Photo credit: Wikipedia

Summary of duties

This position will be responsible for supervising the annual allocation of operating and capital costs among the nine passenger railroads that operate on the Northeast Corridor rail line. This annual process was adopted by the Northeast Corridor Commission in September 2015 and is described in the NortheastCorridor Commuter and Intercity Rail Cost Allocation Policy.

The selected candidate will be responsible for overseeing a complex project that is repeated on annual basis and involves the ongoing participation of Amtrak and public transportation agencies from the northeast states. The role requires both technical competency and exceptional communication skills that are necessary to work through complex disputes among participating stakeholders. Specific activities include managing the collection and processing of financial data from nine operating railroads and multiple infrastructure owners; managing multiple consultant teams that serve as an extension of staff with responsibility for performing key project tasks; performing ongoing stakeholder outreach to collect necessary data; supporting resolution of multi-agency disputes; and identifying and implementing initiatives to improve the allocation process.

This position will also support the Commission’s response to an annual external review of the cost allocation process conducted by an independent auditing firm. The selected candidate may also support other Commission activities, including, but not limited to, the ongoing reporting of operating and capital costs and the continued refinement and development of the Commission’s policy.

Those applying for the position should have experience working with financial data and managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders. Experience working in public transportation or passenger rail is beneficial, but not essential.

This position is intended to be located in New York, NY. However, there may be flexibility to locate the position in Washington, DC.

Essential Functions

• Supervise the annual cost allocation process, with assistance and oversight from other Commission staff, including collecting data, overseeing all cost allocation procedures, performing quality assurance and control, and preparing financial reports
• Manage consultant contracts to perform key tasks related to cost allocation and other Commission activities
• Consultant management activities including the development of scopes of work, estimation of project budgets, oversight and/or participation in the consultant selection process, and day-to-day management of consultant teams to ensure that projects are delivered on-time and on-budget
• Perform frequent coordination with stakeholders, including organizing ongoing, multi-agency meetings and webinars, delivering presentations to technical staff and agency leadership, identifying, documenting, and supporting the resolution of multi-agency disputes, and performing one-on-one briefings
• Support and oversee staff participation in the external financial review of the cost allocation process, including providing data, supporting documentation of the cost allocation process, and responding to questions posed by the external review team
• Participate in the development of any modifications of the Policy desired by the Commission

Required Work Experience

• Some professional level experience with the public or private sector
• Demonstrated experience working with financial data or financial systems
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Ability to solve problems independently and work collaboratively with staff at all levels
• Attention to detail
• Strong working knowledge of Access, Excel and/or other database programs

Preferred Work Experience

• Experience working with the financial data of a passenger railroad or public transportation agency
• Direct experience managing consultants in the delivery of professional service related projects
• Direct experience as the leader of a team
• Knowledge of the rail infrastructure and operations along the Northeast Corridor

Preferred Education

Masters degree in Business, Public Administration, Public Policy, or a related field

Communication and interpersonal skills

Must have excellent oral and written communication skills

How to apply

The Commission is administratively hosted by Amtrak. Please file an application at the Amtrak Jobs site, Position ID 90214009.

via Young Professionals in Transportation

Manager, Title VI Compliance
NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

This position is located in Manhattan, NY.

Summary:

Under supervision of the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, EEO & Title VI Compliance, this position is responsible for assuring compliance with federal regulations through auditing, monitoring, tracking, training and reporting the Authority’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Environmental Justice and Limited English Proficiency requirements, and other related civil rights legislation and FTA issues. Administer, direct and coordinate the Authority’s Title VI and Limited English Proficiency plans. Additionally, the incumbent will develop federal and state regulatory reports, as well as internal reports for the Diversity Committee of the MTA Board, and provide data and other statistical information as per request from legal and other departments.

Do you love transportation? Do you love New York City? TransportationCamp New York City 2015 will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at City College of New York. Following on the success of TransportationCamp East in 2011, Planning Camp NYC in 2013 and TransportationCamps across the country, we’re bringing it back to New York City. TransportationCamp NYC 2015 will continue to foster open conversation and collaboration between all Celexa pills radical changes the near-future promises in transportation.

