Director of Data Strategy

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. MBTAs 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.

The Director of Data Strategy in the Office of Performance Management and Innovation (OPMI) will design and implement strategies to acquire integrate manage govern and share data to support effective data-driven decision making across the MBTA and MassDOT.

OPMI is a shared service between the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation with a focus on using data to improve performance across all of the operating divisions. The office both works on long-term projects and responds to immediate requests.

• Develop data provision requirements for procurements to acquire/purchase new systems/datasets.
• Design strategies to integrate data from multiple systems to create and operationalize models metric calculations and analytics enhancements to datasets.
• Lead the development and evolution of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) strategy for the MBTA and three key areas:
  • Improving the quality availability and discoverability of existing geospatial data at the MBTA;
  • Developing more mature geospatial data and pipelines across MassDOT divisions; and
  • Collaborating on the development of new geospatial data methods and tools with OPMI and our partners.
• Act as a resource for departments to enable data preparation in service of Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness.
• Align data management and governance strategies to MassDOT and MBTA enterprise strategies to enforce the data privacy policy reduce redundancy and facilitate integration analysis and access.
• Contribute to Data Catalog for internal data sharing that will enable MassDOT and the MBTA to take advantage of the customer- and service-related data collected by its numerous automated systems.
• Maintain and enhance Open Data Portal for external data sharing.
• Manage data communication strategy toward an end goal of building data literacy across both MassDOT and the MBTA including internal data guides data blog and other outreach methods.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions.

Supervision

• Direct supervision of a Manager of Performance Data Technology and a Manager of Data Visualization.

• Bachelors degree from an accredited institution in Urban Planning Civil Engineering Geography Statistics Social Sciences Applied Math Computer Science Business Administration or related field.
• Seven (7) years of experience managing data-related projects.
• Five (5) years of supervisory managerial and/or leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team and coordinate work in a fast-paced environment to deliver projects on time and on budget.
• Demonstrated experience with large-scale geospatial data systems and spatial data governance frameworks.
• Advanced expertise working with and integrating multiple disparate related data sources.
• Advanced expertise in database architecture transit data sets and structures.
• Advanced expertise in using coding languages and platforms to manipulate aggregate and extract data (e.g. SQL python Snowflake Esri).
• Experience creating presentations in PowerPoint or other software for presentation in public meetings.
• Effective communication skills in written and verbal formats.
• Interest in public transport transportation or public sector service provision.

• A high school diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelors degree requirement.
• An associates degree from an accredited institution and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelors degree requirement.
• A masters degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one (1) year of experience.

• Masters degree from an accredited institution in Urban Planning Geography Civil Engineering Statistics Social Sciences Applied Math Computer Science Business Administration or related field.
• Experience in the development and evolution of a GIS strategy to improve the quality availability and discoverability of geospatial data or to develop more mature geospatial data and pipelines.
• Experience aligning data management and governance strategies to enforce data privacy reduce redundancy or facilitate integration and access.

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read comprehend communicate and respond to instructions orders signs notices inquiries 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 diverseworkforce 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 Numberprior to starting pre-employment screenings / pre-boarding working in their positions and throughout the duration of their program.

Disclaimers and Definitions:

1. 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.
2. Application Completion: It is each applicants 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.
3. Application Deadlines:Applicants should apply as soon as possible as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large applicant pool is established.
4. 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.
5. Work Eligibility:All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States and on an unrestricted 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 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.
6. 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 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.
7. Safety Sensitive Positions:Employees working in this classification will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. ADA Accommodations: The MBTA makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during this process please contact the MBTAs ADA Unit at or .
11. 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 / Co-Op Benefits: Employees taking part in an internship orco-opat 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-opcommutes to workat no cost. However no additional benefits are currently offered for interns orco-ops.