Metropolitan Transportation Authority Careers

This position is eligible for telework, which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Summary

The Chief of Staff will function with and report to the MTA Construction & Development President and Chief Development Officer. The Chief of Staff will serve a coordinating role over all aspects of C&D management functions, with a particular focus on:

• Strategic planning and change management.
• Cross-departmental policy and procedure development and implementation.
• Consolidated KPI development, analysis, and reporting.
• Driving capital program commitment and completion priorities.
• Capital program industry and community relations.
• Coordinate the capital program with operating agencies.

The responsibilities include following through on executive actions for all areas of MTA C&D and serving as a steward on behalf of the President's Office to ensure the execution of the ~$10-15 billion annual capital program.

Responsibilities

Ensures departments are working as a team to achieve annual capital commitment goals.

Sets priorities across departments to maximize agency-wide efforts.

Work closely and collaboratively with the executive leadership team to develop and implement C&D's strategic goals and objectives. Facilitate and identify areas for process improvement and develop strategies to address.

Manage cross-agency coordination with NYC Transit, Long Island Railroad, Metro-North Railroad, Bridges & Tunnels, including recurring executive meetings and project updates.

Liaise with MTA HQ, including the Chair's Office, on critical issues affecting the MTA Capital Program, including project statuses, funding issues, executive priorities, etc.

Manage C&D special projects and initiatives, including cost containment, management of the capital project pipeline, agency force account and resource management, organizational development, digital strategy, Twenty-Year Needs Assessment, and 5-Year Capital Plan, etc.

Ensure positive and productive relationships with industry partners and strive to increase capital contract competition.

Has the ability to discern different contexts and audiences to develop and execute strategy and assess the need for adjustments to achieve success.

Accountable for development, implementation, and continued improvement of corporate performance. This includes strategic planning, agency-level initiatives, digital enterprise systems and metrics to improve project and corporate performance, and agency-level reporting.

Accountable for internal and external communications, including agency-wide messaging from the President, annual communications plan, responses and interaction with Federal, State, and local elected and community officials, and interaction with regulatory agencies.

Must be able to negotiate solutions to challenging situations where stakeholders may disagree and assist in the development of creative solutions and new ways of doing business that result in the best outcome for the MTA.

Must be able to work under short deadlines, successfully deal with stressful situations, and be responsive and on-call at all times.

Manage MTA C&D Capital Program Committee and Board engagement and working groups, including presentations, reports, and other deliverables; work plan and calendar; and special engagements.

Oversee status and issues on all key capital projects and programs, including CBTC, ADA, OMNY, Signals and Train Control, Grand Central Artery, etc.

Review all C&D audit responses, policies, procedures, and other agency-wide documentation; ensure alignment with C&D and MTA goals and standards.

Manage coordination between MTA C&D President's Office and C&D business units, including quarterly meetings with each business unit and major projects.

Lead employee engagement initiatives and communication, including quarterly All-Hands Meetings, regular Senior Staff meetings, staff surveys, etc.

Address and resolve any critical business, project, operational, or other issues on behalf of the MTA C&D President.

Supervise staff within the President's Office.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Construction, Transportation, Planning, or other related field.

Master's degree preferred. 

Must have a minimum of (12-15) years of related experience, including significant experience working on matters involving transportation, construction projects, project management, and government project administration. 

Competencies:

Must exhibit strong leadership skills and a willingness to transform policy and procedures.

In-depth knowledge of transportation, construction, and project management issues and MTA Agency policies and procedures.

Proven leader as a change agent and creative/innovative thinker with the ability to align business goals with solutions and drive process improvements.

Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively and effectively with stakeholders, executive management, board members, elected officials, and other stakeholders in a fast-paced environment and ensure favorable outcomes for the agency.

Ability to develop creative, business-oriented solutions to problems, evaluate options in complex situations, and make recommendations that have a direct impact on the agency.

Possesses excellent communication skills, both speaking and writing, as well as excellent quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills. 

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and document management software.

Other Information

Pursuant to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the "Commission").

Selection Criteria

Based on evaluation of education, skills, experience, and interview.

How to Apply

MTA employees must apply via My MTA Portal. You can submit an online application by logging into My MTA Portal, clicking the My Job Search ribbon, and selecting the "Careers" link. Logging in through My MTA Portal will link your BSC ID number to your job application to identify you as an internal applicant.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are equal opportunity employers, including those 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.