Venue

TransportationCamp NYC will be held at City College of New York in Shepard Hall (160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, at the intersection of Convent Avenue and W 140th St., close to the 1, A, C, and D trains).

Schedule

• 8:00 AM – Doors open
• 9:00 AM – Welcome and Kick-off in the Great Hall
• 9:45 AM – Keynote addresses in the Great Hall
• 11:15 AM – First Breakout Session (in classrooms)
• 12:15 PM – Lunch in the Great Hall
• 1:15 PM – Second Breakout Session (in classrooms)
• 2:30 PM – Third Breakout Session (in classrooms)
• 3:45 PM – Fourth Breakout Session (in classrooms)
• 5:00 PM – Adjourn to happy hour at The Grange Bar & Eatery, sponsored byYoung Professionals in Transportation

Registration

Registration for TransportationCamp NYC 2015 is now open. Tickets are limited, so get yours now! If you have any questions, reach out at nyc@transportationcamp.org or at@transpocamp. See you November 14, 2015!

Click here to learn more.

Associate Transit Management Analyst  – Department of Subways – Performance and Expense Analysis Units

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) is the largest public transportation agency in North America and one of the largest in the world, with 24/7 bus and subway service, and an average daily ridership of more than 7 million customers.  We are 46,000 diverse employees working in a variety of fields that include, but are not limited to: Architecture, Engineering, Finance, Enterprise Asset Management, Change Management and Human Resources, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Procurement, Safety, Security and skilled trades.

Photo by MTAPhotos

NYCT Department of Subways is seeking talented and ambitious individuals to join a dynamic team within their Performance Analysis Unit (PAU) and Expense Analysis Unit (EAU).  PAU is a new internal consulting group for the Department of Subways.  This unit will support various Subway Operating Divisions and improve performance by designing and conducting analyses to identify trends and root causes.  EAU provides financial support to the Department of Subways. This team prepares, allocates and presents the Department of Subways $3.8 billion operating budget. These career opportunities offer direct involvement in improved performance initiatives and financial planning programs that support NYCT effective operations and the continued vibrancy and prosperity of the Metro NYC region.

These positions offer a robust benefits package that includes: competitive compensation, comprehensive benefit plans and promotional opportunities.

Job Description:

The selected PAU candidate will coordinate agency wide performance initiatives, monitor and track status, evaluate effectiveness, and make recommendations.  The incumbent will seek out relevant data from across NYC Transit, make inquiries of Operating Division managers, and perform other fieldwork.  The selected candidate must develop a solid understanding of operations and become an expert on various subway performance metrics.  In addition, the individual will set up workflows to populate Subways central performance database with current and historic information from data stores across the agency.  The analysts may design and automate performance reports, and periodically disseminate data via reports, dashboards, slideshows, videos, and web-based tools for Operating Divisions.

The selected EAU candidate will be required to thoroughly understand the unique operations of each Subways Division and their fiscal needs through meetings, research, and field visits.  Working closely with the Operating Divisions, the selected candidate will respond to funding requests and reduction targets through analytic efforts to determine the most appropriate and cost efficient means of meeting stated objectives.  The analysts will be involved with functions pertaining to budget development, variance analyses, overtime analyses, and forecasting models, as well as work outside their core area in an effort to creatively problem solve and to support the success of the Unit as a whole.

Qualifications:

1. Assistant Transit Management Analyst I / II – A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in Business/Public Administration, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, Urban/Planning studies or a related field and two (2) years of full-time related experience.
2. Associate Transit Management Analyst – A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in Business/Public Administration, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, Urban/Planning studies or a related field, and three (3) years of full-time related experience, of which one (1) year must have been in the transportation industry; or
3. Satisfactory equivalent of education and experience.

