Director of Curriculum Programs, Operations

MBTA; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The MBTA is seeking a Director of Curriculum Programs, Operations to lead and advance training curriculum supporting Operations. You will design, develop, implement, and lead curriculum processes, ensuring competency-based programs align with policies and reflect current practices.

Focus on certification, recertification, and data-driven improvement across the organization. You will collaborate with operations teams, training delivery groups, and partners to set priorities, build work plans, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or Instructional Design or related field.
• Experience with adult learning and curriculum development.
• Proficiency in eLearning development and instructional design principles.

Responsibilities

• Assess training needs and develop training content using ADDIE framework.
• Collaborate with departments to align training with operational standards.
• Create engaging, interactive training using modern learning technologies (eLearning, gamification, blended learning).
• Develop instructor development programs and support instructors across Operations.
• Oversee updates to content to address evolving organizational needs.
• Manage internal and external curriculum development resources.
• Partner with LMS teams to structure curricula and syllabi for each role.
• Ensure training materials comply with operating standards and quality guidelines.

Skills

Curriculum development

ADDIE

Adult learning theory

eLearning design

Adobe Captivate

Learning Management System

Stakeholder management

Project management

Video production

Gamification

Content management systems

Writing/editing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Education or Instructional Design

Tools

Adobe Captivate

Content Management System

Gamification technologies

Job description

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, culture, and accessibility, 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.

Job Summary

The Director of Curriculum Programs, Operations will oversee and manage the training curriculum that supports Operations. This position is responsible for designing, developing, implementing, and leading curriculum development processes. Working with business partners and the training school team, the Director will ensure that competency-based programs align with operating policies and regulations and reflect current work practices. The role will provide effective frameworks for certification and recertification of technical competencies. The role will monitor and prioritize curriculum change needs driven by operational changes to ensure that training is current and sustainable. The Director will be responsible for ensuring that the operational training programs include developing overall role-based programs that incorporate adult learning theory. Scope includes management and assessment of curriculum effectiveness through the establishment and ongoing analysis of trainee and instructor feedback. This role will be responsible for collaborating directly with operations teams to assess training revisions driven by changes in operational rules, procedures, or equipment. This position will partner closely with training delivery teams to set priorities, develop work plans, support instructors, and monitor the performance of the overall curriculum programs. This role establishes standards for operational training development processes, tools, technologies, templates, and methods across the larger Operations organization.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assess training needs, design, and develop training content, and evaluate the effectiveness of training following standard methods for curriculum development.
• Facilitate and collaborate with other departments and projects across the MBTA as needed to align training needs within operational training methodology and programs.
• Create, and support others in creating, highly interactive, engaging, effective new training content utilizing modern learning technologies (i.e., eLearning, gamification, adult learning best practices, blended learning) following ADDIE curriculum development methodologies.
• Create an instructor development curriculum and partner with Operations Training leadership to support the development of new and existing instructors across Operations.
• Oversee program for updating existing content as well as developing new content to address current and future organizational needs.
• Oversee team of internal and external curriculum development resources.
• Work with key stakeholders across the organization to lead and track to completion a variety of learning and development projects.
• Partner with Learning Management System teams to create and maintain curriculum structures within the MBTA LMS, with supporting syllabi structures established for each role.
• Work with operations to assess training revision needs driven by changes to operations rules, procedures, or equipment to ensure training materials follow operating standards.
• Participate in the leadership and success of the department by advising other department managers to help set department training priorities.
• Conduct meetings, discussions, and outreach to stakeholders and subject matter experts to move training initiatives to completion.
• Compile and report on the implementation and impact of training.
• Set and maintain quality standards for all training initiatives to ensure consistency and effectiveness of training materials. Including but not limited to style, formatting, design, and organization.
• Contribute skills and experience to fulfilling the values and mission of the Mass Dept. of Transportation/MBTA.
• Stay current on industry best practices, emerging technologies, and trends to continuously improve the MBTA employee learning experience.
• Utilize multiple sources of data and information to plan and coordinate informed and data-driven improvements to course content and student experience.
• Respond to each inquiry, whether from a customer, vendor, or co-worker, in a courteous and professional manner consistent with the Authority’s Customer service quality standard.
• Uphold the rights and interests of the Authority while building and maintaining an effective relationship with employees.
• Ensure 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, Anti-Harassment, and Anti-Retaliation policies.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

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

Supervision

• Will supervise an education representatives and classroom instructors.

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or Instructional Design or a related field from an accredited institution
• Six (6) years of experience in roles focused on technical/skills development for adult learners.
• Five (5) years of experience designing and developing training programs, including eLearning design and development. Experience in distance learning and/or video production is highly desirable.
• Five (5) years of experience leading a curriculum development team or equivalent experience.
• Experience developing training for technical roles preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to create eLearning content using Adobe Captivate or equivalent industry-standard tools.
• Comprehensive knowledge of instructional theories, principles, and practices related to technology-based learning (eLearning, distance learning, recorded video).
• Strong writing, editing, and visual design skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment and work independently.
• Ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization and provide excellent customer service and communication.
• Experience collaborating with subject matter experts to develop effective training.
• Experience with a large-scale Learning Management System, including building and assigning roles and maintaining profiles.
• Experience with tools used to create interactive learning experiences, including content management systems and gamification technologies.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to present complex concepts clearly.
• Ability to facilitate classroom and remote training delivery when needed.
• Excellent customer service and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, employees, and vendors.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse workforce.
• Successful applicants must have the English language skills required for the effective performance of the position.

Substitutions

• 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.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Two (2) or more years of experience serving as a training project team lead.

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 pre-employment screenings / pre-boarding, working in their positions, and throughout the duration of their program.

Disclaimers And Definitions

• General Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description 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 Completion: It is each applicant’s responsibility to ensure application details are entered completely and correctly, including updated work and education histories (past and current). Incomplete applications may not be considered. Attachments do not substitute for application fields. The recruitment team does not have access to existing employee data / history.
• 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 job description for role-specific requirements.
• Work Eligibility: All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States and on an unrestricted basis. The MBTA does not have an employer work sponsorship program. However, if you have unrestricted work authorization, or are sponsored by a separate entity, you are welcome to apply. Further, all persons hired will require a U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting the position and employees will be required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Interviews: Candidates should ensure they arrive on time, are prepared, can remain for the duration, and if remote, are in a quiet place without distraction, for the interview. Candidates who do not attend their interview without advance authorization, including an email confirmation of a rescheduled time/date from Human Resources, will be considered a no-show and disqualified from consideration for the position. Related to rescheduling, on a one-time basis, and due to something emergent, you may be allowed to reschedule the interview. In addition, Human Resources may require documentation supporting the request. However, should you need to reschedule, you will need to contact your Recruiter directly by email.
• 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 [e-mail] .
• 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 .
• Intern / Co-Op Benefits: Employees taking part in an internship or co-op at the MBTA are eligible to receive accrued paid sick leave as well as a monthly transportation pass, based on the city from which the intern / co-op commutes to work, at no cost. However, no additional benefits are currently offered for interns or co-ops.