Transit Capital Priorities Program Manager

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2026, AT 11:59 PM

Be ready to rethink your assumptions about the public sector. Dedicated and motivated colleagues? Beautiful, high amenity building for on-site work and collaboration? Flexible schedules and hybrid work options? Yes, yes, and yes!

ABOUT MTC 
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is committed to being an equitable and inclusive workplace. MTC provides services to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). For more information about MTC, visit www.mtc.ca.gov.

ABOUT THE SECTION
This position is in the Funding Policy and Programs (FPP) section serving MTC.  FPP develops and implements regional transportation funding policies, allocates funding for various transportation projects and programs, and reviews projects for consistency with regional priorities and applicable regulations. 

ABOUT THE ROLE 
The Transit Capital Priorities Program Manager position will serve as the manager of the Transit Capital Priorities program, which allocates federal transit and regional funds to transit operators, primarily to replace and rehabilitate transit capital assets; serve as MTC’s program manager for other related funding programs, including the transition zero-emission buses and major regional transit vehicle fleet replacements; and work closely with public transit operators and with other MTC staff to manage these programs from beginning to end by identifying available funding, reviewing and understanding legislation and guidance documents, issuing calls for projects and reviewing applications, developing annual programs, managing contracts, grants, or funding agreements, and monitoring project progress and expenditure of funds.

This position will be filled at either the Planner/Analyst II classification (salary grade VII) or the Planner/Analyst III classification (salary grade VIII) depending on years of experience and qualifications.

Under the general direction of the Principal Planner/Analyst for Federal Transit and Capital Programs, specific assignments will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Administer and continuously improve all aspects of the funding programs, developing guidelines, conducting calls for projects, managing contracts, monitoring project progress, tracking fund allocations and expenditures, identifying and resolving issues.
• Work with federal and state agencies to understand and serve as MTC liaison to the various transportation funding programs, such as the Federal Urbanized Area Formula, State of Good Repair, Bus & Bus Facilities, and Surface Transportation Program. Identify connections and opportunities for synergies between the various programs.
• Develop MTC’s Transit Capital Priorities Program, including fund projections, project eligibility, and program guidelines. As part of a team, monitor projects, ensure compliance with grant requirements, carry out program administration, and make recommendations to improve it.
• Assist with MTC’s efforts in securing, implementing, and reporting on the agency’s own federal grants related to the Transit Capital Priorities program.
• Lead MTC’s efforts working with transit operators to implement the state’s Innovative Clean Transit rule for zero-emission buses, including developing expertise related to this regulation, adapting the Transit Capital Priorities program over time to reflect changing market conditions, and developing funding strategies to assist operators in meeting the mandate.
• Work with MTC’s Legislation and Public Affairs team to analyze funding and policy impacts of proposed federal and state legislation, such as federal surface transportation funding authorizations.
•  Assist as needed with other transit grant programs, covering areas such as transit expansion and maintenance. Work with staff and transit operators to understand the region’s needs for maintaining and upgrading transit infrastructure, help plan for achieving a state of good repair, and meet transit capital regulations.
• Sustain MTC involvement with project sponsors and stay current with project developments. Brief senior and executive staff on changes and issues that affect the programs.
• Prepare and present materials for Commission consideration, including program development/project selection, periodic progress reports, and other special topics as needed. Follow agency standards for Commission materials, and work cooperatively with project sponsors and MTC staff to ensure that materials are timely, accurate, and professional.
• Prepare and present materials regularly to the region’s transit operators through the Transit Finance Working Group, including proposed programming updates and policy discussions related to the Transit Capital Priorities program.
• Serve as an expert resource to the agency and partners on the programs.
• Perform other job-related duties as needed or assigned to the Funding Policy and Programs Section.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Principles and techniques of public transportation project funding
• Government transportation programs, projects and project development, and funding procedures

Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in Excel spreadsheet software is required
• Communicate very effectively both orally and in writing
• Represent the agency before professional and policy groups
• Present results of analyses before MTC Committees and other public entities
• Work effectively with a diverse group of staff and stakeholders as part of a team
• Ensure attention to detail and accuracy in database files and funding documents
• Conduct spreadsheet analyses
• Design and maintain reports of project funding information
• Accurately track and monitor project and program funding
• Develop and maintain strong and positive working relationships with key staff at various agencies and related organizations
• Use creative problem solving, take personal initiative, and carry out assignments with minimal supervision

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Planner/Analyst II: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, civil engineering, environmental science, communications, business or public administration, or a related field and two (2) years of increasingly responsible professional level experience in a field related to assigned area of responsibility.

Planner/Analyst III: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, civil engineering, environmental science, communications, business or public administration, or a related field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in a field related to assigned area of responsibility.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment, such as transportation planning, project management, public finance, transportation engineering, economics, business or public administration.  A Master's degree is desirable. 

• Prior experience with transportation planning, programming, and/or project delivery is preferred.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Successful completion of a background check, professional references and the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9.  

DISABILITY
The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment or skills assessment process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If selected for an interview or testing, and you require accommodation, please notify the Human Resources Department when confirming your interview or test.

APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

Salary : $108,035 - $167,627