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Job Description
Marketing Statement
Ride BART to a satisfying career that lets you both: 1) make a difference to Bay Area residents, and 2) enjoy excellent pay, benefits, and employment stability. BART is looking for people who like to be challenged, work in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for connecting riders to work, school and other places they need to go. BART offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and the CalPERS retirement program.
Job Summary
PAY RATE:
Non-Represented Pay Band 09
Minimum: $154,555.00/year - Maximum: $234,151.00/year
Note: The starting negotiable salary offer will be between $154,555.00/year - $186,700.00/year commensurate with education and experience.
REPORTS TO
Chief Communications Officer or designee
CURRENT ASSIGNMENT
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) is recruiting to fill a Manager of Media Relations position in the External Affairs Department.
The Manager of Media Relations works in the Communications Department and manages all media relations activities for the District including the BART Police Department. The position will serve as one of several spokespersons for the District and will rotate on-call duty to provide 24 hour, 7 days a week response. This position will take the lead on coordinating with the relevant BART Departments to arrange on scene media press conferences, tours, and interviews.
This position supports the Chief Communications Officer in the development of complex communication initiatives and works with team members and direct reports to execute both long term and rapid response communication strategies. This position will assign staffing levels and duties to Communications Department staff during major service disruptions, crisis/emergency situations, and planned media outreach.
This position should have foremost an absolutely impeccable command of news judgment as well as grammar and style; be a highly effective written and oral communicator; be able to work collaboratively with those in many other departments and explain complex concepts to those who are new to them; and work quickly and calmly under pressure.
This position may assume Chief Communications Officer responsibilities when necessary.
The most qualified candidate for this position will have highly developed competencies beyond the minimum qualifications in the following areas, which will be reinforced with related work experience and will be clearly articulated during the selection process:- Proven track record of leading high-impact media campaigns in a complex, multi-stakeholder public agency or transportation environment with extensive “on-the-record” and on-camera experience.
- Deep relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets, including transportation, infrastructure, and public safety reporters.
- Expertise in navigating politically sensitive or high-profile public issues with discretion and professionalism.
- Experience integrating social media strategy with traditional media outreach to amplify messaging and engagement.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and deadlines.
Examples of Duties
Manages and administers the operations and activities of the District’s Media Relations Program; oversees public relations initiatives and media events.
Serves as spokesperson for the District on a variety of issues affecting BART and the communities it serves.
Supports all BART department initiatives using media relations and public relations strategies.
Oversees the development of press releases, media advisories, fact sheets, website content, talking points, speeches, opinion pieces and presentations.
Manages the spokesperson on-call calendar, ensuring continuous coverage and proper activation during major service disruptions and other incidents requiring a response from the District.
Manages all responses to the news media; manages press conference planning and execution.
Keeps apprised of industry trends, communication technologies; advises Chief Communications Officer on strategic changes to maximize positive earned media.
Conducts analytical and operational studies; evaluates and recommends improvements to policies, procedures, and service delivery methods; prepares formal reports and presentations.
Participates in budget development and administration, including forecasting, monitoring expenditures, and recommending adjustments.
Directs and coordinates the work of assigned staff and contractors; oversees the planning, development, and implementation of programs, contracts, and internal procedures to ensure effective, efficient, and cost-conscious execution of departmental goals and objectives.
Directs and ensures timely response to legislative, media and community requests.
Plans, organizes, and oversees the preparation of reports including recommendations to the Board of Directors, committees, and other management staff.
Plans and coordinates staff meetings regarding assigned projects and programs; schedules meetings and prepares agendas; arranges facilities; notifies participants.
Composes, compiles, and prepares correspondence, reports and documents; reviews finished materials for completeness, accuracy and compliance with District policies and procedures; may oversee the maintenance of accurate records and files.
Serves as the Communications Department liaison within the District and with outside agencies; provides solutions and methodologies for effective support to District operations; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues.
May be required to operate a vehicle for transportation when revenue transit service is unavailable in order to attend and represent the District at press events and in meetings with the media and various community groups and organizations.
Selects, trains, motivates and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; and implements discipline and termination procedures.
Minimum Qualifications
EITHER
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in the Communications Department of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District in a principal-level role or as a Communications Officer.
OR
Education :
Possession of a bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
Experience :
The equivalent of five (5) years of professional verifiable experience in marketing, communications, media, journalism or closely related experience, which must have included at least two (2) years of supervisory experience.
