Technical Project Manager (Contractor Position)

MBTA; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The MBTA Transit Technology division seeks a Technical Project Manager to deploy technology solutions across multiple teams, including software engineering, product management, UX research, and operations. You will drive project plans, manage vendors, define requirements, and ensure user feedback shapes iteration and maintenance.

Excellent communication and organizational skills are essential to succeed in a fast-paced transit environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent in a related field and 5 years of related experience.
• Experience managing, implementing, or supporting technical operations processes and vendors.
• Strong communication, multitasking, time management and documentation skills.
• Experience with agile software development lifecycle and change management.

Responsibilities

• Implement technology solutions and provide rapid-response IT support during emergencies.
• Define user requirements and develop system specifications and integration plans.
• Develop project plans, budgets, timelines, and deliverables with clear milestones.
• Manage vendor relationships and complex procurements with procurement teams.
• Provide status updates, risk mitigation, and retrospective evaluations.
• Train users and prepare technical documentation including data flow diagrams.

Skills

Agile methodologies

Project management

Vendor management

Stakeholder communication

Change management

Analytical skills

Documentation

Leadership

English language proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree (CS, information science, PM, software engineering, civil engineering, planning)

High School Diploma + 7 years related experience (substitution)

Tools

Slack

Asana

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Database applications

Job description

The Technical Project Manager for Transit Technology will deploy and implement technology solutions administered by the MBTA’s Transit Technology division or other teams across the Transformation & Technology Department. The Transit Technology team is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining dispatching systems and other technology tools that enable MBTA Operations division to deliver safer, more efficient, and more reliable transit services.

This role will span across the MBTA’s modern civic technology teams (e.g., Software Engineers, Product Managers, UX Research & Design staff, Application Analysts) and the front-line operations departments critical for delivering transit service every day. The Technical Project Manager will use their deep technical IT knowledge, expertise at managing vendors, and technical understanding of transit operations processes to drive clarity and organizational change. They will manage and oversee smooth deployments of technical systems and ensure that feedback from operations stakeholders and users are part of technical teams’ iteration and maintenance processes. This role will be able to work successfully across different transit technology teams/topics, and maintain their own roadmap based on priorities set by MBTA leadership.

• Implement Technology Solutions
  • Provide rapid-response project and information technology support during emergencies.
  • Identify, lead, and support technical initiatives to improve Operations processes and technologies, including but not limited to automation, consolidation, standardization, resiliency planning, and communication with stakeholders.
  • Define user requirements for system modification, enhancements, and integration.
  • Develop or work from detailed system and program specifications.
  • Develop related tracking metrics and reports for Operations.
  • Develop technical specifications, contract documents, schedules, and budgets.
  • Manage the preparation of user documentation and train users on application systems.
  • Prepare and maintain program documentation, including data flow diagrams and program turnover documentation.
  • Make recommendations for and scope system enhancements.
  • Work with technology teams to scope or manage technology feature development.
  • Work with MBTA Procurement to scope, initiate, and administer complex procurements of vendor systems/support while adhering to technology best practices.
• Project Management
  • Develop and manage comprehensive project plans—including scope, goals, budget, timeline, and deliverables—while prioritizing critical path tasks and resource allocation.
  • Communicate effectively through written and verbal channels, lead productive meetings, and deliver presentations with confidence and minimal oversight.
  • Provide regular updates on project status, timelines, and key metrics; document process milestones and lead retrospective evaluations to drive continuous improvement.
  • Identify and mitigate risks and blockers throughout all project phases, escalating issues as needed to maintain momentum.
  • Guide cross-functional teams to act with urgency and stay aligned with timelines, roadmaps, and deliverables.
  • Critically review project documentation to ensure feasibility, mitigate risk, and optimize planning.
  • Assist with the planning and coordination of overall project management workload and staff deliverables across MBTA Transit Technology teams.
• General
  • Be a committed, vocal, collaborative member of the Transit Technology division and push for excellence in any/all dimensions of its work.
  • Prepare project-related correspondence, reports, charts, and presentations.
  • Work independently in addressing complex tasks in a time-sensitive environment.
  • 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.
  • Visit work sites and/or attend off-site meetings throughout the MBTA service area.
  • Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

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

Supervision

• No direct reports.

• Bachelor’s degree field from an accredited institution in computer science, information science, project management, software engineering, civil engineering, planning, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience managing, implementing, or supporting the managagement and implementation of technical operations processes, including managing vendors and developing technical scopes of work to translate operational needs into technical requirements or implementation plans.
• One (1) year managerial, supervisory, and/or leadership experience.
• Working knowledge of agile technology software development practices.
• Experience with change management at a large organization or company.
• Understanding of agile software development lifecycle.
• Effective organizational, analytical, multi-tasking, time management, and documentation skills.
• Excellent customer service, conflict resolution, and presentation skills.
• Experience using online collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Asana, etc.).
• Effective organizational and analytical skills.
• The ability to use Word, Excel, and database applications.
• The ability to handle sensitive and confidential information in an appropriate manner.
• Excellent customer service and conflict resolution skills.
• Effective interpersonal, organizational, analytical, oral, and written communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively with a diverse workforce.
• Successful applicants must have 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, and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience, substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
• A master's degree in a related subject may substitute 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

• Four (4) years of related experience in programming, application support/development, project management, service planning, or transit scheduling.
• Additional years of experience managing, implementing, or supporting the managagement and implementation of technical operations processes, including managing vendors and developing technical scopes of work to translate operational needs into technical requirements.
• Experience working for a public agency.
• Experience in transit or transportation.
• Experience with statistical modeling or data science.
• Experience with support for or integration between transportation data, scheduling, dispatch, or timekeeping systems such as TransitMaster, HASTUS, TimeClock Plus, Automated Passenger Counters, or similar.