Project Manager (Non-Technical)

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

WMATA is seeking a Project Manager (Non-Technical) to lead strategic initiatives across departments, enhancing customer experiences via digital and service improvements.

The role requires strong communication, budgeting, and program management skills, with responsibility for planning, analysis, and stakeholder coordination to deliver major projects on time and within scope.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management or related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience analyzing business problems and coordinating business improvement projects.
• Experience developing, managing, and implementing complex, high‑profile projects and programs.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed issue and data analyses; frame recommendations for executive consideration.
• Oversee project life-cycle; set deadlines; monitor and summarize progress.
• Develop familiarity with project objectives and scope.
• Develop and monitor strategic plans for assigned projects or programs.
• Review executive correspondence from officials, Board, and the public.

Skills

Communication

Team building

Problem solving

Client relations

MS Office

MS Project

Budget analysis

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Management

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

PeopleSoft

SAP

Maximo

Trapeze

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Project Manager (Non-Technical) Marketing Statement:

Metro is reinventing the customer experience through modern digital products, smarter fare solutions, and customer-focused technology. As our Project Manager (Non-Technical), you will deliver strategic projects that improve how customers plan trips, manage accounts, access service information, and pay for transit. Partnering with teams across the Authority, you will help deliver major initiatives from mobile apps and web modernization, to digital fare products and other technology-enabled customer experiences that impact millions of customer interactions each year. If you thrive in complex environments, enjoy bringing teams together to solve challenging problems, and are passionate about improving the customer experience through technology, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Description:

The Project Manager (Non-Technical) conducts research and gathers data from various sources in response to inquiries from internal and external entities and keeps department leadership appraised on matters that may have an impact on the delivery of the department's mission. The incumbent provides strategic support, guidance, and management for a broad range of projects to include program and policy assignments pertinent to the mission of the department. The Project Manager (Non-Technical) ensures the existence and operation of management systems for the purpose of organizing data/information that facilitates the planning, development, direction, management, analysis and implementation of assigned project/programs within the specific department. The incumbent develops, monitors, and coordinates viable strategic activities and programs to enhance organizational management/development opportunities. The incumbent also addresses sensitive and confidential matters on a daily basis.

Principal Job Duties

• Performs a wide range of project, programs and policy development duties, including conducting detailed issue and data analyses, framing recommendations and options for executive consideration, developing detailed project and program plans, leading project and program implementation efforts and assessing impacts and results.

• Oversees all aspects of a project over the entire project life‑cycle. Sets deadlines, assigns responsibilities, monitors and summarizes progress of project in order to affirm a precise delivery timeframe.

• Develops in-depth familiarity with functional/business scope and project objectives.

• Develops, coordinates and monitors the implementation and effectiveness of viable strategic plans pertaining to assigned projects or programs.

• Reviews and responds or coordinates responses to high‑profile, complex, and politically sensitive executive correspondence, including inquiries from federal, state, regional, and local government officials, Board of Directors, and the general public.

• Assists in the development, implementation and oversight of departmental policies, procedures and policy instructions, regulations, goals, long‑range strategies, and outreach initiatives.

• Serves as liaison between offices within or outside of the department to ensure expeditious resolution to issues and provide necessary resources to appropriate customers.

• Develops, implements, and executes strategies, processes, and best practices which effectively address Authority‑wide business goals.

• Responsible and accountable for developing and submitting a realistic and reasonable project budget and for issuing appropriate progress reports as required to record the project's advancements or delays. The report shall include a register of completed tasks, all payments issued and any problems causing delays, redirection of focus or that impacts project delivery timeline or strategy. A progress report will be provided to OMBS as well as the program's front office (ELT member) as required.

• Responsible for cost allocation to appropriate projects and for the timely and accurate review and approval of applicable invoices.

Other Duties

• 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.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and strategies of administration, management, and planning large scale organizational projects

• Knowledge of project management principles

Skills

• Strong and effective communication and team building skills

• Creative problem solving with strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-up skills

• Skilled in developing and maintaining professional level client relations

• Skilled in the use of office and project management applications (i.e. MS Office Suite, MS Project)

• Advanced project management and prioritization skills

• Skilled and analyzing budget plans and resource allocation strategies to advise and present to senior leadership

• Skilled at preparing reports and documenting the status of projects

Abilities

• Ability to organize, structure, and frame ideas, issues, and strategies in a clear, focused, and persuasive manner, and to work effectively across organizational lines at different levels of the organization

• Ability to liaise with other areas in the organization to secure specialized resources and contributions for projects

• Ability to adapt traditional methods, concepts, models, designs, technologies, or systems to new applications

• Ability to devise new approaches to develop and recommend improvements or solve problems

• Ability to organize and motivate internal and external resources

• Ability to find personal motivation for accomplishing assignments and maintaining course in the face of adversity

Machine, Tools, Equipment, Software, Hardware Required

• Standard Office Equipment (i.e. personal computers, copiers, telephone systems, printers)

• Microsoft Office Applications (particularly Excel, Project, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

• Enterprise Resource Planning software(i.e. PeopleSoft, SAP)

• Asset Management Software(i.e. Maximo, Trapeze)

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervises work of others, including planning, assigning and scheduling work, reviewing work and ensuring quality standards, training staff and overseeing their productivity. May offer recommendations for hiring, termination and pay adjustments, but does not have responsibility for making these decisions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Business Management or related field

Minimum Experience

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience analyzing business problems and coordinating business improvement projects in a large-scale organization

• Demonstrated experience in developing, managing, and implementing complex, high- profile projects and programs

Minimum Certification/Licensure

• None

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a transit organization or progressively responsible managerial experience in a highly visible organization in the public service sector

• Six Sigma Process Improvement Certification
• Project Management Certification

ABOUT US

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), known as Metro, is the region’s leading public transportation provider. Serving a 2,054-square-mile jurisdiction, Metro operates six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes, and Metro Access, a shared-ride paratransit service. As one of the nation’s busiest transit systems, Metro connects communities, supports economic growth, and provides safe, reliable transportation.

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, 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.