About Us + Background

Cambridge is a dense city of 6.2 square miles with a multi-cultural population of 105,000 and a vibrant commercial sector that employs 100,000 people. The City has a sound fiscal base and is committed to maintaining a vibrant, human-scaled city with sustainable transportation policies and programs that meet the mobility needs of people who live, work, and visit.

The City is governed by a nine-member City Council elected through a proportional representation system, one of the few in the country. The Mayor is chosen by the council and serves as the Council’s presiding officer. Executive power is fully vested in the City Manager.

In 2020, the Cambridge City Council passed amendments to the Cycling Safety Ordinance, which set ambitious requirements for the installation of approximately 25 miles of separated bike lanes within the next six to eight years. The location of these facilities will be informed by both specific requirements in the ordinance and the Cambridge Bicycle Network Vision, which is a part of the Cambridge Bicycle Plan. While the primary requirement of the ordinance is the implementation of separated bike lanes, the City always aims to take a comprehensive approach which helps ensure that streets are meeting as many needs as possible. The work done in response to this ordinance is also an opportunity to evaluate and make adjustments to how street space is allocated.

The Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department (TP+T) will be overseeing the planning and implementation of quick-build projects required by the ordinance. This new work builds on the Department’s responsibilities related to managing all aspects of the operation of Cambridge’s streets. The Department of approximately 85 people:

• installs and maintains pavement markings and signals;
• issues street occupancy and parking permits;
• oversees planning of various transportation projects;
• conducts traffic studies;
• establishes parking regulations and posts relevant signage;
• manages metered parking and off-street public parking; and
• issues, adjudicates, and collects payments for parking tickets.

About the Job

Under the supervision of the Assistant Director for Street Management and in coordination with the Engineering Manager, the Project Managers will be responsible for managing quick-build projects required under the City's Cycling Safety Ordinance. The Project Managers will be expected to oversee multiple projects, while ensuring that these projects meet the City's engineering design standards, are effectively communicated, and are implemented on time and within budget. This work requires close collaboration with key staff from TP+T, the Community Development Department, and the Department of Public Works, as well as other relevant City departments. The positions will also involve technical and contractual oversight of outside engineering consultants. Additionally, the selected candidates will need to be able to balance competing interests and incorporate feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders, including but not limited to the general public, community and local business associations, and City's official transportation advisory committees.

These critical positions will require candidates with excellent technical, project management, and communications skills, who can manage multiple fast-moving projects. The individuals hired for these positions should possess significant experience in designing city streets for multi-modal improvements managing complex projects with significant time constraints/deadlines, as well as excellent organizational skills. The successful candidate will have proven communication skills to interact with internal and external stakeholders and the public through a variety of means as part of the engagement process related to each project.

The Work

• Manage multiple design projects for rapid implementation of separated bike lanes and other transportation improvements
• Oversee design of pavement marking and signage plans, traffic signal plans, and/or traffic management plans
• Conduct community engagement, including making public presentations; responding to emails and phone calls; and collecting, consolidating, and incorporating public feedback into designs
• Use traffic analysis and modeling to inform decision making
• Manage external consultants performing technical design work
• Oversee project implementation, working in coordination with City staff and contractors
• Collaborate with the TP+T's Engineering Manager to ensure that all plans meet City standards and other technical requirements
• Perform related duties as required

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

About You

Minimum Requirements - You must have these

• Knowledge and practical experience managing and/or leading projects with multiple internal and external stakeholders
• Experience successfully implementing complete streets designs, incorporating high quality facilities for people biking and walking
• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited university, or equivalent combination of education, training, or experience
• Exceptional project management skills that can be illustrated through a record of leading or supporting successful projects
• Self-starter with demonstrated ability to carry complex projects from concept to implementation, use creative thinking to solve problems, and work in a fast-paced environment
• General knowledge of quick-build design, materials, specifications, and implementation processes
• The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse; Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies
• Comfortable using technology and collaboration tools including Microsoft 365, Word, and Excel
• Ability to get around Cambridge using a variety of transportation methods
• Effective verbal and written communications/presentation skills
• Budget management skills, including adhering to defined project budgets

Preferred Skills and Qualifications - These are nice, but not required

• Undergraduate or post-graduate degree in engineering, planning, project management, or another directly relevant discipline
• Three or more years of experience in the design or construction of streets with bicycle facilities, specifically including designing separated bicycle lanes and protected intersections
• Familiarity with Cambridge streets, and transportation in the Greater Boston region (including historical context)
• Strong time management skills, attention to detail, and ability to work on multiple tasks while remaining organized and meeting deadlines
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely via written and oral methods, and effectively share information with a wide range of stakeholders including the public, other City departments, government agencies, and contractors
• Experience relating to audiences with multiple dimensions of diversity, and work collaboratively with peers
• MA PE License, along with a demonstrated knowledge of engineering standards related to bicycle facility design
• Ability to create maps and other informational materials using ArcGIS and Adobe Creative Cloud, including following communications design standards
• Familiarity with NACTO design guides; specifically the Urban Street Design Guide, Urban Bikeway Design Guide, and Transit Street Design Guide

Salary, Benefits, + Other Details

Salary: $78,385 - $104,068 annually (in seven steps) + excellent benefits

Benefits summary: The information below is intended only as a general summary. Leave times will begin accruing after the relevant waiting period and may be prorated in the first year of employment.

• Paid leave time including:fourteen paid holidays;
  three weeks of sick leave (accrual begins after three months);
  three personal days (accrued after six months);
  three weeks of vacation (accrual begins after six months); and
  up to eight weeks of paid parental leave in accordance with the Parental Leave Policy (after three months of employment)
  
• Opportunity to earn up to one week (37.5 hours) of compensatory time
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Access to a Flexible Spending Account Program for healthcare and dependent care
• MBTA pass reimbursement of 65% of the cost of monthly passes, up to $265.00 per month; a free Bluebikes membership; and subsidized daily parking rates at City-owned garages during the work week
• Continued education opportunities including City-sponsored trainings, tuition assistance, and scholarships

Hours per week: 37.5-Hour work week

Physical demands of the job: Work involves frequent site visits, requiring travelling to and through active construction zones and examining the physical conditions of the environment (which may involve bending, squatting, reaching, stretching, or carrying tools).

Where you’ll work: Work involved takes place both indoors and outdoors. Indoor work is conducted primarily in an office environment with fluorescent lighting, air conditioning, computers, and other standard office equipment. Outdoor work may include City streets and construction sites under all weather conditions. Remote work may be required due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Apply

Internal applicants submit a job bidding form and 2 copies of both your resume and letter of interest; external applicants submit both your resume and letter of interest no later than 5:00 p.m. on 04/07/21 via email to: employment@cambridgema.gov or to Personnel Dept, Room 309, City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139. Fax 617-349-4312.

The City of Cambridge is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The City is committed to advancing a workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

City of Cambridge residents especially are encouraged to apply.