The Opportunity
Metro Transit is looking for a strategic, detail-driven Transit Planning and Scheduling Manager to help shape the future of public transit in our city.
In this role, you’ll lead the team that designs how Metro moves Madison—overseeing bus routes, stops, public schedules, operator shift schedules, long-range service planning, and data analysis. Your work will directly impact daily riders, frontline staff, and the long-term vision of our transit system.
Reporting directly to the Transit Chief Development Officer, you’ll play a key leadership role at Metro, balancing big-picture planning with hands-on problem solving through your team to deliver reliable, efficient, and equitable transit service for our community.
Our Organization
Metro Transit has strong transit fundamentals with a major university, a constrained street grid, and strong financial support from the local government. This has allowed Metro to have more robust transit service compared to population peers nationally, running 193 buses and providing over 11 million rides in 2025. Metro is a department of the City of Madison and has contracts with surrounding communities and the University of Wisconsin to provide regional service. In the last several years, Metro has completed a full system redesign, rolled out our initial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, and added 65 electric buses to our system.
Our Community
The City of Madison is regularly included in lists of top places to live. A thriving food scene, more than 200 miles of bike paths and trails, five beautiful lakes, excellent healthcare, and of course great transit work together to help meet Madison’s vision to be inclusive, innovative and thriving.
See who agrees!
As a member of the Senior Management Team at Metro, members will:
- Support and promote collaborative efforts to achieve mission requirements
- Infuse racial equity goals, principles, and tools into all aspects of Metro Transit operations
- Promote teamwork
- Communicate openly and candidly
- Participate fully in discussions
- Employ techniques for problem solving and decision making
IMPORTANT: THERE ARE SUPPLEMENTL ESSAY QUESTIONS ON THIS POSTING. YOU MUST UPLOAD YOUR ESSAYS IN THE ATTACHMENT SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.
**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT YOUR ESSAYS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION.**
To view the questions, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin.
This position is trainee eligible, and we will consider applicants who meet the listed trainee-level qualifications as well as those who meet qualifications for the objective level. An employee hired in a trainee role would participate in a training and career progression program. An individualized training program developed for the trainee would provide for tailored training to guide advancement from a trainee to a Transit Planning and Scheduling Manager. A trainee is expected to complete the full training program in approximately 2 years or less depending on individual needs. Specific timelines would be developed at the time of hire.
Initial placement for the position is determined based on training and experience at time of hire.
Transit Planning and Scheduling Manager Trainee - $93,965.04 - $113,443.98 (CG44, R12)
Transit Scheduling and Planning Manager - $103,302.16 - $124,362.16 (CG44, R14)
Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn’t match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.
The City of Madison is committed to fostering an inclusive workforce. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for a medical condition, pregnancy-related condition, or religious belief/practice, please contact Occupational Accommodations Specialist, at (608) 267-1156 or at accommodations@cityofmadison.com.
Work is done directly and through supervised team staff.
Data Analysis / Strategic Planning / Engagement
- Oversee the FTA Title VI Program update, NTD information submissions, and all federal reporting and grant submissions
- Develop and oversee a comprehensive public participation framework that manages expectations and gathers feedback from neighborhood groups and major institutions
- Serve as a principal staff liaison to boards and commissions, interpreting technical studies for non-technical audiences
- Oversee the application of GIS and geospatial tools to support quantitative analysis for operations and project development
- Monitor and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and forecasting to support strategic planning
- Represent Metro at inter-departmental meetings to integrate transit into street designs and safeguard operations from negative impacts
- Identify emerging ideas in transportation and assess potential applications within agency operations
Service Planning and Internal Collaboration
- Define and refine a vision for the route network, ensuring infrastructure projects align with long-range service goals
- Collaborate with Metro Operations and Maintenance to ensure service plans align with long-range fleet procurement goals and that route designs are operationally feasible
- Lead inter-departmental efforts for the implementation of transit signal priority (TSP), dedicated bus lanes, and other speed and reliability enhancements
- Oversee the planning and integration of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including real-time information and flexible service models
- Collaborate with Buildings and Grounds regarding the placement, design, and maintenance of transit infrastructure and passenger amenities
- Work with Metro Finance on budget tracking and Marketing and Customer Service to ensure public-facing materials and schedules are accurate and accessible
- Participate in local emergency management activities, assisting in the planning and coordination of transit resources during emergencies
Staff Leadership and Administration
- Interview, hire, train, and evaluate the performance of staff in the Planning unit
- Assign work to staff members and manage divisional budgets
- Oversee fixed-route and BRT service scheduling, including run cutting efforts and the driver pick process
- Prepare and administer the unit's annual operating and capital budgets to ensure alignment with agency goals
- Manage projects using federal and state grant programs and budgets, including the oversight of grant-funded operating expenditures
- Create and execute annual and long-range work programs for the Planning unit, ensuring the effective integration of staff, funds, and local resources
- Perform administrative management tasks associated with professional services, including consultant selection and contract administration
- Maintain high productivity and morale while ensuring the unit follows principles of racial equity, social justice, and ethical transparency
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional transit or transportation planning experience which included independent responsibility for developing and coordinating related professional planning activities
- One (1) year of experience leading people as a supervisor, lead worker, team leader responsible to direct work/enforce deadlines, or other leadership capacity (could be within the planning experience or in another work setting)
-OR-
- Bachelor's degree in transportation planning or other directly related field
- Two (2) years of responsible professional transit or transportation planning experience which included independent responsibility for developing and coordinating related professional planning activities
- One (1) year of experience leading people as a supervisor, lead worker, team leader responsible to direct work/enforce deadlines, or other leadership capacity (could be within the planning experience or in another work setting)
The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore, successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to work effectively with multicultural communities.
For a complete list of the knowledge, skills and abilities, please view the Transit Planning and Scheduling manager class specification.
The employee will be expected to occasionally attend meetings and provide presentations outside the normal work schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Ability to meet the transportation requirements of the position.
Ability to work at a sit/stand desk for extended periods using standard office equipment.
This position is not remote. Employee must work on site.
*Payroll title for this position is Transit Planning and Scheduling Manager.
