Public Administration or Business Administration.
Minimum Experience
- A minimum of six (6) years of demonstrated experience in data analysis, including complex statistical and budgetary analysis
- A minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated experience in project management in a large organization
Minimum Certification/Licensure
Preferred Qualifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
- Master’s degree in Science, Public Administration or Business Administration.
CorporateDescriptionStr
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), known as Metro, is the region’s leading public transportation provider. Serving a 2,054-square-mile jurisdiction, Metro operates six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes, and Metro Access, a shared-ride paratransit service. As one of the nation’s busiest transit systems, Metro connects communities, supports economic growth, and provides safe, reliable transportation.
Evaluation Criteria
Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.
Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:
- Skills and/or behavioral assessment
- Personal interview
- Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
- Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
- Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
- Review of a current motor vehicle report
Closing
WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.
This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.
