Program Manager

Volanno • San Jose, CA

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

Volanno is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead our technical consulting engagement for the modernization of the ACE Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) — including digital signage and station signage/wayfinding — across all ten ACE stations between Stockton and San Jose Diridon. The successful candidate will serve as Volanno's single point of contact with the SJRRC Project Manager and lead all eight Scope of Services tasks. ACE is a commuter rail service operated by SJRRC that links California's Central Valley with the Silicon Valley, serving approximately 1.4 million passengers annually across 10 stations. SJRRC is modernizing the PIDS to deliver real-time arrival information, service alerts, multilingual messaging, branded content, and Public Address supported by SJRRC-supplied networking equipment and aligned with the SJRRC Signage and Wayfinding Manual. This advisory and technical consulting role does not include installation or construction, and the consultant does not conduct training.

Requirements

• 10+ years of project management experience leading public transit, commuter rail, or transportation technology modernization programs.
• Demonstrated experience developing federally-compliant RFPs and/or IFBs (DOT, FTA, FRA clauses; Buy America; EEO; lobbying and debarment certifications).
• In-depth working knowledge of ADA compliance requirements as they apply to passenger communication systems — visual displays (font size, color contrast, refresh rates), Public Address audio and audible features (text-to-speech, speaker placement), and tactile/Braille signage.
• Experience specifying PIDS, digital signage, real-time passenger information, or comparable display systems in a public transit environment.
• Experience specifying communications/IT network architecture (wired, wireless, fiber backbone, redundancy) at a procurement-ready level for distributed station deployments.
• Experience applying agency-furnished signage and wayfinding standards manuals to multi-station deployments (the SJRRC Manual will not be released until award).
• Strong stakeholder-interview and discovery skills — comfortable building requirements from scratch where as-builts and documentation are limited or proprietary.
• Strong written communication skills suitable for technical specifications, SOWs, governance memoranda, and SJRRC Board presentations.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, transportation planning, IT, architecture, or related field preferred; equivalent professional experience considered in lieu of a degree.

Nice To Haves

• PMP, AICP, RA, or PE certification.
• Prior engagements with California transit agencies (SJRRC, Caltrain, BART, LA Metro, Sacramento RT, SMART) or interagency rail corridors.
• Familiarity with FTA Circulars, the Caltrain/Union Pacific operating environment, and applying agency signage/wayfinding manuals to station programs.
• Awareness of the MTC Regional Wayfinding Project and ability to reference it as a parallel program (this engagement is independent of MTC's harmonization work).
• Working knowledge of GTFS, GTFS-RT, and real-time train arrival data feeds and message-broker integration.
• Experience evaluating CalPIDS or comparable statewide passenger information display platforms.
• Background coordinating with Union Pacific Railroad or the Caltrain Joint Powers Board on right-of-way or shared-station projects.
• Experience overseeing acceptance testing, contractor site inspections, warranty management, and vendor training reviews.
• Familiarity with digital advertising display monetization and shared advertising/branded content workflows.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Volanno's lead Project Manager and primary point of contact with SJRRC's PM throughout the contract; SJRRC PM retains final approval authority on all decisions.
• Manage project scope, budget, and schedule across all eight tasks of the Scope of Services and ensure on-time delivery within the 36-month period of performance.
• Network Infrastructure Design — develop conceptual network alternatives and requirements (bandwidth, latency, redundancy, security protocols, GTFS integration). Note that SJRRC will supply ALL networking equipment for the PIDS/Digital Signage system network — the consultant is not procuring network hardware.
• Oversee ADA & Regulatory Compliance — produce the ADA Compliance Requirements Matrix covering visual displays AND Public Address audio, identify FTA/DOT/FRA/Buy America mandates, and draft the Compliance Testing Protocol.
• Lead single combined RFP/IFB Development — draft technical specifications, SOW, instructions to proposers, contract terms with required federal/state clauses, and evaluation criteria. Facilitate at least three review meetings with SJRRC staff.
• Lead Signage & Wayfinding Planning — apply the SJRRC Signage and Wayfinding Manual to all 10 stations. Produce existing-conditions assessment, technical standards, placement guidelines, and order-of-magnitude cost/phasing strategy. Reference the MTC Regional Wayfinding Project where applicable. Deliverables shall be procurement-ready, not final design or construction-level documents.
• Participate on the SJRRC Evaluation Panel— pre-proposal meeting support, response to scope questions, evaluation review, and Board presentation of the staff report for the top-ranked contractor.
• Manage Consultant Review and Project Implementation — review contractor product, lead proof-of-concept demonstrations, monitor budget/invoicing/contract performance, and conduct periodic on-site visits at ACE stations to review implementation progress. Verify vendor training meets SJRRC's needs through requirements and design review and confirm completeness of training manuals.
• Execute Project Handover and Closeout — finalize Volanno invoices, vendor contract closeout, and deliver records to SJRRC for retention.
• Maintain weekly cadence with the SJRRC PM after the initial 180-day milestone period and provide regular written status updates.
• Monitor federal funding compliance throughout — DOT/FTA Clauses, Buy America, EEO Certification, Lobbying Restrictions, and Debarment/Suspension certifications
• Manage any Volanno subconsultants under the contract per Attachment B requirements and the SJRRC Sample Agreement.
• Honor Volanno's firm-level restriction from proposing on the resulting PIDS procurement RFP/IFB; the restriction does not extend to other unrelated SJRRC/SJJPA solicitations.

Benefits

• Volanno is an equal opportunity employer. Volanno will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or protected veteran status

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior