Operations Planning, Scheduling, and Strategy (OPSS) Intern

MBTA Operations Planning, Scheduling, and Strategy (OPSS) Summer/Fall 2024

Summary

As an intern, you will be support Operations Planning, Scheduling and Strategy (OPSS) teams on a variety of critical projects to design and deliver safe, reliable, frequent and accessible service.  OPSS is made up of several teams, including Service Planning, Transit Priority, Bus Network Redesign, and Alternative Service & Contracted Bus. 

Example work includes:

• Service Planning: planning support to structure bus routes, stops, and schedules.
• Transit Priority: collaborate with municipalities and internal colleagues to plan and design bus lanes across the region.
• Bus Network Redesign: support implementation of the MBTA’s vision for redesigning our bus network over the next 5 years.
• Contracted Bus / Alternative Service Planning:  planning support for a diverse array of alternative service options during both planned and emergency subway and commuter rail closures. 

We are seeking a people-person who wants to make our public transportation work better, enjoys helping people and learning about the nuts of bolts of providing transit service.

As an intern, you will get guidance and mentorship from department leadership. Working in OPSS will provide exposure to teams and individuals tasked with redefining how the MBTA provides service to our customers, and will support similar planning and design efforts that have won accolades from industry peers, and allow an intern to be part of a recognized industry-leading team that is rebuilding the MBTA’s service. 

Responsibilities:

• Help MBTA staff in the field to understand how service is operating, including communication with planners, dispatchers, field inspectors, and bus/train operators. Document and communicate findings and feedback internally with the rest of the team. 
• With guidance from senior team members, conduct peer research on industry best practices and innovations. Share feedback back to our team so that we can improve upon the service, plans, and designs that improve public transit services.
• Help the OPSS team in the preparation of presentations, memos, press releases, letters, maps, data, etc. that support ongoing planning efforts and communication.
• Help coordinate meetings including scheduling, agenda setting, and managing meetings.
• Assist the Schedules team with communicating information about schedule changes to customers including updating signage at stops or stations.
• Help provide data analysis using tools such as excel to create charts and visualizations to communicate internal transit data. 
• Help monitor, track, and flag other transportation projects implemented by municipalities or other agency patterns that may have direct or indirect impact on the provision of public transportation. 

We'd love to hear from you if...

• You have an interest in public service, transit, or transportation and how it operates.
• You have some formal experience with planning, operations, policy, engineering, or project management.
• You have some coursework, on-the-job experience, or other experiences demonstrating an interest in public transportation.
• You want to help improve public transportation because you believe in making people’s lives better.
• You have experience working on tools or data that support planning, such GIS, database management, visualization software, graphic design, etc.
• You are highly organized, motivated, and have great attention-to-detail.
• You are a current high school, college or graduate school student.

If selected for an interview, candidates may be required to take a writing and spreadsheet test to demonstrate their skills and ability as it relates to this position.

Compensation range (graduate students): $24 to $26 per hour (depending on experience)