Desired Skills:

• Experience and strong interest in rapid transit design and operations
• Works creatively and independently
• Organized and able to manage multiple projects
• Skilled with project management methods and systems
• Familiarity with analyzing large data sets
• Proficient with MS Excel, including pivot tables, lookup/index functions, and VBA macros
• Adept with MS Word, technical writing, and data analysis narratives
• Understanding proficient with MS PowerPoint and graphic presentation skills
• Experience with regression analyses and basic statistical concepts
• Proficient with MS Access and/or other relational databases and querying languages
• Knowledge of database design and maintenance; integrating/consolidating existing databases
• Basic understanding of computer programming and web development
• Familiarity with dashboards and visual presentation of data

To Apply, Visit our website:

http://web.mta.info/mta/employment/, Select Job Postings, Agree to the Privacy Statement, Select MTA New York City Transit and Search for Assoc. Transit Mgmt. Analyst, Performance and Expense Analysis Units, Subways, Job ID, 83344

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission’s Division of Financial Management and Administration is seeking a Deputy Director to manage the implementation and execution of its newly created Taxi Improvement Fund (TIF).  The Taxi Improvement Fund was created to help medallion owners and drivers make certain improvements to better serve their passengers, including conversion to wheelchair-accessible vehicles.  This is one of the premier programs at the TLC, focusing on the City’s commitment to accessibility. Under the leadership of the Director of Special Projects, this position will manage all components of the fund. This position will interface across all internal divisions, including Policy, Licensing, Legal, Fiscal/Accounting and Management Information Systems (MIS), as well as with partner agencies TLC licensees and vendors. A successful candidate has a strategic lens and an ability to anticipate oncoming operational challenges.

Non-City Employees Applicants must apply via www.nyc.gov/careers and search the Job Opening Number. Please search Job ID # 191243

Welcome!

The J.M.K. Innovation Prize is an exciting new initiative of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, a New York-based family foundation. In 2015 up to ten Prizes will be awarded to U.S.-based individuals or teams addressing our country’s most pressing needs through social sector innovation.  The Prize will provide up to three years of support at $50,000 per year, as well as a $25,000 “bank” of funds available for technical assistance or targeted project expenses, making a total award of up to $175,000.  Specifically, the Prize seeks to support inter-disciplinary innovation in the fields of cultural heritage, human rights, the built environment, and the natural environment.  The Prize is particularly designed for high-risk, early stage ideas being piloted or prototyped by dynamic visionaries.

The Creation of the J.M.K. Innovation Prize

For three generations, the J.M. Kaplan Fund has provided catalytic funding for projects in their early stages of development.  Whether a pilot project, a new organization, or a nascent initiative, work supported by the Fund has involved a certain level of measured risk that ultimately led to large-scale, transformative results.  The new J.M.K. Innovation Prize will further this legacy, providing funding to visionary social entrepreneurs throughout the United States who are championing emerging social sector innovations.

Differentiation from Other Innovation Programs

The burgeoning field of social innovation has become a recognized area in philanthropy.  The demand for funding of this type, however, has increased so rapidly that many worthwhile ideas fail to find backing from established funders.  The J.M.K. Innovation Prize will fill a gap in this marketplace, not only by providing critical capital to the social innovation field, but also by taking risks on projects that may be seen by others as underdeveloped or too small.

Another difference is that the J.M.K. Innovation Prize will build on the Fund’s longstanding areas of grantmaking interest while remaining flexible enough to allow for fresh and unexpected thinking.  Prize recipients will ideally innovate across at least two of the Fund’s four traditional disciplinary boundaries:

• Cultural Heritage (e.g., historic preservation, archaeology, architecture, arts & culture)
• Human Rights (e.g., immigration, homelessness, incarceration, public health, education)
• Built Environment (e.g., parks, open space, public space, waterfront revitalization, transportation)
• Natural Environment (e.g., oceans, conservation, land use, climate change, alternative energy)

Criteria for Selection

The J.M.K. Innovation Prize will be awarded to projects or ideas that: represent a game-changing answer to a clearly identified need; demonstrate an interdisciplinary or hybridized approach, ideally involving at least two of the four areas of interest to the Fund; demonstrate the potential to develop an actionable pilot or prototype with Prize funding; show scalable impact or impact beyond the initial pilot or prototype; and hold out the promise to benefit multiple individuals, communities or sectors through a clearly articulated theory of change.

