Program Technical Specialist - BLE Projects

WHO WE ARE

Open to Metropolitan Council Employees Only

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.
  
We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. 
  
The Metropolitan Council’s Metro Transit Division is one of the country's largest transit systems, employs more than 3,000 people, and provides ridership through an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter trains, as well as a resource for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike in the Twin Cities.
 
The METRO Planning and Capital Programs is a robust capital improvements program delivering bus and rail projects including the Green Line Extension, Blue Line Extension, Gold Line Extension Project, ABRTs, Bronze Line and Riverview. The METRO Blue Line Extension is proposed to operate on 13.4 miles of light rail track connecting downtown Minneapolis to the communities of North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park. 
 Connecting with the existing METRO Blue Line at Target Field Station, the Blue Line Extension and its 13 new stations will be part of an integrated system of transitways serving the region.
 
How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region: 
 
The Program Technical Specialist will be part of the Metro Planning and Capital Programs assigned to the Blue Line Extension (BLE) project and be part of a dynamic project team charged with delivering the BLE and will take daily work direction from the BLE Project Director while also working as part of the Planning and Capital Programs Admin Team. 

The Program Technical Specialist provides the highest level of administrative support by independently completing complex administrative and technical tasks or actions associated with supporting the BLE Project Director and project management team. The person in this position must have a high level of detail, use sound judgment to interpret guidelines, maintain confidentiality and sensitivity, create and edit high-level meeting minutes, adapt procedures, and decide approaches to resolve specific problems. The Program Technical Specialist must have the ability to be flexible, ability to multi-task, and to be professional in stressful or deadline-oriented situations. 

 NOTE: This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement.  The current expectation for onsite work is two days per week minimum and can change based on business needs.  

What you would do in this job

• Coordinates large and complex meetings. Makes simple/complex scheduling arrangements involving internal/external parties under minimum direction. Sets up and cancels meetings based on knowledge of the subject and attendees. Prepares agendas and takes minutes at public and non-public meetings and can recognize and identify what information can be disseminated and to whom. Arranges for special rooms, equipment needs, and/or multiple locations and individuals. 
• Supports the executive management team preparing memos, letters and reports. 
• Composes, screens, processes, and tracks correspondences. 
• Prepares purchase requisitions and tracks approval processes. 
• May coordinate office moves & renovations. 
• Answers non-routine and/or sensitive inquiries. 
• Makes travel arrangements, prepares and processes travel authorization and reimbursement requests. 
• Interacts with internal employees, external agency employees, council members, public officials, consultants, contractors, and the public.
• Ability to perform duties independently without supervision.
• Other duties as assigned. 

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of administrative experience or closely related experience and completed education in Communications, Business Administration, or closely related field:

• High school diploma/GED with five (5) years of administrative experience.
• Associate's degree with three (3) years of administrative experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher with one (1) year of administrative experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience working with a diverse workforce or diverse communities.
• Extensive experience scheduling public meetings and taking meeting minutes.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office 365 programs, Adobe and Visio.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of department programs and operations.
• Skilled in administration and organizing information including problem solving and accuracy.
• Ability to interact and work with people including all levels of internal and external customers. 
• Ability to perform under limited supervision.
• Ability to solve diverse problems using specialized standards or precedents.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and sensitivity.
• Ability to be flexible and professional in an environment characterized by peak workloads and stressful circumstances. 
• Proficiently work with Microsoft Office/365.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area. 
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement. 
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.
• We offer a free transit pass.
• To see more information regarding our benefits, click on the Benefits link between Description and Questions in the job posting.

More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Union/Grade: Non Represented/Grade E
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Safety Sensitive:  No

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications. 
• We rate your education and experience. 
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history.   A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job.  If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.  A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.
 
 IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.
 
The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. 
 
If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email [email protected].

Benefits

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success!   In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels.   Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:
 

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council.  You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerMetropolitan CouncilAddress 390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101 Website https://metrocouncil.org