Under the general supervision of a Senior Planner/Analyst, the Policy and Financial Analyst will be responsible for generating financial analysis products including fund estimates, financial forecasts, and in-depth revenue and expenditure analyses, which may be used to make recommendations related to policy issues; completing analysis for legislative advocacy purposes; and making presentations. The Policy and Financial Analyst will also be responsible for providing transit capital and operating budget/planning assistance to Bay Area transit operators and performing transit funding and performance analyses.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, as listed in the Higher Education Directory, in one or more of the appropriate disciplines: public policy, business, economics, or transportation studies. (Applicants with a degree issued from an institution outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an academic accrediting service and provide proof of equivalency along with the application.)

Experience: Completion of a minimum of one year of recent (must be within the last five years), progressive and verifiable professional experience in: policy analysis, economics, budgeting, city planning, or a field related to the position. Experience with transportation finance and interaction with government agencies is a plus. (One year of graduate work in a discipline directly related to the position may be substituted for job experience.) Additional professional work experience is preferred.

Knowledge of: Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, principles and methods of budgeting and financial forecasting are required; database software and principles; the process of transportation project finance, development and implementation, principles of transit management and fund programming, including long-range planning and budgeting is desired.

Ability to: Communicate effectively is required, including the ability to translate technical financial data and information into a language and format understandable to the general public. Work effectively with others, as part of a team. Prepare, evaluate and monitor program budgets.
Analyze complex operational and management problems and develop innovative solutions.

TYPICAL ASSIGNMENTS:

Under the supervision and direction of a Senior Planner and Section Director, the Planner/Policy Analyst will:

Complete the annual Fund Estimate and apportionment by February of each year. MTC estimates and apportions the Transportation Development Act (TDA) and other funds anticipated to be available in the forthcoming fiscal year. The purpose of this action is to enable the fund claimants to better plan their budgets for the coming year and to satisfy the California Code of Regulations relative to the apportionment of TDA funds. Work with MTC’s Finance Section, County auditors, and transit agencies to ensure accuracy of estimates.
Complete the necessary financial and needs assessment forecasts that are included in MTC’s nine-county Bay Area Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The RTP document includes all transportation revenue expected to be available to all transportation providers in the Bay Area over the next 20-25 years. The RTP also includes a comprehensive needs assessment for capital replacement and operation costs for the transit and streets and road network.
Refine policies and procedures to guide transit operators in developing their Short Range Transit Plans (SRTPs). Manage contracts and agreements with the operators to ensure compliance with program requirements and conditions of performance. (As background, the Bay Area has 20+ transit agencies and carries roughly 500 million passengers annually. The cost of this service is roughly $1.8 billion per year, 30% of which is covered by fares.)
Serve on transit operators’ steering committees during the SRTP development, providing feedback on financial sustainability of services and scenarios for service expansion/changes. Review the completed SRTPs to assess the scope and viability of the transit agencies’ operating plans and associated capital programs. Summarize results as part of the region’s transit financial capacity assessments, and development of long-range plan capital needs.
Monitor the economic landscape of the Bay Area and both local and national trends affecting transportation revenues. This includes tracking taxable sales receipts for the nine-county Bay Area, as well as tracking fuel prices and consumption for California and the U.S.
Complete financial analyses for advocacy purposes of potential changes to state and/or federal law.
Analyze the policy implications of various MTC and partner initiatives, particularly with respect to transportation revenues and their distribution.
Perform as-needed financial analyses of transportation funding and analyses of transit operator performance and funding requirements.
Represent MTC at meetings, review written reports and memoranda prepared by project staff and make presentations before MTC committees, executive staff, and other agencies. Conduct general liaison, problem solving and correspondence handling.

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

Supplemental Background Information:

Prepare a brief written summary addressing the areas below. Your responses to all questions should be limited to a maximum of two pages, preferably typewritten on 8-1/2” x 11” paper. Please be sure your experience directly relates to this position and cite the organization where you acquired the relevant experience.