Our 2015 Timeline

Interested individuals or teams may apply for the J.M.K. Innovation Prize from January 15 through April 30, 2015.  A short application will be made accessible via this website starting on January 15.  A sub-set of applicants will be invited to submit a second, longer application for the Prize in late spring.  A review of these second round applications will take place throughout the summer, with finalists being flown to New York City in the fall to present their ideas to the trustees of the J.M. Kaplan Fund.  The Prize’s awardees will be publicly announced in November 2015.

Award Details

Awardees are eligible to receive $50,000 per year for three years, as well as a $25,000 “bank” of funds available for technical assistance or targeted project expenses.  Accordingly, the total prize award amount will total up to $175,000 per prize recipient over the three year period.  These funds are intended to allow recipients to focus their attention on their social impact idea.  Awardees will also receive ongoing, dedicated support from the J.M. Kaplan Fund, including networking opportunities at in-person convenings.

Apply Now!

You may access the online round one application for the J.M.K. Innovation Prize from January 15 through April 30, 2015 by clicking here.  We are using the grant management software program Foundant Technologies for this process; the creation of a Foundant account is necessary to view the round one application itself.

Additional Information

For convenience, you may download this one-page document containing the information presented on this webpage. For any additional information, please contact:JMKInnovationPrize@JMKFund.org.

#Manspreading much? LOL. For the uninformed, “Manspreading,” is the term coined for this: when men take up excess space by sitting with their legs far apart in buses and trains (and this has long been a pet peeve for fellow riders, particularly women). Off late there has been a lot of discussions on this topic, which I suspect was what prompted this brilliant cartoon.

Image courtesy. The New Yorker, via Twitter

And here is the New York MTA campaign poster advising folks to keep their legs together:

Image courtesy: NY MTA

The recent chaos in New York City involving the Mayor and the Cops Union has taken some ugly turns and dramatically played out in the media. One of the subtle impacts of this mess was keenly felt on the streets of New York as explained by this local news outlet, New York Post.  Statistics obtained by The Post show a dramatic drop in NYPD’s traffic and parking enforcement activities between Dec. 22 — the first weekday after the double cop assassination — and Sunday Dec. 28, compared with the same period last year. There are many ways to interpret the numbers but it clearly shows something is off. According to The Post, police sources cited safety concerns as the main reason for the dropoff in police activity, but added that some cops were mounting an undeclared slowdown in protest of de Blasio’s response to the non-indictment. The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association has warned its members to put their safety first and not make arrests “unless absolutely necessary.” This brings to question what is the correlation between traffic safety and the drop in violations during this period. Click here to read the full story.

Image via New York Post

Photo by m01229

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JANUARY 25, 2015

TransitCenter, a civic foundation that supports and catalyzes innovation in sustainable urban mobility, seeks a Program Analyst to join its New York City office. The successful candidate will be an integral member of a growing organization and assist in conducting research, developing and implementing programs and projects related to improving transportation in cities, as well as building organizational capacity.

Responsibilities

As part of a small team, the Program Analyst will research issues, develop opportunities, and execute projects that promote sustainable urban mobility, with oversight from the Executive Director and Director of Research & Development. Some projects may be executed through the use of program consultants with specialized subject matter expertise, who the Program Analyst must be qualified to oversee. A sample of works we have previously commissioned can be inspected atwww.transitcenter.org/ourwork.

Initial primary area of focus may include initiatives related to a diversity of topics such as transit planning, technology, rider information, or capital project finance. While specific assignments will be shaped in part by the Program Analyst’s particular background, a successful candidate will have avid interest and versatility to work on a range of other transportation-related subjects as assigned.

The Program Analyst will also share responsibility for communicating TransitCenter’s initiatives through articles, blog posts, and social media.

TransitCenter’s philanthropic activities are effectively in start-up mode, so the Program Analyst will also be expected to play a hands-on role in operations and shoulder a portion of the organization’s administrative and clerical duties as assigned.

