Project Manager III – Strategic Initiatives

DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)•Headquarters, KY

2d•$86,922 - $143,421•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Manager III – Strategic Initiatives leads complex, high-priority initiatives that require coordination across multiple DART departments and disciplines. The role translates executive and organizational priorities into structured work plans, leads cross-functional teams, evaluates options and business impacts, manages dependencies and risks, develops recommendations, and drives initiatives from concept through implementation. Initiatives may support mobility, operational, organizational, financial, customer, technology-enabled, and other strategic priorities requiring focused project leadership. The position reports to the AVP, Strategic Initiatives & Future Mobility. The role develops project scopes, objectives, schedules, budgets, resource plans, risk assessments, business cases, implementation roadmaps, and executive-level communications. It coordinates analysis and input from internal subject-matter experts and external stakeholders, and supports procurement, budget, funding, Board, regulatory, and approval processes as required. The position works in an environment with minimal exposure to dust, noise, or temperature. Visits to DART operating facilities may involve moderate exposure to dust, noise, temperature, weather, petroleum products, and chemicals, while following applicable safety procedures and using provided protective equipment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, Project Management, Transportation, Urban Planning, or a related field; an equivalent combination of related education and experience may be substituted, excluding the high school diploma/GED and licenses or certifications.
Four years of progressively responsible experience in strategic initiatives, business transformation, transportation, program implementation, process improvement, organizational change, or a related field.
At least three years of experience leading complex cross-functional projects or programs.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and related project management, collaboration, process-improvement, and business applications.
Pass a physical (medical) examination that includes a drug screen.
Knowledge of project and program management principles and practices, including scoping, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, resource planning, implementation, and performance monitoring.
Knowledge of strategic planning, business-case development, process improvement, change management, and implementation planning principles and practices.
Ability to translate executive direction and organizational priorities into defined projects, work plans, deliverables, timelines, responsibilities, and decision points.
Ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives involving multiple departments and stakeholders without direct authority over participating resources.
Ability to define business problems, evaluate alternatives and tradeoffs, coordinate analysis, and develop practical recommendations.
Ability to develop business cases, implementation plans, project charters, schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and executive recommendations.
Ability to identify and manage project risks, dependencies, constraints, resource requirements, and implementation challenges.
Ability to facilitate working groups, workshops, executive discussions, and other collaborative problem-solving activities.
Ability to manage multiple complex projects and priorities simultaneously while maintaining schedules, deliverables, accountability, and quality.
Strong strategic thinking, analytical, problem-solving, project management, facilitation, communication, presentation, negotiation, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Responsibilities

Lead complex, high-priority strategic initiatives and special projects involving multiple DART departments, disciplines, stakeholders, and organizational priorities.
Translate executive direction and strategic priorities into project scopes, objectives, work plans, milestones, deliverables, decision points, and implementation requirements.
Lead cross-functional project teams and working groups, establishing roles, responsibilities, timelines, dependencies, and accountability.
Develop project charters, implementation plans, schedules, budgets, resource requirements, risk assessments, and other project management tools.
Evaluate business problems and opportunities, coordinate research and analysis, develop alternatives, and prepare business cases and recommendations.
Assess operational, financial, customer, organizational, policy, technology, and implementation impacts of strategic alternatives with subject-matter experts.
Identify and manage risks, issues, dependencies, constraints, and competing priorities; develop mitigation or escalation strategies.
Facilitate working sessions, strategic planning sessions, workshops, Kaizen events, and other activities to define problems, evaluate alternatives, develop solutions, and advance implementation.
Coordinate across DART to obtain expertise, data, cost estimates, operational requirements, technical input, and other information needed to evaluate and implement initiatives.
Develop implementation roadmaps and transition plans; track progress, commitments, decisions, risks, outcomes, and assigned actions through completion.
Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, decision-making documents, recommendations, and status updates communicating issues, alternatives, tradeoffs, risks, and required decisions.
Support strategic initiatives involving future mobility, emerging transportation models, partnerships, new service concepts, technology-enabled solutions, and other opportunities in coordination with responsible departments.
Coordinate with public agencies, member cities, regional organizations, consultants, vendors, industry partners, and other external stakeholders.
Support procurement, budget, funding, Board, regulatory, and approval processes as required.
Perform other related duties as assigned.