Describe any experience you have had with developing financial forecasts and/or with analyzing the financial implications of a particular policy. What tools or techniques did you employ to complete the task(s) and how were the results of the analysis used?

Describe any experience you have had in developing a transit operating plan and/or capital program. Please describe the stakeholders that you worked with in this process.

Submit an MTC application (PDF), a current resume and response to the supplemental questions to Human Resources Office, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, CA 94607. Applications not submitted, or submitted without all of the required materials will not be given further consideration. Application materials must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Thursday, July 31, 2008. Faxed/emailed applications will not be accepted.

To receive a full job description and an application form, contact MTC at the Job Hotline, (510) 817-5818, or email jobhotline@mtc.ca.gov. Leave your contact information and indicate which job announcement you are requesting. Applications can also be downloaded (PDF). Applications not submitted on MTC forms or not including all required materials will not be considered.

EMPLOYEE SELECTION PROCESS:

This Job Announcement sets a cut-off date and time for the receipt of applications. Applications will be reviewed as promptly as possible following the cut-off date. Those candidates whose applications show the best combination of training, experience, knowledge, and ability relevant to the position will be invited for an interview.

Interviews will be conducted by a panel whose members are acquainted with the requirements of the position. At the conclusion of the interviews, the panel will rate the candidates. The Executive Director may offer the position to the best-qualified candidate.

After the position has been offered and accepted, all other applicants will be notified promptly of the filling of the position. As appropriate, the panel may recommend which of the candidates interviewed but not selected may constitute an "eligibility" list, which will remain in effect for six months. In the event the same or very similar position becomes available during that period, the list may be used for further selection.

In the event that a suitable candidate is not found, the position will be reopened for further recruitment.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD:

The initial six months of service in this position constitute a probation period. The purpose of probation is to assist the employee in adapting to the new job, to evaluate the employee’s performance relative to continuation in the position, and to provide for corrective measures when performance is deficient.

SALARY SCHEDULE:

MTC staff employees are paid on the basis of an adopted salary schedule. The cited grade for this position consists of a total of eleven steps with intervals of approximately 2½% available for merit progression.

THE FOLLOWING ARE AMONG THE BENEFITS OFFERED TO MTC EMPLOYEES:

One day per month paid vacation leave; for each year of service, an additional day per year is granted to a maximum of 25 days per year.
One day per month paid sick leave, with no limit to the amount of sick leave that can be accumulated. (May cash out up to 240 hours of accumulated sick leave upon separation from the Agency.)
Eleven paid holidays per year.
Personal business leave; up to three days per year depending upon date of hire.
Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); employee contributes a portion of gross salary on a pre-tax basis.
Health Benefits Insurance through the Public Employees’ Retirement System (100% MTC-paid employee and dependent coverage, depending on health plan selected).
Agency-paid Dental Insurance (dependent coverage shared by the employee and MTC).
Agency-paid Vision Care Insurance, employees only (no dependent coverage).
Agency-paid Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability Insurance.
Monthly Transit/Parking Subsidy.
Alternative payroll savings plans (tax-deferred deferred compensation plans, two credit unions).

ADVISORIES

QUALIFICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES:

The selected candidate will be required to provide verification of his/her identity and evidence of having legal authorization to work in the United States prior to beginning employment. The selected candidate must maintain his/her employment eligibility status and will be responsible for notifying MTC of any changes.

BACKGROUND CHECKS:

MTC conducts background checks to verify information included in the candidate’s application, resume and supplemental materials.

CALIFORNIA DRIVER’S LICENSE:

A valid California Driver’s License is required, as MTC employees may be expected to operate an automobile in the performance of assigned duties. Exceptions to this policy will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to accommodate special needs.

MTC IS AN EEO/AA EMPLOYER:

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is a non-discriminatory employer. MTC provides all employees and applicants with an equal opportunity in every aspect of the employment experience regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical handicap, medical condition, or marital status. This policy is implemented through an ongoing affirmative action program to ensure maximum opportunity to participate in the Commission's programs.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is a regional transportation-planning agency created by the legislature pursuant to Government Code Sections 66500 et