Senior Manager, Bus Systems

LA28 is the independent, non-profit, privately funded organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are on a singular mission to create an Olympic and Paralympic Games that celebrate all that this city and country have to offer, delivering an unparalleled experience for athletes, fans, partners and our community.

The 2028 Games mark the return of the Summer Games to the U.S. for the first time in 32 years and Los Angeles’ third time hosting an Olympic Games and first time welcoming the Paralympic Games. This presents the unique and exciting opportunity to celebrate our legacy with the Games and push the Olympic and Paralympic Movements forward, writing a new chapter of Games history in Los Angeles.

Putting on the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a team sport. To build a Games unlike any the world has seen before, we need the best team in place–a team full of perspectives, experiences and expertise. We are guided by the following set of values and behaviors–optimism, integrity, excellence, inclusion, co-creation and boldness–and look forward to hearing about how your past experiences align with them.

Position Summary 

The Senior Manager, Bus Systems is a critical member of the LA28 Bus Operations team, responsible for planning, executing, and managing Games-time bus services for Olympic and Paralympic Games stakeholders. This role ensures the reliable, efficient, and timely movement of this group across competition and non-competition venues, supporting the delivery of a world-class Games experience.   Working in close coordination with and reporting to the Director, Stakeholder Bus Systems, LA28 Functional Areas (FAs) and the Games Transport Program Integrator (GTPI), the Senior Manager will oversee the design and implementation of system-specific transport networks, including route planning, depot operations, vehicle allocations, and service schedules. The role requires strong collaboration with internal LA28 teams, venue transport leads, and external partners to ensure operational readiness and seamless service delivery. At Games-time, the successful candidate will play a significant role in the operational delivery of a key LA28 function, within an assigned stakeholder system or geographic area, as well as leading a team in support of operational delivery. This includes making sure that dependencies across the GTPI, Suppliers, competition & non-competition venues, workforce, and internal teams are identified early, tracked effectively, and resolved in a coordinated manner. As such, this role requires regular movement between distributed Games-time venues and operational sites, including at times when public transportation Options may be limited. This position plays a key role in translating stakeholder-specific system requirements into executable plans, monitoring service performance, and responding to live operational conditions during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Senior Manager will also contribute to sustainability goals by prioritizing high-occupancy planning and low-emission vehicle integration. Closer to Games-time operations, this role will be allocated to a specific stakeholder bus system, such as TA/TF/TC/DDS/AND/MPCP

Key Responsibilities 

Service Planning and Design 

• Lead the development of end-to-end service delivery strategies for stakeholder transport systems, ensuring alignment with competition schedules, venue operations, and broader Transport functional plans.
• Oversee the design and optimization of route networks, stop hierarchies, service patterns, and depot strategies, coordinating across GTPI, internal planning teams, and adjacent transport modes.
• Ensure full system integration with other transport services, such as rail, overlay transport, accessibility services, and Stakeholder Services to deliver a seamless end-to-end user experience.
• Establish and refine planning frameworks, standards, and service level definitions to guide consistent delivery across all assigned stakeholder systems.
• Provide senior-level input into vehicle allocation, scheduling assumptions, and capacity planning, ensuring alignment with demand forecasts and operational constraints. 

Operational Readiness

• Lead and oversee operational readiness programs, including simulations, test events, venue validation, and system commissioning activities.
• Direct the validation of bus, crew, and asset requirements through advanced demand modeling, scenario planning, and iterative readiness reviews.
• Develop and implement robust contingency and disruption management frameworks, ensuring resilience across a range of operational scenarios.
• Coordinate cross-functional readiness with venue teams, workforce planning, fleet operations, and GTPI, ensuring alignment on assumptions, timelines, and dependencies.
• Conduct or oversee site visits, depot readiness checks, and operational walkthroughs to validate feasibility and readiness of plans. 

Games-Time Execution 

• Serve as the lead for a designated stakeholder-specific bus operation during Games-time, managing real-time service delivery.
• Oversee live operations management, including monitoring service delivery, managing disruptions, and directing resource reallocation across vehicles, drivers, and depots.
• Track and analyze key performance metrics, such as on-time performance, journey times, and load factors, using insights to drive immediate operational decisions and continuous improvement.
• Lead coordination with GTPI, venue transport teams, and central command functions (e.g., TROC/MOC) to ensure rapid issue resolution and aligned response.
• Provide senior-level operational reporting and briefings, escalating risks and advising leadership on mitigation strategies. 

Stakeholder Coordination 

• Act as a primary interface between Transport and key stakeholder groups, ensuring transport service levels are clearly defined, feasible, and consistently delivered.
• Lead engagement with Venue Transport, Transport Stakeholder Services, fellow LA28 FAs, and external partners, managing relationships critical to successful delivery.
• Translate stakeholder requirements into operationally viable solutions, balancing service expectations with system constraints and delivery realities.
• Drive proactive communication strategies, ensuring alignment across planning, readiness, and Games-time execution phases. 

Technology and Reporting 

• Oversee the implementation and integration of operational systems, including GPS/AVL tracking, dispatch tools, and performance dashboards, ensuring they support real-time decision-making.
• Define requirements and support delivery of data-driven reporting frameworks, enabling performance tracking, issue identification, and executive-level insights.
• Ensure accurate and structured documentation of operating plans, assumptions, and changes across the program lifecycle.
• Lead contributions to post-Games evaluation and reporting, capturing lessons learned and recommendations for future major event delivery.

 Background and Requirements 

• Strong background in transportation planning and operations, preferably in large-scale or multi-sport events. Proven ability to manage complex logistics and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in service design, bus/fleet management, and live operations.
• Demonstrated ability in leadership and people management.  

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions 

• Ability to work across office settings and on-site operational environments, including depots, venues, and transport hubs. Willingness to work flexible and extended hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays during peak periods.
• Ability to travel between multiple locations to support operational readiness and live service delivery.
• Capacity to alternate between desk-based systems monitoring and active on-site coordination in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
• Comfortable working in dynamic conditions, including outdoor settings, varying weather, elevated noise levels, and large crowds, while using standard operational technology like laptops, radios, and mobile devices. 

Expectations 

• Collaborative and detail-oriented, understanding the, at times, big impact of small things.
• Comfortable working in dynamic, high-pressure environments.
• Committed to sustainability and operational excellence.
• Proactive and solutions-focused, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and evolving priorities.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to influence across functions and external partners.

 Education / Training / Certifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• 7+ years of relevant experience in transportation operations or event logistics. 
• Experience in large-scale, complex, or multi-stakeholder environments preferred.

The annual base salary range for this position is $105,000 - $140,000. The pay scale provided is the range that LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28’s operational business needs and applicable law.

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

LA28 is committed to fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. LA28 will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and all applicable laws. We strive to build a team that is inclusive and encourage qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.