SENIOR MANAGER, INNOVATION (STRATEGIC INNOVATION)

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Accountable for project/program conception, procurement, development, implementation, and execution phases; for managing strategic initiatives; for managing project teams; for planning and conducting research; and for overseeing consultant services and contracts to test leading-edge ideas under the purview of Metro's Office of Strategic Innovation (OSI) that will improve mobility for Los Angeles County.

Recruitment Timelines: I nterviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of December 15, 2025. These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

Examples of Duties

• Oversees project or program conception, development, implementation

• Explores, researches, analyzes, initiates, and tests leading-edge ideas to improve mobility in Los Angeles

• Conducts research on best practices and lessons learned from the public and private sector, both nationally and internationally

• Develops, forecasts, and monitors budgets for plans, programs, and projects

• Provides technical support and policy guidance to management on Metro plans, programs, and projects

• Represents Metro, provides consultation services, and makes presentations to local, regional, state, and other agency committees and boards

• Coordinates and disseminates information to various agencies, groups, and departments

• Reviews and evaluates contractor proposals; negotiates award amounts, operating standards, and work projects; ensures productive use of contractors; and analyzes and manages contractor/consultant contracts and budgets

• Participates and takes leadership position in regional forums; leads inter-agency task forces and technical advisory groups

• Develops and evaluates transportation plans and projects, and transit operations plans, services and schedules

• Prepares comprehensive reports, correspondence, and cost estimates

• Supervises, trains, and provides technical assistance to assigned staff

• Manages pilot projects or programs

• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
  
  May be required to perform other related job duties
  

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Business, Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Engineering (Civil, Transportation, etc.), Economics, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Six years of relevant experience or three years of relevant supervisory-level experience in transportation planning, public policy, project funding and financing, project management, transportation system design and research, operations planning, or other related area

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
  

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience utilizing data governance and/or digital footprint related to transportation projects/programs
  
• Experience leading inter-agency or multi-jurisdictional initiatives, for large scale events, including consensus building among diverse stakeholders.
  
• Experience navigating complex organizational structures while managing multidisciplinary teams on multifaceted, concurrent projects/programs, including budgeting, contracts, and consultant oversight.
  
• Experience developing and implementing innovative transportation or mobility solutions.
  
• Experience utilzing written and verbal communications skills to prepare and deliver reports and presentations for executive or public audiences.
  

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of transportation planning, project management, procurement, communications, and public policy
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations
• Social, political, and environmental issues influencing transportation programs or projects
• Administrative principles and methods, including goal setting, program and budget development and implementation
• Contract administration
• Financial and budgeting principles
• Applicable business software applications

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Planning, organizing, and managing the work of an innovative, dynamic team or organizational unit in an effort to improve mobility in Los Angeles County
• Determining strategies to achieve goals
• Preparing comprehensive reports, correspondence, and visualizations
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, determining strategies to achieve goals, recommending and implementing solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions and problem solving
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees, outside stakeholders, and the public

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Manage the activities of a major transportation project or program
• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data
• Make financial decisions within a budget
• Meet tight time constraints and deadlines
• Think and act independently
• Understand complex planning concepts
• Mediate, negotiate, build consensus across a diverse set of parties and interests
• Develop and implement objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls
• Work effectively and productively as a member of a team
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, budgets, and contracts
• Represent Metro before elected officials, the private sector, and the public
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
  
• Close exposure to computer monitors
  

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
  
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium (Frequently)
  
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
  
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
  

(EY)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan - Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance - PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance - PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance - 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays - 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP) - Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years 20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year 25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year 30 days
Beginning of 16th + years 35 days

Pension Plan - PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro’s Pension & Benefits website at benefits.metro.net

Closing Date/Time: 11/25/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro

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