Strategic Priorities, Emerging Talent Intern (Fall)

Position at Long Island Rail Road

Department: Office of the President

Location: 93-02 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11435

Position Title: Strategic Priorities, Emerging Talent Intern

Hourly Rate: $19.00 (Undergraduate), $21.00 (Graduate)

All internship positions are onsite and require regular, in-person attendance at the designated work location.

OVERVIEW OF DEPARTMENT:

The Strategic Priorities team supports executive leadership in advancing high-impact initiatives across the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to improve operational effectiveness, financial efficiency, and service quality. Partnering closely with the operating departments, the Strategic Priorities team address key operational, strategic, and policy issues by identifying industry best practices, analyzing relevant data, and leveraging modernization opportunities.

The Strategic Priorities Intern will contribute to data-driven initiatives by analyzing operational and ridership data, supporting performance reporting, and assisting in the coordination of priority projects. The intern will work closely with team members to translate data into clear insights and presentations for leadership review, gaining hands-on experience in public sector strategy and transportation operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Extracting, cleaning, and organizing data from internal reports and databases.
• Conducting analyses using SQL, Excel, or similar tools.
• Developing clear charts, tables, and summary slides for leadership materials.
• Drafting short analytical summaries that explain key findings and implications.
• Supporting the maintenance of performance dashboards or tracking spreadsheets.
• Conducting benchmarking research on peer commuter railroads and summarizing takeaways.
• Participating in cross-functional meetings and tracking follow-ups.
• Responding to ad hoc data requests from team members.

PROJECTS:

• Performance analysis: analyze data regarding an operational priority of the Rail Road.
• Landscape review: analyze external trend or data to suggest potential improvement opportunities for the Rail Road.
• Project management: own management of internal process requiring coordination across teams

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is a must.
• The candidate should possess organizational, analytical and communication skills.
• The candidate should be able to work well under pressure and prioritize tasks effectively.
• The candidate should have a keen eye for detail and be able to work independently while being an active team player.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Matriculated in an undergraduate program in good standing with at least 2.5 GPA AND/OR matriculated in a graduate program in good standing with at least 2.8 GPA
• Major(s) Preferred: Data / Data Analysis, Statistics, Operations Research, Business Analytics, Transportation Planning, Business Management, or related field.

All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. Students' transcript must be submitted.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including with respect to veteran status and individuals with disabilities. The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.