Substitution :
Additional experience as outlined above may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.
Other Requirements :
Must be able to work overtime, on-call, weekends and be able to travel.
Must possess a valid California driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge of :- Operations of a comprehensive communications program
- Methods and techniques of developing and implementing comprehensive media relations programs
- Policies and procedures governing the release of information to the general public
- Principles of crisis communication
- Methods and techniques of research and analysis
- Principles and practices of project coordination and management
- Methods and techniques of policy analysis and development
- Principles of strategic planning and public outreach
- Principles and practices of contract administration
- Principles of budget preparation and control
- Principles and practices of business math, accounting and budgeting
- English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation
- Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation
- Principles of public sector labor relations, contract interpretation, and grievance handling
- Related Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations
- Managing a comprehensive communications program
- Developing and implementing communications policies and guidelines
- Managing situations impacting public relations
- Selecting, supervising, training and evaluating staff
- Participating in the development and administration of division goals, objectives and procedures
- Overseeing the work of contracted consultants and program administrators
- Preparing and administering large program budgets
- Preparing clear and concise administrative and financial reports
- Managing large-scale projects
- Overseeing the maintenance of District personnel files and records
- Delegating authority and responsibility
- Analyzing problems, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions and implementing recommendations in support of goals
- Researching, analyzing and evaluating new service delivery methods and techniques
- Interpreting and applying Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations
- Communicating clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
Equal Employment Opportunity GroupBox1
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and above), religion, national origin (including language use restrictions), disability (mental and physical, including HIV and AIDS), ancestry, marital status, military status, veteran status, medical condition (cancer/genetic characteristics and information), or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
The BART Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities or for religious reasons. Please advise the Human Resources Department of any special needs in advance of the examination by emailing at least 5 days before your examination date at employment@bart.gov .
Qualified veterans may be eligible to obtain additional veteran's credit in the selection process for this recruitment (effective Jan. 1, 2013). To obtain the credit, veterans must attach to the application a DD214 discharge document or proof of disability and complete/submit the Veteran's Preference Application no later than the closing date of the posting. For more information about this credit please go to the Veteran's Preference Policy and Application link at www.bart.gov/jobs .
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) prides itself in offering best in class benefits packages to employees of the District. Currently, the following benefits may be available to employees in this job classification.
Highlights- Medical Coverage (or $350/month if opted out)
- Dental Coverage
- Vision Insurance (Basic and Enhanced Plans Available)
- Retirement Plan through the CA Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
- 2% @ 55 (Classic Members)
- 2% @ 62 (PEPRA Members)
- 3% at 50 (Safety Members - Classic)
- 2.7% @ 57 (Safety Members - PEPRA)
- Reciprocity available for existing members of many other public retirement systems (see BART website and/or CalPERS website for details)
- Money Purchase Pension Plan (in-lieu of participating in Social Security tax)
- 6.65% employer contribution up to annual maximum of $1,868.65
- Deferred Compensation & Roth 457
- Sick Leave Accruals (12 days per year)
- Vacation Accruals (3-6 weeks based on time worked w/ the District)
- Holidays: 9 observed holidays and 5 floating holidays
- Life Insurance w/ ability to obtain additional coverage
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- Survivor Benefits through BART
- Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Health and Dependent Care
- Commuter Benefits
- Free BART Passes for BART employees and eligible family members.
Closing Date/Time: 11/21/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
Show moreThe BART story began in 1946. It began not by governmental fiat, but as a concept gradually evolving at informal gatherings of business and civic leaders on both sides of the San Francisco Bay. Facing a heavy post-war migration to the area and its consequent automobile boom, these people discussed ways of easing the mounting congestion that was clogging the bridges spanning the Bay. In 1947, a joint Army-Navy review Board concluded that another connecting link between San Francisco and Oakland would be needed in the years ahead to prevent intolerable congestion on the Bay Bridge. The link? An underwater tube devoted exclusively to high-speed electric trains.
Since 1911, visionaries had periodically brought up this Jules Verne concept. But now, pressure for a traffic solution increased with the population. In 1951, the State Legislature created the 26-member San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit Commission, comprised of representatives from each of the nine counties which touch the Bay. The Commission's charge was to study the Bay Area's long range transportation needs in the context of environmental problems and then recommend the best solution.
The Commission advised, in its final report in 1957, that any transportation plan must be coordinated with the area's total plan for future development. Since no development plan existed, the Commission prepared one itself. The result of their thoroughness is a master plan which did much to bring about coordinated planning in the Bay Area, and which was adopted a decade later by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).
