Transportation Planner III - Transit Division - SF Municipal Transportation Agency (5289)

City and County of San Francisco • San Francisco, CA

16h • Onsite

About The Position

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is seeking a Transportation Planner III for its Transit Division, specifically within the Program Delivery and Support; Transit Technology section. This role is crucial for the Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP), a significant capital initiative to replace the aging Automatic Train Control System (ATCS) with a modern Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system across the Muni Metro rail network. This upgrade aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability of the rail system. The project has a substantial capital budget of $700 million and a targeted completion date of 2032. The Transportation Planner III will play a key role in planning the procurement, deployment, installation, and testing of the new system, as well as assisting in the planning of future rail operations. This position offers an opportunity to work at the forefront of urban rail technology.

Requirements

• Possession of a Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Planning, Transportation, Transportation Engineering, Public Administration or other closely related field; AND two (2) years of transportation planning experience.
• OR Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; AND four (4) years of transportation planning experience.
• Two (2) years of this experience must be at a professional level focused on the analysis, design, and development of transportation systems or services.
• Additional transportation planning experience beyond the Minimum Qualifications may be substituted for the baccalaureate degree requirement in MQ #2 on a year-for year basis. (30 semester units/45 quarter units equal one (1) year of experience).

Nice To Haves

• A strong interest in promoting public transportation and a desire to learn about transit operations and the technologies driving them.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, purposes, scope and techniques of various phases of infrastructure project and/or transportation planning.
• Master’s degree in planning, transportation, transportation engineering, public administration or other closely related field.
• Experience in public sector procurement, contract administration or project management (local, state, or federal government).
• Experience working with public transportation or in a public transit agency.
• Experience working in large public sector projects, especially transit or transportation projects.
• Demonstrated strong analytic skills and problem-solving ability.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to communicate with diplomacy and conduct meetings with stakeholders throughout the agency.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Ability to present facts clearly and concisely in the preparation of complex reports and presentations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project.
• Proficient in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Proficient in data visualization and analysis software.
• Proficient in various scripting languages (Python, SQL, R, etc.).
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, such as Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Ability to work well with a diverse workforce.

Responsibilities

• Plans the procurement, deployment, installation, and testing of the future Train Control System.
• Assists in the planning of future subway and surface rail operations using the capabilities of the new system.
• Assists the Project Manager and Deputy Project Manager in reviewing project schedules.
• Organizes the project through project planning documents.
• Prepares grant applications and assists in managing the project budget.
• Meets with project stakeholders.
• Develops procurement plans, policy, and procedures.
• Assists in developing the business requirements for follow-on contracts for integration services and installation of CBTC equipment.
• Assists in orchestrating the activities of SFMTA staff and contractors.
• Responsible for program evaluation and capital planning activities.
• Responds to reporting and evaluation requirements from the Finance Department and funding agencies.
• Assists in the creation of grant applications and the development of application materials, including modeling project outcomes, research, and writing reports.
• Assists the project Communications Officer with communications and outreach, including scheduling design workshops and coordinating activities.
• Represents the project in interdepartmental and interagency coordination efforts, including meetings and presentations.
• Supervises and directs the work of other project planner(s) on staff.
• Develops and maintains the capital plan for the Train Control Upgrade Project.
• Works with funding agencies and grant administrators to provide justification for funding, including cost/benefit analyses and assessments of operational effectiveness.
• Works with the Project Admin Analyst to maintain the project budget, applying estimates and budgeting principles to forecast future project expenditures and maintain a project cashflow.
• Works with the Project Communications Officer, SFMTA Government Affairs and other staff on developing the project’s approach to legislative action and board approvals.
• Coordinates and works with the SFMTA Finance Department and Project Admin Analyst for booking incoming grants and budget revisions.
• Develops and reviews drafts of project planning documents, such as the project management plan, project QA plan, project safety plan, etc.
• Understands and interprets the requirements for the new train control system and its upgrades, and explains the project scope and requirements to other SFMTA staff, vendors, and/or project teams.
• Develops and/or proposes modifications to operational plans, policies, and procedures concerning the train control system to accommodate the future capabilities of the system.
• Assists with developing training programs and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for rail operations using the train control system.
• Assists with cost estimates and terms for new and existing contracts, and for proposed change orders or modifications.
• Assists with calendar items for Board approvals of contracts or contract modifications.
• Supports the development and review of contract deliverables from the Train Control Supplier, participates in document review, and coordinates the participation of internal Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to review key project design documents.
• Performs analysis of data generated from the train control system and train control system simulations and provides recommendations for service or operational changes if necessary.
• Works with Transit Performance team to make train control system data accessible and legible.
• Works with Service Planning department to ensure future rail service plans account for the capabilities and limitations of the train control system.
• Writes reports and white papers to document global best practices for train control.
• Reviews and manages workload assignment to consultants, junior staff, and interns as required.
• Performs other duties as required.

Benefits

• The City and County of San Francisco offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan, paid holidays, paid sick leave, and more.

What This Job Offers

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