Project Manager, Transit Technology

The Role

Delivers on the Region’s strategic vision of a sustainable transportation system by driving continuous improvement and operational efficiencies in transit technology to enhance the customer experience.

Leads the planning and implementation of transit technology projects during all life-cycle phases and within scope and budget, including creating the project scope, determining resources required, estimating project costs, defining project schedule, assigning tasks, scope control, project communications, implementation, and turnover to production support. Collaborates with corporate and divisional partners, including ITS to ensure technical resources and subject matter experts are assigned to the project.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Supervises Transit System Administrators. Supervises day-to-day support and management of existing transit systems (e.g., electronic fare management, dispatch, scheduling, automatic vehicle location, automatic passenger counting, traveler information systems, performance management/data analytics systems). 
• Plans short, medium, and long-term transit technology projects, working closely with the ITS Business Relationship Manager, which range in scope and value (up to $10M).
• Has full responsibility for and oversight of all project management duties for transit technology projects spanning the Division (e.g., Hastus, INIT or Trapeze transit management systems, customer booking systems, customer information systems, fare payment systems, mobile applications). Ensures system integration.   
• Engages and works with corporate-wide partners to ensure security, infrastructure, data, integration, privacy, accessibility, environmental, procurement, and project standards are met (e.g., ITS, Legal, privacy, procurement). 
• Sets project budgets as part of project documentation, including charters, committee terms of reference, goals and objectives, scope, team work plans, in collaboration with stakeholders and steering committees. 
• Leads/chairs regular project team meetings. Establishes project team members, ensuring all stakeholders are represented and involved. Details action items, owners, due dates.
• Provides direction/guidance to project team on priorities; schedules work and monitors work progress; identifies and resolves issues; and maintains project momentum. Identifies and facilitates opportunities to improve team effectiveness. 
• Reviews status reports and modifies schedules/work plans, as required. Prepares and delivers project reports for key stakeholders and management. 
• Tracks and reports on project budgets, schedules, and approvals processes for active transit technology projects through the full life-cycle.
• Analyzes interdependencies between transit technology projects, and evaluates and makes recommendations on strategic options (e.g., fixes, features, upgrades vs replacement).
• Consults regularly with stakeholders on issues related to systems implementation, testing, software, equipment, and network requirements. 
• Coordinates application/solution rollout with other staff and stakeholders. Coordinates testing and arranges end user training. Recommends and oversees the development of policies, procedures, and guidelines related to the use and administration of transit technology.
• Manages end of project documentation, including design records, manuals, project hand-offs/notes, and debriefs. Prepares incomplete scope/actions into roadmap for future transit technology projects.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Acts as a resource and provides expertise to divisional senior management in the delivery of transit technology projects. Delivers presentations to senior management and interdepartmental staff.
• Communicates with external stakeholders such as software vendors to track deliverables.
• Develops documentation of project requirements for the procurement process by collaborating with stakeholders to define needs.
• In partnership with ITS, provides recommendations regarding the purchase of software, equipment, and services.  
• Administers contracts for transit technology products/services. Negotiates with vendors to develop licence and support agreement/terms in compliance with corporate policies and to meet service level expectations. Participates in selecting contractors, vendors, and consultants with the Procurement team. 
• Researches transit technology projects, best practices, and product/service information in the industry. Liaises with industry peers to obtain information. 
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge typically acquired through a related university degree (e.g., computer science, business) plus  experience managing and implementing mid-sized projects (e.g., $10M in scope). 
• Demonstrated skill and experience leading business process changes such as enhancements to the customer experience or improvements to operational procedures through technology implementation.
• Knowledge of transit technology applications such as Hastus, INIT, customer booking systems, customer information systems, fare payment systems, and mobile applications as well as integrations between such systems.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, collective agreements, and related legislation (e.g., accessibility, privacy, Highway Traffic Act). 
• Ability to carry out detailed analysis and oversee testing of software implementation.
• Analytical, problem solving, planning, time management, and continuous improvement skills to deliver and implement project work plans; identify, assess, and mitigate risks; manage tasks; and adapt to changing priorities and deadlines. 
• Leadership, communication, and human relations skills to supervise, train, develop, motivate, and support staff; advise and lead project teams and committees; negotiate with contractors; conduct presentations; provide feedback and recommendations to project teams and stakeholders; communicate complex technical information to staff with varied levels of technical understanding; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to read and interpret operating and pay rules, reports, manuals, legislation, technical reports and relevant documentation.
• Ability to write work plans, procedures, reports, budgets, correspondence, and other documents for use with stakeholders and senior management.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, financial management software, and transit technology applications. 
• Ability to adjust hours to complete project milestones and resolve urgent problems outside of regular business hours.
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region. 
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.