The BART Concept is Born
The Commission's least-cost solution to traffic tie-ups was to recommend forming a five-county rapid transit district, whose mandate would be to build and operate a high-speed rapid rail network linking major commercial centers with suburban sub-centers.The Commission stated that, "If the Bay Area is to be preserved as a fine place to live and work, a regional rapid transit system is essential to prevent total dependence on automobiles and freeways."
Thus was born the environmental concept underlying BART. Acting on the Commission's recommendations, in 1957, the Legislature formed the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, comprising the five counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo. At this time, the District was granted a taxing power of five cents per $100 of assessed valuation. It also had authority to levy property taxes to support a general obligation bond issue, if approved by District voters. The State Legislature lowered the requirement for voter approval from 66 percent to 60 percent.
Between 1957 and 1962, engineering plans were developed for a system that would usher in a new era in rapid transit. Electric trains would run on grade-separated right-of-ways, reaching maximum speeds of 75-80 mph, averaging perhaps 45 mph, including station stops. Advanced transit cars, with sophisticated suspensions, braking and propulsion systems, and luxurious interiors, would be strong competition to "King Car " in the Bay Area. Stations would be pleasant, conveniently located, and striking architectural enhancements to their respective on-line communities.
BART employees in the 1970s.
Hundreds of meetings were held in the District communities to encourage local citizen participation in the development of routes and station locations. By midsummer, 1961, the final plan was submitted to the supervisors of the five District counties for approval. San Mateo County Supervisors were cool to the plan. Citing the high costs of a new system-plus adequate existing service from Southern Pacific commuter trains - they voted to withdraw their county from the District in December 1961.
With the District-wide tax base thus weakened by the withdrawal of San Mateo County, Marin County was forced to withdraw in early 1962 because its marginal tax base could not adequately absorb its share of BART's projected cost. Another important factor in Marin's withdrawal was an engineering controversy over the feasibility of carrying trains across the Golden Gate Bridge.
BART had started with a 16-member governing Board of Directors apportioned on county population size: four from Alameda and San Francisco Counties, three from Contra Costa and San Mateo, and two from Marin. When the District was reduced to three counties, the Board was reduced to 11 members: four from San Francisco and Alameda, and three from Contra Costa. Subsequently, in 1965, the District's enabling legislation was changed to apportion the BART Board with four Directors from each county, thus giving Contra Costa its fourth member on a 12-person Board. Two directors from each county, hence forth, were appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. The other two directors were appointed by committees of mayors of each county (with the exception of the City and County of San Francisco, whose sole mayor made these appointments).
The five-county plan was quickly revised to a three-county plan emphasizing rapid transit between San Francisco and the East Bay cities and suburbs of Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The new plan, elaborately detailed and presented as the "BART Composite Report, " was approved by supervisors of the three counties in July 1962, and placed on the ballot for the following November general election.
The plan required approval of 60 percent of the District's voters. It narrowly passed with a 61.2 percent vote District-wide, much to the surprise of many political experts who were confident it would fail. Indeed, one influential executive was reported to have said: "If I'd known the damn thing would have passed, I'd never have supported it. "
The voters approved a $792 million bond issue to finance a 71.5 mile high-speed transit system, consisting of 33 stations serving 17 communities in the three counties. The proposal also included another needed transit project: rebuilding 3.5 miles of the San Francisco Municipal Railway. The new line would link muni streetcar lines directly with BART and Market Street stations, and four new Muni stations would be built.
The additional cost of the transbay tube -- estimated at $133 million -- was to come from bonds issued by the California Toll Bridge Authority and secured by future Bay Area Bridge revenues. The additional cost of rolling stock, estimated at $71 million, was to be funded primarily from bonds issued against future operating revenues. Thus, the total cost of the system, as of 1962, was projected at $996 million. It would be the largest single public works project ever undertaken in the U.S. by the local citizenry.
After the election, engineers immediately started work on the final system designs, only to be halted by a taxpayer's suit filed against the District a month later. The validity of the bond election, and the legality of the District itself, were challenged. While the court ruled in favor of the District on both counts, six months of litigation cost $12 million in construction delays. This would be the first of many delays from litigation and time-consuming negotiations involving 166 separate agreements reached with on-line cities, counties, and other special districts. The democratic processes of building a new transit system would prove to be major cost factors that, however necessary, were not foreseen.
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