Senior Operations Intern (COO) [Graduate Students]

At the MBTA, we envision a thriving region enabled by a best-in-class transit system. Our mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. MBTA’s Core Values are built around safety, service, equity, sustainability, and culture. Each employee that works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values. This includes attendance, participation, and contribution in local safety committee meetings as needed.

Job Summary

As an intern, you will be working alongside Senior Operations Leadership staff on a variety of important projects to support the MBTA’s efforts at ensuring safe and reliable transit service. Past projects include the following:

• Creating database for tracking projects within the Training Department.
• Launching pilot within Bus Operations for route optimization.
• Streamlining the process for Right of Way diversion planning.
  
  
  

Future projects will inform decision-making within the Operations leadership team and could include the following:

• Performing data analysis.
• Streamlining processes.
• Helping manage multi-departmental initiatives / projects.
  
  
  

Examples of deliverables include labor and staffing models, SOPs and how-to guides, management performance dashboards, and executive level presentations / policy memos.

Beyond assigned projects, you will have the opportunity to connect with other interns in the Chief Operating Office’s graduate student cohort, attend MBTA-wide intern programming, and make positive, real-world impact on the operation of the MBTA.

Duties & Responsibilities

As an intern, you will receive guidance and mentorship from department leaders while engaging with internal and external stakeholders to make tangible, positive impacts on riders. The internship is hosted through the Chief Operating Office, which assigns interns to departments throughout its division. Depending on skills and interests, an intern may have the opportunity to work with multiple teams within Operations, including:

• Lean Strategy: This team works on process improvement initiatives that improve the safety and reliability of day-to-day operations creates. Additionally, this team maintains rider-centered policies and guidelines for decision-making, which are grounded in fairness and inclusive of diverse ridership, clear and easy to understand, and the product of a visible and transparent process.
• Operations Training: The training department ensures all employees and contractors are qualified, knowledgeable, and capable of executing their daily work safely. Interns may support specific learning and development initiatives or broader strategic projects related to governance and process optimization.
• Heavy and Light Rail Operations: Rail Operations provides rapid transit service throughout the Boston area, which requires continual monitoring of rail vehicles (trains), oversight of field and supervisory staff, and real-time management of service around-the-clock to enable increasingly safe, reliable, and efficient service.
• Bus Operations: This department provides bus transportation throughout Boston and surrounding communities with a workforce of approximately 2,000 operators and supervisory staff. Current focus includes hiring, workforce development, and related efforts to deliver more reliable service and transformative operational improvements (such as the Bus Network Redesign project).
• Operations Planning, Scheduling, and Strategy (OPSS): OPSS optimizes current service and plans future service. There are several teams within OPSS working on a variety of initiatives such as scheduling, bus transformation planning, workforce modernization, alternative service planning, and operations analytics.
• Additional Departments: There are several other departments within Operations, including Commuter Rail & Ferry Operations, Paratransit Operations (the RIDE), the Operations Control Center, Operating Rules Compliance, Engineering & Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, and the Chief Operating Office.
  
  
  

Additional responsibilities include:

• Participate in team / staff meetings, organization events, fieldwork, project teams, or other duties as needed.
• Additional responsibilities may include focusing on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendums or hiring manager for department or location specific functions.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.
• The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and complexity of the work being performed by staff assigned to this job and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position. The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
  
  
  

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications

• Enrolled, for entire duration of employment, in the graduate / Master’s degree program of an accredited college / university in public policy, public administration, business administration, operations management, urban planning, urban studies, public health, law, supply chain logistics, computer science, or related field.
• Experience with planning, process improvement, strategy, and / or complex data analysis (e.g. some coursework, on-the-job experience, or other experiences).
• Experience working responsibly with sensitive items, systems, or data.
• Ability to work full-time (40 hours per week) for at least three months.
• Desire to learn or deepen experience translating and framing complex data into clear choices and impacts / results.
• Above average ability to communicate effectively in English, both in written and oral forms.
• Highly organized, motivated, and have great attention-to-detail.
• Strong interest in public service, transit, or transportation and how it operates.
• Above average ability to work effectively in diverse, collaborative, fast-paced environments as well as independently.
• Ability to independently commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Authorized to work in the United States (international students in CPT, STEM, or OPT programs through a university are eligible to apply). The MBTA does not provide visa sponsorship, such as H1-B status.
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and complexity of the work being performed by staff assigned to this job and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required.
  
  
  

Substitutions Include

• No substitutions.
  
  
  

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except if participating in an approved high school internship / co-op program.
• Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences.
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a diverse workforce team (or supervise, if required).
• Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers.
• Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies.
• Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if current student or recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records (infractions and/or offenses occurring after the closing of the posting and before the filling of a vacancy may preclude a candidate from consideration for selection).
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and / or medical Clinic screening, potentially including physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
• Ability to work all shifts and / or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit / operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service.
• Intern / co-op staff must be enrolled full or part-time in an accredited educational program and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 for the entire duration of the internship / co-op. Additionally, interns / co-ops must have valid work authorization and U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting pre-employment screenings / pre-boarding, working in their positions, and throughout the duration of their program.
  
  
  

Disclaimers and Definitions:

• General Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe a summary, general nature, and complexity of typical job functions and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position.
• Application Completion: It is each applicant’s responsibility to ensure application details are entered completely and correctly, including updated work and education histories (past and current). Incomplete applications may not be considered. Attachments do not substitute for application fields. The recruitment team does not have access to existing employee data / history.
• Application Deadlines: Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large applicant pool is established.
• Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. See job description for role-specific requirements.
• Work Eligibility: All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States and on an unrestricted basis. The MBTA does not have an employer work sponsorship program. However, if you have unrestricted work authorization, or are sponsored by a separate entity, you are welcome to apply. Further, all persons hired will require a U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting the position and employees will be required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Interviews: Candidates should ensure they arrive on time, are prepared, can remain for the duration, and if remote, are in a quiet place without distraction, for the interview. Candidates who do not attend their interview without advance authorization, including an email confirmation of a rescheduled time/date from Human Resources, will be considered a no-show and disqualified from consideration for the position. Related to rescheduling, on a one-time basis, and due to something emergent, you may be allowed to reschedule the interview. In addition, Human Resources may require documentation supporting the request. However, should you need to reschedule, you will need to contact your Recruiter directly by email.
• Safety Sensitive Positions: Employees working in this classification will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing.
• On-call or 24/7 Positions: Employees working in this classification must be available to respond to page / text / call and report to work as determined by assigned department or the Authority.
• Essential / Emergency Staff: During declared "states of emergency," employees working in this classification are required to report to work for their assigned work hours or as directed by management.
• ADA Accommodations: The MBTA makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during this process, please contact the MBTA's ADA Unit at 617-222-5751 or hradaaa@mbta.com .
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The MBTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer . For terms, descriptions, and definitions related to diversity, equity, inclusion, veteran status, and immediate family members that you may find on the application form, please visit mbta.com/careers-app-definitions .
• Intern / Co-Op Benefits: Employees taking part in an internship or co-op at the MBTA are eligible to receive accrued paid sick leave as well as a monthly transportation pass, based on the city from which the intern / co-op commutes to work, at no cost. However, no additional benefits are currently offered for interns or co-ops.