Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Business Operations

Regional Transportation District; United States; On-site; USD 92,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Regional Transportation District (RTD) seeks a Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Business Operations to provide leadership and oversight for a diverse portfolio of projects and business operations supporting Bus and Rail operations. You will align initiatives with organizational goals, manage budgets, and drive data-driven decision-making across departments.

The role involves financial management, performance analytics, staffing, and cross-functional coordination to deliver strategic programs

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and 5+ years in business operations, project or program management.
• 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience overseeing staff.
• MBA, PMP, CAPM, or equivalent certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee budgets, forecasts, and financial management for Bus and Rail programs.
• Lead data analytics, KPIs, and performance reporting across operations.
• Manage cross-functional teams and project delivery to deadlines.
• Ensure compliance with EEO and ADA plans and procurement practices.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Data analytics

Financial analysis

Strategic planning

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Project Management, Transportation, Data Analytics, or a related field

Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, Public Administration, Project Management, Transportation, or a related discipline

Job description

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections! When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD's values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community.

RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits (RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

MANAGER, STRATEGIC INITIATIVES & BUSINESS OPERATIONS

provides leadership and strategic oversight for a diverse portfolio of projects and business operations supporting Bus and Rail operations. The position is responsible for ensuring cross-functional initiatives, operational priorities, and business functions are aligned with organizational objectives and effectively support the delivery of transit services. The position has broad accountability for strategic and special projects, business and financial management, budget oversight, performance management, and data analytics across multiple operational areas. The role supports initiatives that may span Bus and Rail operations, contracted services, capital and operational programs, and other organizational priorities requiring coordination across departments and disciplines.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Business Operations, Finance and Budget: Manages and coordinates business operations and financial functions supporting Bus and Rail operations and assigned organizational programs, including operating and capital budget development, administration, monitoring, and forecasting. Monitors expenditures, commitments, encumbrances, forecasts, and budget-to-actual performance; conducts financial analyses and develops cost estimates, business cases, and recommendations to support management decision‑making. Coordinates with Finance and departmental leadership on budget development, forecasting, financial closeout, and resource planning, and supports procurement and contracting activities, including cost estimates, scopes of work, requisitions, purchase orders, contract financial monitoring, invoice review, and expenditure tracking. Evaluates financial and operational performance to identify trends, efficiencies, cost‑saving opportunities, resource needs, and process improvements while maintaining appropriate business processes, financial controls, documentation, and reporting to support accountability and effective stewardship of organizational resources.
• Data Analytics and Performance Management: Leads the development and delivery of data analytics, performance reporting, dashboards, and management information supporting Bus and Rail operations, projects, and programs. Develops and monitors KPIs, performance measures, trends, benchmarks and analyzes operational, financial, contractual, and project data to identify performance trends, risks, emerging issues, and opportunities for improvement. Translates complex data into clear, actionable information, reports, presentations, and recommendations to support management, executive, Board, regulatory, and organizational decision‑making. Collaborates with operational departments, Information Technology, Finance, contractors, data analysts, and other stakeholders to improve data quality, collection, reporting, visualization, and analytical capabilities, ensuring information used for reporting and decision‑making is accurate, consistent, timely, and appropriately documented.
• People Power Management: Maintains appropriate staffing levels and reviews progress to ensure the quality and quantity of work meet standards and deadlines for deliverables to meet program goals and objectives. Recruits staff to include interviewing, hiring, assigning work, training, coaching, and counseling to ensure consistent application of Employee Guidelines, processes, and procedures. Conducts performance reviews and holds employees accountable for optimal performance of their responsibilities. Fosters a safety‑first culture, prioritizing prevention, accountability, and continuous improvement. Takes action to advance the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity, Small/ Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Title VI and ADA Plans, thereby ensuring RTD's hiring programs, work environment, contracting and procurement practices, and transit services/programs are fair, equal, and non‑discriminatory.
• OTHER: All job‑related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Project Management, Transportation, Data Analytics, or a related field or relevant experience in lieu of degree. A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in one or a combination of the following areas: business operations, project or program management, financial management, budgeting, data analytics, transportation operations, or related fields. Three (3) years of management or supervisory experience overseeing professional, technical, and/or contracted staff. Or An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, Public Administration, Project Management, Transportation, or a related discipline. Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or other recognized project/program management certification. Experience within public transportation, transit operations, rail, bus operations, government, public‑sector organizations, or other complex operational environments. Experience managing or supporting operating and capital budgets. Experience working with contracted services, procurement, contracts, consultants, or public‑private partnerships.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Advanced knowledge of project and program management principles, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, stakeholder coordination, implementation, and performance monitoring.
• Knowledge of business operations, financial management, operating and capital budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, procurement, and financial controls.
• Knowledge of data analytics and performance management, including KPI development, trend analysis, dashboards, data visualization, and management reporting.
• Knowledge of transportation operations and the interrelationship among operational, financial, technical, contractual, and administrative functions.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex information, identify trends, risks and opportunities, and develop practical recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and priorities, lead cross‑functional teams, manage competing demands, mitigate risks, and deliver results within established schedules and budgets.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information, prepare executive‑level reports and presentations, facilitate discussions, build consensus, and effectively engage employees, leadership, contractors, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, initiative, discretion, and independent decision‑making; adapt to changing priorities; drive process improvements; and maintain a high level of accountability, accuracy, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Experience managing complex projects or initiatives involving multiple departments, stakeholders, or functional areas.
• Experience with financial and budget analysis, forecasting, performance reporting, and data‑driven decision‑making. Experience developing reports, presentations, dashboards, project documentation, and management‑level recommendations. Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines in a complex operational environment.
• OTHER: An equivalent combination of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations. The work environment is a typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues. Ability to independently travel between multiple locations as required by operation’s needs.

CAREER MAP

Based on job performance, experience, education and position availability the next step on the career map for this position may be: Director, Contracted Services and Business Operation We are considering all applications for this position up until the position close date of 11:59PM on 11/15/2026. For consideration, please be sure to apply before the posting end date.

Pay Range: $92,003.00 - $129,954.50 Annual EEO POLICY AND ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

RTD is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless to the race, sex, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. RTD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, pre‑employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, promotions, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to our Employment ADA Coordinator Kris Frazier at [e-mail], or the Talent Acquisition team [e-mail]. To learn more or see our EEO policy, please visit our EEO page at: https://www.rtd-denver.com/open-records/reports-and-policies/eeo-policy RTD posts a compensation range that represents a good faith estimate of what RTD anticipates paying for the position at the time of posting. Starting salary is based on the candidate’s relevant and verified education, training and work experience. Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application. RTD provides public transportation services in an eight‑county region centered in Denver, Colorado. As a public agency, employees are dedicated to serving the public and providing for the transportation needs of over 3.1 million area residents as well as visitors to the region. Services include bus, rail, shuttles, ADA paratransit services, demand‑responsive services, vanpools, and more. The agency’s dedicated workforce epitomizes RTD’s mission of making lives better through connections. In 2024, the system had more than 65 million boardings, a number that has seen year‑over‑year increases since 2020. RTD employs over 3,100 people and has an operating budget of $1.5 billion. Together, RTD employees work hard to keep this region moving day and night. RTD is committed to full equal opportunity and affirmative action for all applicants and employees. Equal opportunity ensures all qualified applicants and employees are treated fairly and not discriminated against with regard to the individual’s race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. RTD participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E‑Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E‑Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I‑9.