Careers at CATA
Current Career Opportunities
Please review the job applicant evaluation process noted below to learn how to apply.
CATA is Hiring a Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the authority in the delivery of innovative, sustainable, and accessible public transportation services. Reporting to the Board of Directors, this position will oversee all aspects of CATA’s operations, including strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, financial management, and the implementation of progressive transportation technologies and services. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership experience in public transportation and a management style that fosters empowerment and team-driven collaboration. This is a unique opportunity to lead a highly respected public transportation authority at a time of significant growth and transformation.
CATA is a joint municipal authority established in 1974, proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary. CATA serves portions of Centre County, Pennsylvania, including Penn State’s 60,000 students and employees at the University Park Campus. CATA provides a critical transportation network that facilitates more than 5 million annual rides through fixed-route, microtransit, paratransit, and commuter services programs.
Renowned for its innovative approach to sustainable transportation, CATA was the first public transportation agency operating an entirely compressed natural gas (CNG) fixed-route fleet on the East Coast. The authority also boasts the highest farebox recovery ratio in Pennsylvania, recovering nearly 40% of its fixed-route operating expenses in 2023. As CATA enters a pivotal period of growth and transformation, the organization is seeking a visionary leader to guide the authority into its next 50 years of service.
To be considered for the position, submit a resume and cover letter outlining interest and suitability for the role by emailing [email protected].
CATA is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business needs.
To learn more about the position, benefits package including relocation, and the community CATA serves:
CATA Job Applicant Evaluation Process
CATA has established processes and procedures to ensure that vacant positions are filled in a manner that ensures the best-qualified applicant is hired. Therefore, the application review process will include one or more of the following: written, oral or performances tests, examinations, or interviews to determine an applicant’s potential for employment with the Authority. In addition to an evaluation of past experience and training, a criminal background and reference check, pre-employment drug screen and if the position requires, a pre-employment physical will be conducted at CATA’s expense.
Fulfillment of CATA’s mission to deliver safe, reliable, accessible, and affordable transportation to the community is dependent upon CATA’s bus operators, maintenance staff, and management team, who work together to provide the best public transportation service possible.
If you're looking for a rewarding career in the transit industry that focuses on customer service and bettering the lives of those in the community, we'd love to speak with you about current open positions.
State College, located in Central Pennsylvania, is home to the Penn State University Campus, and is considered to be one of the most transit intensive small communities in the country.
Working at CATA
CATA is a joint municipal authority providing transportation service between downtown State College, the Penn State University Park Campus, and many special points of interest, as well as the Borough of Bellefonte and the Village of Pleasant Gap.
Providing approximately 5 million trips annually with a fleet of 85 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and approximately 230 employees, CATA is the third largest transit agency in Pennsylvania.
Learn more about CATA and the State College community here.
Employee Benefits
CATA offers a number of benefits to its employees, including but not limited to:
• Competitive salaries
• Paid training
• CDL training
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401A retirement plan, with company match
• Free bus pass for employees and their dependents
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program
• Complimentary gym membership
Completed in 2019, CATA's state-of-the-art operations, maintenance, and administrative facility features a bus garage able to house over 90 buses, a modern maintenance garage, spacious employee training rooms, and more.
This link leads to the machine readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.