Email Job to a Friend

Non-Represented Employment Opportunity

Salary: $93,466.00 - $126,179.00 Annually

Close Date: Continuous

To apply for this exciting career opportunity, please visit norta.com/jobs

This bulletin is posted to establish or add to a qualified list of candidates.
This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority.
This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

OVERVIEW
The Regional Transit Authority gets people moving around New Orleans. Our transit services bring hard-working commuters to their jobs, students to their schools, and fun-seekers to entertainment, shopping areas, and restaurants. We provide mobility to residents of the city as well as tourists, taking them to and from their hotels to historical neighborhoods and countless attractions. RTA’s system includes five streetcar lines, 34 bus routes, two ferry routes, and paratransit services. Our passengers take more than 19 million rides every year.

REPORTS TO:
Chief Financial Officer

TITLES OF POSITIONS REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THIS JOB:
Fare Technology Specialist

JOB SUMMARY
The Finance Department is looking for a Director of Fare Structure and Technology to lead our team in developing and implementing a new fare payment technology ecosystem and fare technology solutions. This position is responsible for performing analysis of future fare structure options for RTA with duties including documentation and data preparation, fare options sensitivity analysis, evaluation, and inter-department coordination. This position is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of reconciliation procedures for cash), smart card, mobile apps, credit cards, and other revenue streams. The Director of Fare Structure and Technology is responsible for reviewing and analyzing ridership and revenue numbers from the fare collection system. This position will play an essential role in moving RTA forward by using technology to improve the customer experience and manage revenue. The ideal candidate must have prior experience and a proven track record in developing and implementing fare payment technologies (including AFC systems, farebox assessments, contactless payments, cashless systems, mobile payments/ticketing and apps, and other emerging technologies) and operation of medium to large-scale technology programs with focused expertise in transit payment systems, professional experience in program and project management, experience overseeing teams, and ensuring that all fare technology solutions comply with applicable laws. 

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions upon request.

• Directs activities related to evaluation, implementation, fare management, and related services
• Oversees integration of all regional fare products, transfer rules, equipment, and/or software technology that impacts RTA and regional participants
• Oversees development and implementation of new regional policies and systems in both transit and non-transit retail and banking applications 
• Support the delivery of hardware and software (including fare collection devices, payments technology, and mobile app)
• Develops reports and presentations to communicate RTA fare policies, and procedures to internal and external stakeholders, including the RTA Board of Directors and community groups
• Directs software support RTA fare systems, including website interface, e-commerce, mobile development, ticket vending machines, compact POS (Point of Sale) devices, farebox, fare-gates, validating devices, and other avenues for electronically connecting to customers
• Conduct quality control on monthly ridership and revenue processing, perform revenue and ridership analysis for various regular and ad hoc projects and requests, and respond to internal and external inquiries on revenue information
• Provide work direction to consultants, contractors, and technology developers on various planning and special projects related to fare systems and technology
• Establish strong relationships within Finance, IT, and key business partners
• Evaluate project risk, vendor proposals, and solutions for recommendation to stakeholders
• Analyze and predict the relative impacts of fare structure changes on overall fare media
• Lead the development of new projects and programs including the implementation of revenue management systems
• Ensure that all fare technology solutions comply with applicable laws
• Plan, develop, and implement the procurement process for goods and services related to fare equipment acquisitions 
• Experience leading weekly/monthly technology team meetings with fare systems vendors and internal teams, driving issue tracking and resolution, and reporting program performance to the executive team
• Establish analysis methodology for reviewing fare structure options; inventory existing data sources; identify data needs; review the fare change experiences of other transit carriers; and update forecasting models
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of RTA are carried out

Qualifications

EDUCATION
A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree is required. A Bachelor's Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration, IT/Computer Science, or a related field is preferred.

EXPERIENCE

• 5+ Years performing technical and project management tasks related to the design, test, operation, and maintenance of fare payment systems of all sizes and modes
• 7+ years of relevant work experience in consulting or project management in transit and payment systems
• Five (5) years of experience with complex software system integration and vendor management preferred. 

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS/DEMANDS

• A valid Louisiana Driver's License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions 
• Must submit to a criminal background check, the results of which must meet hiring criteria for the role. 
• Must provide proof of being fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine before the start date.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Applicable Federal, State, and local, rail/transit industry regulations, rules, standards, and accepted best practices to assure ongoing RTA awareness and familiarity with all regulatory issues.
• Experience with Intelligent Transportation Systems and Information Technology for transit systems such as automatic data collection, automatic vehicle location, automatic passenger counting, and fare payment technology.
• Theories, principles, and practices of project management, including cost estimation, budgets, and quality assurance/quality management
• Expert experience with transit fare technology solutions and transit payment ecosystems to improve travel time, lower costs and enhance service 
• Deep knowledge of smart card systems, automated fare collection systems, account-based ticketing, and pass/ticket-based systems
• Business partnering and top-notch communication skills including the ability to build senior-level relationships and act as a trusted advisor amongst agency teams and Finance leadership
• Extensive experience evaluating, implementing, configuring, and managing fare software and hardware-based systems
• Lead finance integration status meetings and provide summary progress reports
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational and presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with all internal levels within a given organization
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact well with external agencies
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift to 15 pounds at times. Normal office environment.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EEO STATEMENT 
NORTA is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions are based on job-related standards and must comply with the principles of equal employment opportunity.