POSITION SUMMARY

The Transit Connection Specialist will be pivotal in facilitating seamless transportation services for those utilizing transit through the communities served by MVTA. This position will be responsible for coordinating and optimizing transit routes, ensuring efficient connections between various modes of transportation, enhancing accessibility to transit for MVTA service area residents, and working with stakeholders throughout the MVTA service area to educate the community on the services offered by MVTA and provide information about future MVTA services. This role requires a passion for sustainability and connecting communities and a desire to learn about urban and transit planning.

This is a three-year (3) grant-funded position with the potential of expanding beyond three years.

JOB DUTIES OR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Community outreach and training; engage with community members, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to gather feedback, address concerns, and foster support for transit initiatives.
• Willingness to learn, maintain, implement, and establish a working knowledge of MVTA service area, facilities, and routes.
• Utilize various communication methods, mediums, and tools to build confidence in the rider’s ability, independence, and comfort level to navigate public transportation to establish and ensure trust in the system.
• Monitor and track records of all travel training events and evaluate outcomes of programs.
• Act as liaison between several internal stakeholders, such as Planning, Operations, and Customer Service teams, to facilitate open communication regarding travel training findings and outcomes.
• Analyze existing transit routes and schedules to identify opportunities for improvement in accessibility, connectivity, and efficiency for passengers; identify and address barriers to transit use, such as infrastructure limitations or gaps in service coverage.
• Collaborate and work closely with transit planners/agencies, customer service, local cities/counties/governments, chamber of commerce, community groups, and other stakeholders to provide education on what services MVTA offers, as well as how to utilize those services.
• Utilize data analytics, tools, and other resources to gather insights into passenger demographics, travel patterns, and preferences to inform decision-making and optimize transit services to benefit and serve our communities.
• Stay informed about relevant transportation policies, regulations, and best practices to contribute to developing policies that support efficient transit connections and accessibility.
• Maintain general working knowledge of bus components such as bike racks, fareboxes, mobility devices, announcements, stop alerts, schedule brochures, signage, posters, RideMVTA mobile app, other trip-planning tools, etc.
• Explore opportunities to leverage technology, such as mobile apps and real-time information systems, to improve the transit experience and provide passengers with timely and accurate information.
• Lead or participate in projects related to transit connectivity, including pilot programs, infrastructure improvements, and service expansions.
• Expertise in the following mediums – presentations (design/delivery of), open discussions, demonstrations, etc.
• Build appropriate training materials to help influence future trends in ridership and overall community connectivity; gather and translate data about our region to identify training opportunities to reinforce the bridge and fill in the gaps between riders/customers and MVTA to further our current outreach and available resources.

• Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned to employee(s) to further the agency's goals, aligning with MVTA's vision and mission.

This position may encounter not public data in the course of these duties. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to perform the duties. While data are being accessed, this position should take reasonable measures to ensure individuals do not access the not public data without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished, this position must adequately store the not public data.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the formal education, experience, training required, and skills/abilities.

Education

• An associate degree in business, marketing, communications, urban planning, public administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Experience

• Two (2) years of relevant experience.

Training, Certificates, and Licenses

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Skills and Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated time management skills; ability to be organized and efficient, effectively prioritizing tasks.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven recommendations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The requirements listed below are representative of the formal education, experience, and training preferred to perform all the functions of this position exceptionally.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, urban planning, public administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Experience

• Four (4) years of relevant experience.
• Proficient in GIS software, data analysis tools, and other relevant technology platforms.

Training, Certificates and Licenses

• AICP accreditation.

COMPLEXITY

While performing the regular duties of this job, processes, procedures, or software may vary from one assignment to the next. Assignments are still related in function and objective.

RESPONSIBILITY

Supervision Needed

This position either (a) carries out work with minimal supervision (i.e., the supervisor sets only goals, priorities, and deadlines, and the employee uses guidelines that cover most situations) or (b) follows the supervisor's directions on methods and desired results but modifies methods to resolve unforeseen situations and problems.

Supervision Given

High coordination of work with other individuals, e.g., project lead or first-level supervisory.

Impact

Work affects a wide range of professional projects or administrative activities of the organization, influences internal or external operations, or impacts many people.

REQUIRED PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORK CONDITIONS

The physical demands and work conditions described here represent those that an individual must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Hazards

Moderately strenuous - Occasionally runs and frequently climbs up to 50 steps and continuously balances, bends/stoops, kneels, crouches, squats, crawls, stands, walks, or reaches above shoulder level, and exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Surroundings

While performing the duties of this job, this position will experience moderate risk, exposure to outside environmental conditions and exposure to noise, dust, fumes, gases, chemicals, and oils requiring special mitigating precautions or protective gear, and working in close quarters, narrow aisles, or passageways, and work around moving mechanical parts.

MVTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that ensures a drug-free workplace.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals employed in this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and qualifications required of personnel in this job. The employer may and reserves the right to change the job description and establish, modify, or eliminate job duties, responsibilities, and jobs at its discretion, with or without notice.