A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Managing Director’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, & Sustainability (OTIS) directs the policies and practices that improve the quality of life in all of Philadelphia’s communities through safe and sustainable infrastructure. OTIS represents a portfolio of departments that include policy and planning staff reporting to the Deputy Managing Director, the Office of Sustainability, and two operating departments: the Streets Department, and the Philadelphia Water Department.  OTIS is the lead agency for the planning, implementation, and program management of the bus shelter and street furniture contract. 

• Find out more here at www.phila.gov/otis .

The Transit  Program Manager is responsible for oversight, planning, and management of the City of Philadelphia’s public transit goals as outlined in CONNECT: Philadelphia’s Strategic Transportation Plan and the Philadelphia Transit Plan.  Significant responsibilities include management and expansion of bus shelters; coordination between bus shelter installs and the SEPTA Forward: Bus Revolution program; and partnerships with SEPTA around priority, fares, operations, and engagement.

The City of Philadelphia has responsibility for bus shelters within its boundaries.  This position manages all aspects of this program including the relationship with Intersection, the contracted concessionaire for bus shelters and other street furniture.  Build- out will include 600 shelters, involving coordination between Intersection and other City agencies including the Philadelphia Streets Department, Parks and Recreation, City Planning Commission, and Commerce Department.  This position must oversee and plan installation, monitor maintenance, approve advertising as-per City standards, and work with elected officials and members of the public.

The City of Philadelphia holds many keys to surface transit speed and reliability.  This position coordinates between SEPTA and City agencies to address operational issues that affect buses and trolleys.  This position also plays a role in scoping and managing corridor projects to improve the speed and reliability of transit service.   The Transit Program Manager also coordinates with SEPTA and City agencies on various transit policies including fares and SEPTA Key.

Other responsibilities include coordination with the SEPTA Citizen’s Advisory Committee, DVRPC, TMAs, and other groups.

• Find additional information about the Philadelphia Transit Plan here: https://www.phila.gov/documents/philadelphia-transit-plan/  

Examples of Important Essential Functions

Oversee and manage Bus shelters and street furniture program

• Manage contract with Intersection
• Monitor revenue to the City from concession
• Plan overall build-out of bus shelter program including selecting locations; coordinating with stakeholders, development projects, and transit agencies; and working with Intersection on deployment
• Monitor maintenance & repair to meet contracted levels of service
• Field requests and complaints from the public

Manage transit speed and reliability programs

• Run monthly Transportation Operations Committee and otherwise coordinate between SEPTA and other City agencies to solve operational issues
• Manage delivery of Direct Bus B and other similar projects
• Scope and manage transit priority projects on bus priority corridors

Oversee other transit policy and planning work as required

• Trolley modernization coordination
• SEPTA Key coordination and fare policy work

Other Duties

• Coordinate with SEPTA CAC and YAC, including periodic meetings with city caucus and recommendations on appointments for vacant positions
• Coordinate transit-related activities with Philadelphia TMAs
• Interpret City property contracts with PATCO & SEPTA to represent the City in claims cases

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Successful candidates will possess the following characteristics

• Action Oriented—comfortable with negotiating challenging situations and moving forward
• Motivating Others—can create a climate in which partners are driven to succeed
• Planning—can accurately scope out projects through their full extent, sets goals and evaluates progress against them
• Creativity—sees connections across areas of work among previously unrelated notions; can create synergy across project
• Strategic Agility—can anticipate future consequences and trends, position self and organization to be most effective
• Active Listening—can hear people out; understands importance of listening to and understanding wide range of opinions
• Work independently and set priorities

 Knowledge

• Understand transportation planning principles and practice, especially as it relates to public transportation
• Familiar with principles of equity as it relates to race, class, and identity in the Philadelphia context
• Understand practices and policies related to construction in the public Right of Way
• Understand best practices in project management and tracking performance towards goals
• Can create appropriate and effective budgets and track spending towards goals and deliverables
• Understands importance of clear, timely communication and can interact with a range of audiences in a tactful and persuasive manner

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to quickly take ownership of an established project while prioritizing & successfully advancing established goals
• Ability to work with data to produce insights that inform transit planning, policy, and operations
• Ability to effectively represent the City of Philadelphia in a wide variety of settings, including local and national conferences, webinars, presentations etc.
• Can set and meet deadlines for one's own work and the work of others.
• Can independently initiate, plan, and coordinate multiple projects ranging from the simple and routine to the complex
• Strong writing and editing skills; ability to effectively communicate in a variety of formal settings both inside and outside the organization 
• Can speak and present publicly

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Transportation Engineering, Public Policy, or a related field required. Graduate degree preferred but not required.
• Five years of experience managing transit programs, project management in the public right-of-way, policy development, and planning initiatives.  Graduate degree may count as 2 years of experience.
• We welcome and encourage applicants with non-traditional career paths. If you don’t exactly meet the qualifications outlined here, please apply and describe in your cover letter how your own experiences equip you to excel in this position.

Additional Information

Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000

Please submit a cover letter and resume. Applications without all required documents will not be considered.

Successful candidate must be a City resident within six months of hire.

Vaccination status

As a condition of employment with the City of Philadelphia, employees starting employment on or after September 1, 2021 must be vaccinated.

Did you know?

• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
• 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670

 For more information, go to the Human Relations website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx