Strategic Program Manager Transit Operations - Military Veterans

Marketing Statement

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authoritys (WMATAs) Department of Transportation (which includes Bus and Rail Transportation) is seeking a Strategic Program Manager. Reporting to the Director, Administration and Continuous Improvement, the Strategic Program Manager will be tasked with building a team and program to improve and maintain compliance with WMATAs policies, and contractual requirements, including via implementation of tools and systems to support consistent application of policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will be experienced with managing quality in a large organization, possess strong analytical abilities, project/program management skills, and demonstrated ability to manage change. Prowess with developing presentations, and the ability to think and communicate strategically are critical skills in this role. This position provides a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of organizational transformation in a department with over four thousand employees.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or a Program Management discipline
  • In lieu of Bachelor's Degree a high school diploma/GED and a Project Management, Lean Six Sigma or similar Certification, along with four (4) years of project management related experience, in addition to the minimum experience stated below, will be considered

Experience

• Minimum of eight (8) years demonstrated successful experience in overall project management, to include at least three (3) years in a supervisory capacity, leading a team in the execution of project related initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, managing, and implementing complex projects to drive process improvement in a transportation organization.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting analyses of operational performance data and preparation of reports.
• Demonstrated experience and ability in producing strong written communications.

Certification/Licensure

• N/A

Preferred

• Master's Degree in Business Administration or a Program Management discipline
• Project Management Institute Project Management Professional

Medical Group
Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Mission Essential Designation

In accordance with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) this job has been identified as critical to mission essential functions. Incumbents in this role may be required to report to or continue to work in the event of authorized office closings or service suspensions due to severe weather, natural disaster, fire, operational emergencies or related events.

SUMMARY

The Strategic Program Manager Transit Operations is a highly responsible managerial role within Transportation and Fleet Operations tasked with defining, overseeing and/or supporting complex cross-functional initiatives to realize efficiencies and improve key performance indicators for operations teams. The incumbent facilitates and participates in ensuring streamlined activities based on departmental priorities and serves as a conduit between leaders within the department, internal and cross departmental stakeholders, and acts as departmental leadership's trusted counsel for critical matters within the department's purview. Duties include, but are not limited to, leading projects to modernize and streamline administrative processes, analyzing departmental performance data and spearheading strategic initiatives to foster improvement, and providing day-to-day support to leadership.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Orchestrates a wide range of projects and initiatives directly involving the department's leadership, and cross-departmental stakeholders to streamline processes across functional teams within the department.
• Conducts detailed qualitative and quantitative data analyses on leading and lagging indicators, and frames recommendations and options for leadership's consideration to drive process and performance improvement.
• Develops detailed project and program plans, engages cross-departmental stakeholders to initiate and execute projects and programs, and assesses impact and results.
• Participates in the development of corrective action plans from internal and external oversight bodies and monitors/supports execution of such actions to closure. Develops related processes and monitors/audits compliance. Supports timely closure of corrective action plans from internal and external oversight bodies and compliance with commitments made per corrective action plans.
• Serves as departmental leadership's liaison and supports the needs of internal management in their ability to raise critical issues with leaders and receive needed responses, guidance, and decisions to support expeditious resolution on issues and/or to provide necessary resources, as appropriate, to ensure resolution.
• Develops internal communications on behalf of departmental leadership. Distributes and monitors acknowledgement of such communications and business critical documents. Prepares presentations to communicate strategic goals, priorities, and outcomes to a range of audiences from frontline supervisors to executives to keep team members apprised of departmental priorities, related ongoing activities, and new and updated procedural requirements and documents.
• Provides ongoing administrative support to departmental leadership, including but not limited to attending, documenting, and following up on required actions from discussions with the Union, LABR, departmental Directors and other internal and external stakeholders to support departmental priorities, including policy discussions.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Examines existing internal operational and administrative processes, identifies issues that could impact successful execution of the department's commitments and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Maintains and manages the department's standard operating procedures, work instructions and other business critical documents. Oversees the department's quality management system plan and ensures all standard operating procedures, handbooks and other policy documents are current.
• Plans, coordinates, and oversees the department's administrative and operations support activities, procedures, and staff.
• 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.

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.