Policy and Analysis Manager

Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, and McHenry Counties. The agency is linking communities in Northeastern Illinois by providing safe, reliable, and efficient commuter service.

Deputy Executive Director (DED) Administration under the direction of the Executive Director/CEO is responsible for carrying out the policies and programs of Metra. The DED Administration assumes a leadership role in planning, developing, organizing and directing the administrative activities at Metra. The DED Administration is responsible for complex direction for all areas related to administration and its programs acting on behalf of the Executive Director/CEO.

Contracts & Special Projects: The Contracts & Special Projects Division within the ADEDA Department performs the management and periodic renegotiation of operating contracts with other railroads; acts as a resource within the agency regarding contractual rights and responsibilities; and manages special projects of agency significance including employee engagement-related functions.

Reporting to the Director, Rail Contract Management & Special Projects, the Policy & Analysis Manager will collaborate with stakeholder groups, including executive leadership and the Board, to develop agency policies that comply with local, state, and federal regulations and align with industry standards; analyze business processes to draft work flows illustrating procedures; and monitor regulatory changes and evaluate their impact on existing policies, processes, and procedures.

The primary duties include: Formulate new and update existing policies and procedures; work collaboratively with various departments to gain a thorough understanding of each area's operations; and ensure executed policies are organized, understandable, and readily available to employees. Monitor regulatory changes and audit existing policies and procedures; perform impact analyses to identify and examine possible consequences of process and procedure changes; remove redundancies and outdated information; and advise departments of new or modified procedures. Prioritize and conduct research on relevant laws, regulations, industry standards, and employment trends that inform agency policies and practices; and network with industry organizations, peer agencies, and government regulators. Track the department's key performance indicators (KPIs) related to policy development and special projects; and use visualization tools to represent the data to leadership teams. Promote safe work practices and maintain and foster a safe work environment. Perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Final salary will be determined in part by the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Metra is a railroad employer subject to the provisions of the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, not the Social Security Administration.

1. Bachelor's degree or in lieu of a degree, any combination of education and experience may be substituted that equals four years in human resources, business or public administration, or communications.
2. In addition to #1, must have five years of experience in a senior analytical position that includes at least three years of experience analyzing, writing, and implementing policies and procedures.
3. Knowledge of conventions and standards of policy analysis and writing, process improvement, and change management.
4. Knowledge of research techniques and methodologies to support policy development.
5. Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration, human resources, or organizational management.
6. Knowledge of transit planning principles and guidelines applicable to public transportation.
7. Familiar with laws and regulations related to transportation, employment, safety, benefits, etc., and their governing agencies (i.e., Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), etc.).
8. Intermediate skills utilizing Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with ability to use spreadsheets, charts, graphs, dashboards, etc., to collect, organize, and visualize KPIs and trends.
9. Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills with ability to edit and present generic and technical information to varied audiences in a clear and concise manner.
10. Strong organization and analytical skills to establish and maintain organized, efficient, and standardized procedures with the ability to document processes.
11. Ability to work independently or on a team; establish and administer goals, objectives, and resolve problems; and make recommendations for improvements.
12. Ability to write industry and organization specific policies and procedures; identify benefits disadvantages, oversights, and omissions in existing frameworks; ensure policies align with objectives and goals and meet legal requirements.
13. Ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the inclusion of relevant factors.
14. Must be willing to travel within Metra's 6-county region.

Preferred:

1. Experience in the railroad or transportation industry is preferred.

Please note: Regardless of any state laws that legalize marijuana, Metra prohibits applicants and employees' use or possession of marijuana (or marijuana paraphernalia), or having detectable amounts of marijuana in their bodies, including synthetic and/or non-synthetic substances such as THC for any reason for pre-employment screening purposes, while on duty, subject to duty, on Metra property, or in Metra work equipment and vehicles.

Metra is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. It is our policy to fill vacant positions with qualified candidates without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, gender identity, disability, or any protected categories, assuming an individual can perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation.