Program Manager - Transit Technology & Fare Systems

WSP•New York, NY

22h•Onsite

About The Position

WSP is seeking an experienced Program Manager to support a major transit agency in New York City on large-scale fare payment, transit technology, and customer-facing mobility programs. The role is the primary day-to-day project management lead, coordinating clients, technology vendors, contractors, systems integrators, and stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery. The Program Manager leads project planning, schedule management, stakeholder coordination, risk management, executive reporting, governance, implementation oversight, and transition planning for complex transit technology programs. The position calls for extensive experience with large, multidisciplinary transportation technology programs, fare payment systems, account-based ticketing, open payments, customer technology platforms, and systems integration. The successful candidate will have strong client relationship skills and experience working directly with executive leadership at large public transportation agencies. The position is onsite in New York, NY five days per week; candidates must live in or be willing to relocate to the New York City metropolitan area. Remote or hybrid arrangements are not anticipated. The position is contingent upon contract award.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Technology, Business Administration, Transportation, Construction Management, Planning, or a related field.
At least 15 years of progressively responsible project and program management experience.
At least 10 years managing large-scale transit, transportation technology, fare collection, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), payment systems, or technology implementation programs.
Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs with budgets exceeding $50 million.
Experience overseeing system integration, software development, hardware deployment, testing, and implementation activities.
Strong program controls, risk management, governance, and reporting experience.
Ability to lead large cross-functional teams and coordinate multiple concurrent workstreams.
Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
Experience preparing executive briefings and presenting to senior leadership and agency executives.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools.
Must work onsite in New York, NY five days per week and reside in or be willing to relocate to the New York City metropolitan area.

Nice To Haves

PMP certification is required or strongly preferred, as stated in the posting.
MBA or advanced degree in a related discipline.
Experience with fare payment systems, Automated Fare Collection (AFC), Account-Based Ticketing (ABT), contactless payments, open-loop payments, mobile ticketing, and transit retailing technologies.
Experience supporting major metropolitan transit agencies, including NYCT/MTA, SEPTA, CTA, MBTA, WMATA, Metra, NJ TRANSIT, SFMTA, BART, or similar agencies.
Experience supporting payment modernization, fare transformation, customer technology, and digital mobility programs.
Familiarity with PMBOK project management practices and governance frameworks.
Experience using Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or similar project controls tools.
Understanding of systems engineering, software lifecycle management, cybersecurity, testing and commissioning, and operational readiness processes.
Experience with procurement support, DBOM/DBFOM contracts, or public-sector technology procurements.
Demonstrated success managing programs involving multiple vendors, contractors, and technology partners.
Existing relationships and experience working with large transit agencies and executive stakeholders.
Experience delivering contactless fare payment systems, open payment and account-based ticketing solutions, mobile applications and customer-facing technology platforms, transit operations technology deployments, or systems integration and modernization initiatives.
Experience with multi-year capital programs valued at $100 million or more, executive stakeholder management and governance, and large-scale implementation and transition planning.
Proven record of program execution, client relationship management, business development, and operational leadership in major transit fare modernization programs.

Responsibilities

Serve as Program Manager for major fare collection, transit technology, customer payment, and mobility projects.
Act as the primary WSP point of contact with client executives, technology vendors, contractors, and project stakeholders.
Lead project planning, execution, monitoring, control, and reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
Develop and maintain integrated master schedules, budgets, action item logs, risk registers, issue logs, and executive dashboards.
Coordinate activities among agency staff, technology providers, systems integrators, contractors, and subcontractors.
Facilitate executive steering committee meetings, stakeholder workshops, technical reviews, and governance meetings.
Monitor project performance and identify schedule, budget, operational, and technical risks requiring management attention.
Prepare executive-level presentations, briefing materials, program updates, and Board-level reports.
Support project testing, system acceptance, operational readiness, implementation, transition planning, and go-live activities.
Lead stakeholder engagement, communications, and change management efforts.
Oversee vendor performance and coordinate cross-functional teams across technology, operations, finance, customer experience, and engineering.
Support procurement activities, contract administration, business case development, and strategic planning initiatives.
Mentor project managers and technical staff supporting major transit technology programs.
Support business development, capture planning, proposal development, and client relationship management.

Benefits

Medical coverage
Dental coverage
Vision coverage
Disability coverage
Life coverage
Retirement savings
Paid sick leave
Paid vacation or other personal time
Paid parental leave
Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings