The Central Transportation Planning Staff of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) seeks an experienced transportation modeler to oversee the maintenance, support, and ongoing enhancements to the agency’s transportation modeling tools. The Boston Region MPO has long maintained travel demand models for the region and state as essential tools to support policy decisions and capital investments. The Boston Region MPO recently completed the development of a new travel demand modeling platform (TDM23) that will serve as a robust foundation for the further enhancement of modeling and analysis support for the MPO and its partner agencies. A key future enhancement is to develop and demonstrate exploratory modeling practices to provide insights across a range of potential futures. This role will guide a team of data scientists and travel modelers to maintain and enhance TDM23 and evaluate and adopt complementary travel modeling tools for the purpose of improving our transportation system to support a sustainable, healthy, livable, and economically vibrant region.
 
The Manager of Model Development will report to the Director of Modeling and Analytics and oversee the Model Development team.The Manager of Model Development will be responsible for coordinating, training, and supporting the Model Development team in maintenance, support, and ongoing enhancements to the agency’s transportation modeling tools. The Model Development Manager will also take an active role in model development work. Successful candidates in this role will have experience in travel demand modeling, skills in econometrics and programming, an aptitude for process development and maintenance, and a preference to work in a team environment that promotes growth opportunities to all members. Specific responsibilities include the following:
 

• Prioritize, plan, and advance maintenance and enhancement work for TDM23
• Communicate and coordinate model development activities with model stakeholders and technical colleagues
• Identify opportunities to advance the agency’s modeling practice and work with the Director of Modeling and Analytics to evaluate and adopt new modeling solutions
• Foster a supportive workplace for modeling staff to promote rapid training and skill development and maintain a robust skill set in a competitive market for programming and data analysis resources

While the following sections describe required and desirable qualifications, candidates who believe that their particular experience and skills fulfill the requirements are encouraged to apply.
 
Required

• At least five years of experience developing and/or using travel demand models to produce insights into transportation planning and policy needs
• Demonstrated ability to think logically and algorithmically in clear, cogent software design and well-documented code in one or more programming languages
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and advance multiple work efforts leveraging a team with a diverse range of skills and balancing a range of priorities and constraints
• A master’s degree in engineering, transportation, computer science, mathematics, or a related field, and at least three years of project and/or staff management experience; or a bachelor’s degree in the fields listed above plus five years of project and/or staff management experience

 
Preferred

• A desire to help build an equitable, sustainable, and resilient transportation system for the Boston Region
• Experience developing in Python and Caliper’s GISDK
• Experience designing, developing, deploying, documenting, and maintaining production-level code, and managing substantial amounts of data (10 GB or more)

This is a full-time position and the starting salary range is $100,000–$115,000 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience. The agency offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits; a flexible, supportive work environment; and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
 
Additional Information
The Central Transportation Planning Staff of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization is a public agency made up of a passionate group of transportation planners, analysts, modelers, programmers, and engineers working to address the Boston region’s transportation challenges. The agency’s deep transportation knowledge is an essential asset to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), regional transit authorities, cities and towns within the region, as well as other agencies and stakeholders.
 
The agency has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from the Central Transportation Planning Staff’s office, which is located in downtown Boston, in a transit-oriented and bicycle-friendly area.
 
Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States. All employees are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status.
 
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is the fiduciary agent to the Central Transportation Planning Staff and legally employs the staff. Both organizations are Equal Employment Opportunity employers that take pride in the diversity of their workforces and encourage all qualified persons to apply. MAPC participates in the E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility.
 
How to Apply
This position is open until filled, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. First consideration will be given to those applicants who apply within the first 21 days. When applying for this position, please upload both a resume and cover letter via www.bostonmpo.org. Candidates selected to interview will be asked to submit three references plus a sample of relevant writing or a work product.