The position is based in New York City. The salary range is $55-70,000 commensurate with experience, with a competitive benefits package.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have:

• Fundamental understanding of the principles underpinning sustainable urban mobility and an intuitive appreciation of the role that transportation plays in contributing to urban vitality. While technical knowledge of transportation can be a plus, it is not a requirement, and is secondary to natural curiosity and passion for the mission.
• Keen ability to scan developments in research or case studies, make connections across disciplines, and draw hypotheses and/or rigorously-supported conclusions.
• Research capacity to build a case through solid evidence. General knowledge of common primary and secondary sources for issues related to urbanization and transportation.
• A background in the methods and practice of civic action and/or philanthropy will be considered a plus.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills and a strategic communications mindset. Because our work intends to change or shift policy, design, practice, and culture, how something is communicated is nearly as important as what is being presented.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills will be useful in project implementation.
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field related to urban planning, public policy, development, business, or economics; we strongly invite applicants with undergraduate degrees in the humanities, physical sciences or liberal arts to apply if they additionally possess a master’s degree or work experience related to urban transportation.
• At least 3-5 years of professional experience in an organization related to urban planning and development, civic activism, transportation, the environment, and/or public policy.
• Technical facility with at least one of the following will be favorable: Adobe Creative Suite, GIS, social media, or web publishing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to form connections with people of diverse backgrounds, flexibility and a sense of humor to accommodate the organization as it evolves.

To apply: 

Send a letter explaining your interest, a C.V., and one writing sample to dbragdon@transitcenter.orgby 12:00 Noon (EST, GMT -5) on January 25, 2015.

Photo by torbakhopper HE DEAD

Alta Bicycle Share designs, deploys, and manages bicycle share programs and systems worldwide.  Public bike sharing systems combine the convenience and flexibility of a private vehicle with the accessibility and reliability of mass transit.

Overview of Position:

We at Alta Bicycle Share located in NYC are looking for a Technical Project Manager who thinks relentlessly about who does what by when, everything that can go wrong, and how to make it all come together in the end.  Someone who knows enough about technology to identify risks and evaluate plans, but doesn’t need to be the one actually writing the code or designing the system.  Someone who always has a plan B and a Plan C, and can stay cool when everything else seems to be going wrong.  This is an exciting opportunity for a high performing individual to be part of the Technology Team in a growth environment.

The Technical Project Manager will report to/support the Vice President of Technology to help deliver the desired products and projects on time, on target and on budget. This position includes project management responsibilities for one or more complex projects.  These projects typically utilize vendor participation and require complex schedules and integration with other systems and multiple contractors.

Key Aspects of Position:

• Manage scope, schedule, budget, and risks for critical aspects of aggressive and complex bikeshare systems rollouts and upgrades.
• Hold relevant contracted and in-house resources accountable for timeliness and quality of all deliverables
• Work with contractors to understand production and supply chain, and mitigate risks and issues.
• Identify and manage project risks through deep communication and collaboration with contractors and in-house technical and operational teams.
• Create contracts by developing scopes of work, estimating costs, identifying contractors, and negotiating contract awards.
• Report qualitatively and quantitatively on project status, progress, and risks.
• Develop and manage team project management tools and processes

Note: The above description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.  All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities due to the nature of work performed to accomplish Alta Bicycle Share’s Mission.

Required Skills and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or analytical field and 5+ years of progressively more responsible experience.
• Experience managing at least one large and complex technology project or program across multiple teams or contractors.
• Technical experience and/or training sufficient to understand project technical risks.
• Exceptional verbal, written, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build consensus, negotiate solutions and alternatives, and resolve conflicting high-priority requirements.
• Travel: will vary but must be willing/able to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Located in or willing to relocate to New York City metro area.
• A Master’s degree in an engineering or analytical field.
• Thorough knowledge of Project Management principles, concepts and practices.
• Experience creating contracts and managing contractors.
• PMP Certification is a plus.
• Passion for bicycling/bikeshare and progressive urban transportation on issues.

Alta Bicycle Share is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Alta Bicycle Share is a drug-free workplace.

Click here to learn more and to apply