Senior Performance Management & Innovation Intern (Graduate Students)

Senior Performance Management & Innovation Intern (Graduate Students)

Salary: $24.00 - $28.00 Hourly

Location: Transportation Building (10 Park Plaza, Boston 02116)

Job Type: Internship / Co-Op / Fellowship

Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number: 26-11167

Department: MBTA - Office Perf Mgmt & Innov

Area: 502-OPMI

Opening Date: 02/09/2026

Closing Date: 2/23/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Licenses / Certifications: None Required

Union Affiliation: UNA Unaffiliated

Safety Sensitive: No; this is not a Safety Sensitive position.

On-Call or 24/7: No; this position is not classified as on-call or 24/7.

Essential Classification: (Emergency Staff) No; this position is classified as non-essential (during declared States of Emergency).

Description:

At the MBTA, we envision a thriving region enabled by a best-in-class transit system. Our mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. MBTA's Core Values are built around safety, service, equity, sustainability, and culture. Each employee that works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values. This includes attendance, participation, and contribution in local safety committee meetings as needed.

Job Summary:

The Office of Performance Management and Innovation (OPMI) develops and tracks performance metrics for MassDOT and the MBTA and implements strategic initiatives with a focus on data analysis to improve rider experience. Some examples of OPMI's work can be seen on the MBTA's Performance Dashboards, Data Blog, and Open Data Portal.

The Senior Performance Management & Innovation Intern will provide analytical support across the office but primarily within the Performance and Reporting team, which produces a series of annual reports on MBTA and MassDOT to internal and external stakeholders. These reports include the MBTA Annual Service Delivery Report, MassDOT's annual Tracker report to the Legislature, and new reports to the Legislature about the MBTA's Fare Citation and Bus Lane Enforcement programs.

This work typically involves identifying and refining performance measures, writing and revising scripts to process data, receiving or extracting data from stakeholders or a database and analyzing it using software such as Python or R. The Performance and Reporting team also uses these outputs to create charts, graphs, infographics, and report text for publication to the legislature, MBTA/MassDOT Boards, and the public. Other tasks may involve creating interactive dashboards or slide decks to summarize findings.

Interns can also participate in trainings, fieldwork, tours, conferences, and other learning opportunities as available. By the end of their internship, they will have gained experience managing multiple concurrent projects, collaborating with multiple departments across the MBTA and MassDOT, and working with many datasets to answer a variety of real-world questions.

Requirements:

• Enrolled, for entire duration of employment, in the graduate / Master's degree program of an accredited college / university in computer science, data analytics, math, physics, engineering, public policy, urban planning, economics, government, or a related field.
• Above average attention to detail.
• Beginner experience with SQL.
• Beginner experience with scripting tools such as Python.
• Beginner skills with analytical software such as R.
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Excel.
• Intermediate experience working with large datasets.
• Average familiarity with QA/QC best practices.
• Above Average organizational skills.
• Above average ability to work effectively in a diverse, collaborative environment and work independently as needed.
• Above average ability to communicate effectively in English, both in written and oral forms.
• Highly organized, motivated, and have great attention-to-detail.
• Ability to independently commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Authorized to work in the United States (international students in CPT, STEM, or OPT programs through a university are eligible to apply).

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Intermediate skills with analytical software such as R.
• Intermediate skills with scripting tools such as Python.
• Above Average interest in public transportation.
• 2-3 years of experience solving problems with a quantitative/analytical perspective, with an ability to communicate technical findings to non-technical audiences.

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except if participating in an approved high school internship / co-op program.
• Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences.
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a diverse workforce team (or supervise, if required).
• Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers.
• Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies.
• Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if current student or recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records (infractions and/or offenses occurring after the closing of the posting and before the filling of a vacancy may preclude a candidate from consideration for selection).
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and / or medical Clinic screening, potentially including physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
• Ability to work all shifts and / or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit / operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service.

Internship Benefits:

• Interns can also receive accrued paid sick leave as well as a monthly transportation pass, based on the city from which the intern commutes to work, at no cost.
• However, no additional benefits are currently offered for interns or co-ops.

Employment Benefits at the MBTA:

• Full-Time Employees:
• Insurance: Health, Dental, Vision, Life (basic and supplemental), and Long-Term Disability
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Vacation, Personal Days, Sick Leave, and Holidays
• Retirement: Pension or deferred compensation 401(a), plus MBTA contributions
• Complimentary pass for travel on the MBTA transit system (bus, train, ferry, and Commuter Rail)
• Tuition Reimbursement (up to $10,000 per year)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for student loans
• Commuter Choice Parking Program: Pre-tax benefits for parking
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Pre-tax benefits for healthcare-related expenses
• Discounted tickets for concerts, movies, travel / vacation, etc. via TicketsAtWork.com
• Shopping discounts via GovX.com
• Internships:
• Internship positions are not eligible for most MBTA Benefits. However, paid sick time may be incurred.
• Each intern also receives a complimentary pass for travel on the MBTA transit system (bus, train, ferry, and Commuter Rail) to use throughout the duration of their internship.

Disclaimer:

• The above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the MBTA, which may or may not apply to a specific position.
• This summary is not a contract and is not meant to change the provisions of union contracts or Authority policies and does not establish a binding practice.
• Please contact the assigned Recruiter directly or email hrstaffing@mbta.com for more information.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit your application through our website at http://www.mbta.com/careers.