Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) 

San Francisco, CA

Principal Clipper Systems and Data Lead

Salary:  $152,501.86 - $193,409.22 Annually

Job Type: Regular/Full-Time

Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is an equal-opportunity, 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, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical handicap, medical condition or marital status.

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026, AT 11:59 PM

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY

A resume and cover letter are not required with your application, but highly encouraged.

Be ready to rethink your assumptions about the public sector. Dedicated and motivated colleagues? Beautiful, high amenity building for on-site work and collaboration? Flexible schedules and hybrid work options? Yes, yes, and yes!

ABOUT MTC

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area and its nearly eight million residents. From building better transportation systems, addressing the affordable housing shortage, to increasing climate resiliency - MTC touches it all, envisioning a Bay Area that is connected, equitable and sustainable. MTC is also the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC provides services to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). For more information about MTC, visit www.mtc.ca.gov.

ABOUT THE SECTION

Clipper is the Bay Area’s regional transit fare collection system. MTC’s Clipper section is responsible for all aspects of the Clipper program, including management of contracts for operation and maintenance of Clipper system hardware and back-office software, in coordination with the 22 transit operators using Clipper. The Clipper section delivers two major functions necessary for MTC’s operation of the region-wide Clipper system: (1) planning, development, governance, policy, and new implementation of the Clipper system, and (2) Clipper technical operations, customer experience, and financial oversight for the processing, reconciliation, settlement, and reporting of fares collected for transit operators.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Under the direction of the Assistant Director for Clipper Development and Budget, the Principal Clipper Systems and Data Lead will oversee staff and work on Clipper program operations and development, including ongoing delivery and enhancements of the Next-Generation Clipper system. The Clipper Principal will have three primary responsibilities: (1) technical lead for the Clipper back-office system and other systems delivered by Clipper contractors, including oversight of ongoing development and future enhancements; (2) data and reporting manager, overseeing Clipper data queries and analysis work, particularly for decision-making on development and budget priorities; and (3) lead for ongoing and new partnerships, both internally with other MTC sections and externally with Clipper transit operators and other regional partners. These responsibilities require close coordination with other members of MTC's Clipper program management team, as well as other Clipper and MTC staff, participating regional transit agency staff, Clipper contractors, and consultants.

The Clipper Principal will be expected to execute responsibilities and duties by supervising staff, consultants and other resources assigned to them. New and different project or functional assignments may be assigned to this position to keep up with the Clipper section's changing program requirements. This position will require an individual with a strong understanding of the program goals and objectives who can successfully supervise ongoing system operations and enhancements, review and evaluate work methods and procedures, and suggest improved processes and procedures in support of the program’s business goals and objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clipper System Technical Management

•   Lead the prioritization, management, and delivery of Clipper system functional enhancements and integration of new services, in alignment with MTC/regional priorities and reflecting industry best-practice standards and innovation.

•   Serve as technical subject matter expert for Clipper’s technology systems, including the Clipper back-office and its integration with supporting systems.

•   Lead the analysis of MTC and transit operator business requirements, and recommend approaches for addressing these needs through business rule updates, configuration changes, policy adjustments, or other system modifications.

•   Lead the development of project scopes of work, contracts, and contract change orders for delivery of system enhancements, replacements, and other modifications.

•   Manage ongoing delivery of Clipper contractor development work. Lead the review of design documents and other submittals, oversight of software testing, and coordination with Clipper contractors to maintain project schedules.

2. Clipper Data and Reporting Management

•   Oversee Clipper data and reporting systems used internally and by Clipper transit operators and other regional stakeholders.

•   Support the Clipper team, other MTC staff, and Clipper transit operators in their use of Clipper reporting systems, and coordinate with them to identify, refine, and prioritize their data analysis needs.

•   Manage and support responses to data requests from other MTC sections, regional stakeholders, and other external parties.

•   Lead the analysis of Clipper data to measure the effectiveness of Clipper programs/policies, and recommend changes and enhancements.

•   Lead the analysis of data from Clipper and other transit data sources to evaluate potential new initiatives or policy changes, and provide recommendations on development and implementation priorities.

3. Clipper Partnership Development

•   Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other MTC sections, Clipper transit operators, and other regional transportation stakeholders.

•   Lead the coordination with other MTC sections, such as Regional Network Management and Data Strategy & Analytics, on initiatives supported by or interfacing with the Clipper system.

•   Lead the coordination with Clipper transit operators on analysis and prioritization of operator initiatives that have dependencies on or interfaces with the Clipper system.

•   Lead the coordination with regional partners and other external stakeholders on potential Clipper interfaces, integrations, and/or partnerships.

•   Lead the analysis of Clipper system impacts and resource needs from partner initiatives and provide recommendations to Clipper team management on prioritization and approach.

4. Staff Oversight

•   Provide direction and work assignments to assigned staff; instruct staff in work procedures, and review and evaluate work performed. Assist staff when necessary to complete time-sensitive assignments.

•   Monitor overall work assignments and workflow for direct reports. Ensure that staff assignments are understood and resourced correctly to deliver projects and ensure operational success. Identify shortfalls/gaps in resources and recommend solutions to the management team.

•   Participate in the staff selection, orientation, training, and evaluation programs; provide or coordinate staff training; provide positive motivation for employee performance; identify and resolve staff deficiencies.

•   Ensure the Clipper management team is kept informed about ongoing programs and projects.

•   Be a team leader with strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational and interpersonal skills; supervise reporting staff and contractors; monitor, evaluate, direct, and train staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

The ideal candidate should have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

•   Exemplary project management skills and ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and effectively.

•   Proven interpersonal skills, with experience coordinating among and presenting to different groups (e.g., transit agency leadership and staff, policy makers, technical contractors, the public).

•   Ability to build consensus in challenging environments with numerous internal and external stakeholders.

•   Proficiency at analyzing problems, developing strategies, and making practical and timely recommendations.

•   Strong analytical skills to translate complex business needs into technical specifications.

•   Ability to develop and communicate plans to improve Clipper program operations through new technology, policies, or business practices.

•   Understanding of technology systems, software development processes, data reporting and queries, and data analysis tools.

•   Ability to independently perform quantitative analysis of data to identify trends and areas for improvement.

•   Ability to guide complicated procurements and vendor selection processes and to manage vendor and consultant relationships.

•   Understanding of transit fare payments technology and fare policy.

•   Ability to plan, direct, select, supervise, train, motivate, and evaluate the work and performance of professional and technical personnel and consultant teams.

•   A strong understanding of policy and program approaches to advance a fair, just, and inclusive transportation system.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, civil engineering, environmental science, business or public administration, or a related field, and seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional experience administering programs in a field related to assignment area. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Master's degree in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment, such as transportation management, engineering, planning, data science, computer science, or a related subject such as business or public administration.  A Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline and four years of relevant experience is an alternative qualification.   

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible experience in an appropriate field related to the area of assignment.  Preference will be given to those applicants with more years of professional experience in one or more of the following: 

•   Transportation technologies and transportation management systems.

•   Electronic/automated payment systems or other revenue management systems. 

•   Public transit system policies, planning, and operations.

•   Software testing, deployment, and performance monitoring. 

•   Systems analysis, business intelligence, and data analytics, including use of data querying and reporting tools such as SQL and Power BI.

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 their application.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of a background check, professional references and the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9.  

DISABILITY

The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment or skills assessment process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If selected for an interview or testing, and you require accommodation, please notify the Human Resources Department when confirming your interview or test.

APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

If you need technical assistance with your on-line application, please contact Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627, available from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (PST), Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.