Principal, Transit Fare Programs

Metropolitan Transportation Commission; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 152,501 - 193,409; Full time

Job summary

A transit planning agency in San Francisco is seeking a Principal for Transit Fare Programs to manage multiple transit fare initiatives, ensuring operational efficiencies and strong partnerships with transit operators. The ideal candidate should possess extensive knowledge of the Bay Area transit network and have at least seven years of professional experience in program administration. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is essential. The position offers a flexible/hybrid work arrangement and a competitive salary ranging between $152,501.86 and $193,409.22 annually.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing transit programs or initiatives.
• Strong ability to translate technical information for public understanding.
• Flexible and able to develop programs in challenging environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Clipper BayPass Program operations.
• Negotiate contracts with transit operators.
• Develop partnerships with transit operator staff to implement fare initiatives.

Skills

Knowledge of San Francisco Bay Area transit network

Analytical skills

Strong communication skills

Project management

Innovative problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in planning, civil engineering, environmental science, business or public administration

Job description

Principal, Transit Fare Programs

Salary: $152,501.86 - $193,409.22 Annually

Job Type: Regular/Full-Time

Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is an equal‑opportunity, non‑discriminatory employer. MTC provides all employees and applicants with an equal opportunity in every aspect of the employment experience regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical handicap, medical condition or marital status.

ABOUT MTC

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the nine‑county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the nine‑county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is committed to being an equitable and inclusive workplace. MTC provides services to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). For more information about MTC, visit www.mtc.ca.gov.

ABOUT THE SECTION

Established in 2023 the Regional Network Management (RNM) team, housed at MTC, is charged with driving transformative improvements in the customer experience for regional Bay Area transit and whose vision is to advance regional goals in equity, livability, climate, and resiliency through a regional transit system that serves all Bay Area populations. The work of the RNM is grounded in the 2021 Transit Transformation Action Plan, adopted by the Transit Transformation Task Force.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a part of the RNM team the Principal, Transit Fare Programs will manage the delivery of various transit fare initiatives including the Clipper BayPass Program, Clipper START, the Free/Discounted Interagency Transfer Pilot Program, as well as other projects associated with the Transit Fare Policy Vision Statement, adopted by the Fare Integration Task Force in November 2021. This role will also supervise staff supporting the operations of transit fare initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the operations of the Clipper BayPass Program, including working directly with transit operator partners, existing institutional customers, and potential institutional customers.
• Work with MTC’s legal and contracts teams to oversee the negotiation and execution of contracts associated with the Clipper BayPass Program.
• Support the ongoing delivery of and operational enhancements to the Clipper START (means‑based) Program.
• Provide support and guidance to staff reporting directly to the Principal.
• Develop strong, trusted‑based partnerships with transit operator staff to support the implementation of fare initiatives.
• Work closely with staff from MTC’s Clipper Program to facilitate the technical implementation of fare initiatives.
• Support the evaluation of fare initiatives through robust technical and customer‑based evaluation approaches.
• Develop budget requests, consultant procurements, and other administrative documents necessary to support the delivery of fare initiatives.
• Serve as the staff liaison for the Fare Programs Staff Working Group.
• Represent MTC at meetings, review written reports and memoranda prepared by project staff and make presentations before MTC committees, executive staff, and other agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong knowledge of the San Francisco Bay Area transit network, including knowledge of operators and key transit corridors.
• Interest in improving the transit user experience through innovative ideas and creative approaches that may be novel to the Bay Area.
• Knowledge of transit fare policy and approaches to using fare policy as a catalyst for policy outcomes.
• Experience facilitating projects involving numerous organizational stakeholders as well as an interest in finding compromise when faced with conflicting perspectives.
• Ability to translate technical information into a language and format understandable to the general public.
• Flexibility and willingness to develop programs from the ground up, often without existing templates to follow and in circumstances that can be challenging to determine the best course of action.
• Prepare and make presentations to a wide variety of audiences.
• Prepare, evaluate, and monitor program budgets.
• Analyze complex operational and management problems and develop effective solutions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education and Experience: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, civil engineering, environmental science, business or public administration, or a related field and seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional experience administering programs in a field related to assignment area.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• A Master's degree in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment, such as transportation planning, city and regional planning; transportation engineering or modeling, financial management, economics, business or public administration.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of a background check, professional references and the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I‑9.

DISABILITY

The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment or skills assessment process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If selected for an interview or testing, and you require accommodation, please notify the Human Resources Department when confirming your interview or test.