Operations Analyst Principal

Octa, LLC; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

OCTA in Orange County, California, seeks an Operations Analyst Principal for Rail Transportation Services to oversee contracts, regulatory reporting, performance analytics, and process improvements ensuring safe, efficient rail operations.

The role acts as a technical lead and mentor, addressing complex challenges and representing Rail Transportation Services to stakeholders. Starting salary aligns with grade 205 and the listed pay range.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Seven+ years of admin/analytical transit experience.
• Strong contract administration and regulatory reporting.
• Expertise in analytics, databases, and dashboards.
• Ability to resolve complex operational challenges.
• Experience with federal/state transit reporting (NTD).
• Strong analytical, organizational, and written/verbal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract administration and oversight for rail services and third-party agreements.
• Participate in procurements and manage resulting contracts, including invoices and QA.
• Serve as technical lead for rail analytics and contract strategy.
• Develop and maintain reporting databases, dashboards, and diagnostic tools.
• Design and implement business process improvements in rail operations.
• Manage NTD reporting and monitor national transit trends.
• Analyze budgets, performance, and regulatory compliance data.
• Support annual budgets with cost projections and tracking.
• Prepare scopes, staff reports, memoranda, and presentations.
• Coordinate analytic reporting related to service operations and projects.
• Mentor team members and liaise with external stakeholders.

Skills

Contract administration

Regulatory reporting

Performance analytics

Database management

Dashboard development

Data analysis

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

SQL

Excel

Dashboard software

Job description

Job Description

Operations Analyst Principal – Rail Transportation Services

Under general supervision, the Operations Analyst Principal provides high-level technical, administrative, financial, and operational oversight for OCTA’s Rail Transportation Services. This role leads contract administration, regulatory reporting, performance analytics, and business process improvement initiatives that ensure safe, efficient, and compliant rail operations.

Serving as a technical lead and mentor, this position frequently resolves complex operational challenges and represents Rail Transportation Services to internal and external stakeholders.

This is an exempt position in salary grade 205: Min $101,275.20 – Mid $120,307.20 – Max $139,339.20/year. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

The application deadline for this position is Wednesday, October 21st.

What You’ll Do

• Lead contract administration and oversight for purchased rail transportation services and third-party agreements
• Participate in competitive procurements and administer resulting contracts, including invoice verification and quality assurance
• Serve as technical lead for rail operations analytics and contract strategy
• Develop and maintain electronic reporting databases, dashboards, and diagnostic tools to improve contractor performance
• Design and implement business process improvements across rail operations
• Manage National Transit Database (NTD) reporting and monitor national transit trends
• Compile and analyze data related to budgets, operational performance, and regulatory compliance
• Support annual budget development through cost projections, expenditure tracking, and financial analysis
• Prepare scopes of work, staff reports, technical memoranda, and presentations
• Coordinate analytical reporting related to service operations, compliance, and project development
• Mentor team members and represent Rail Transportation Services to third parties

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of seven years of professional administrative or analytical experience in transit project or program analysis
• Strong experience in contract administration and regulatory reporting
• Expertise in performance analytics, database management, and dashboard development
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex operational challenges
• Experience with federal and state transit reporting requirements (e.g., NTD)
• Strong analytical, organizational, and strategic thinking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Play a key leadership role in shaping regional rail operations
• Drive performance improvement and compliance across major transportation programs
• Collaborate with internal departments, contractors, and external agencies
• Influence strategic decisions through data-driven analysis
• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and professional growth opportunities

Join a team where innovation, integrity, and strategic thinking are valued.

OCTA is an equal employment opportunity employer that recruits, hires, and promotes qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other legally protected status.