Associate, Strategic Initiatives

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA); New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York is seeking an Associate, Strategic Initiatives to identify and execute strategies across the MTA family. You will conduct data collection, analysis, and modeling to enable better decision-making and resource allocation, supporting efficiency and performance improvements.

The role emphasizes quantitative and analytical work, collaboration with interdepartmental and interagency teams, and contributing to the MTA Financial Plan through

Qualifications

• Excellent quantitative, analytical, and project management skills with Excel modeling proficiency.
• Excellent oral and written communication to explain complex quantitative concepts.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to build networks, develop relationships, and influence decision-makers.
• Experience gathering data from stakeholders through interviews.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and manage competing demands.

Responsibilities

• Conduct financial analysis and business process reviews to improve efficiency and performance.
• Support interdepartmental and interagency groups on strategic initiatives, including OMNY platform projects.
• Conduct research and project management to inform decisions affecting costs and productivity.
• Assist in benchmarking operations and evaluating historical cost trends.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to reshape the organization toward sustainability and efficiency.
• Support quantitative and analytical work to underpin project design.
• Engage with executive leadership to communicate findings and recommendations.

Skills

Quantitative skills

Excel modeling

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder interviews

Project management

Teamwork

Networking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree / experience substitution

Tools

Excel

Job description

Description

POSTING NO. 16748

JOB TITLE: Associate, Strategic Initiatives

DEPT/DIV: Strategic Initiatives

WORK LOCATION: 2 Broadway

HOURS OF WORK: 9 AM – 5:30 PM (7.5 hours/day) or as required

FULL/PART-TIME: FULL

SALARY RANGE: $82,400 - $94,760

DEADLINE: Until filled

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.

Opening:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Position Objective:

This position exists to support the identification and execution of strategies across the MTA family that will improve efficiency, service quality, and overall performance. These initiatives are essential to achieve MTA’s targets for recurring savings that are a cornerstone of the MTA’s Financial Plan. The position conducts data collection and analysis, field observation, research, and modeling. The result of the analysis enables the design of strategies and programs to optimize decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and improve efficiency and effectiveness through revised MTA business practices.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct financial analysis and business process reviews supporting high-profile initiatives for MTA executive leadership to improve MTA’s economic efficiency, service quality, and overall performance.
• Support interdepartmental MTAHQ and interagency working groups to execute projects critical to reshaping MTA into a more innovative and cost-effective agency, such as OMNY as a Mobility as a Service Platform project. Projects assigned to the Strategic Initiatives division often have a large quantitative and/or process design component. Associate, Strategic Initiatives position will have primary responsibility for supporting the quantitative and analytical sides of each project.
• Conducts research and project management to support and inform critical decisions which will impact MTA’s cost structure and/or overall productivity - examples include benchmarking operational and support functions, evaluation of historical cost trends, and relevant drivers.
• Support interdepartmental and interagency working groups to execute strategic initiatives critical to reshaping MTA into a more sustainable and cost-effective organization. Conduct financial analysis and business process reviews supporting high-profile initiatives for MTA executive leadership to improve MTA’s economic efficiency, service quality, and overall performance.
• Support interdepartmental MTAHQ and interagency working groups to execute projects critical to reshaping MTA into a more innovative and cost-effective agency, such as OMNY as a Mobility as a Service Platform project. Projects assigned to the Strategic Initiatives division often have a large quantitative and/or process design component. Associate, Strategic Initiatives position will have primary responsibility for supporting the quantitative and analytical sides of each project.
• Conducts research and project management to support and inform critical decisions that will impact MTA’s cost structure and/or overall productivity, and examples include benchmarking operational and support functions, evaluation of historical cost trends, and relevant drivers.
• Support interdepartmental and interagency working groups to execute strategic initiatives critical to reshaping MTA into a more sustainable and cost-effective organization.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent quantitative, analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills, together with demonstrated quantitative skills and proficiency in Excel modeling.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the talent to communicate complex quantitative concepts clearly and succinctly to internal stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills with an established history of working on projects requiring group consensus and cooperation among people with no direct reporting relationships.
• Must be capable of building a strong and successful network, developing new relationships, and influencing decision-makers.
• Demonstrated ability to work in team and/or group settings, including gathering data from various stakeholders and interviewing stakeholders in a team or individual setting.
• Ability to prioritize among competing needs and opportunities and manage multiple projects at the same time.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree with outstanding academic achievement or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 3 years’ progressively responsible work or internship experience. A Master’s Degree or experience in high-level, comprehensive Excel modeling may be used to substitute for up to 2 years of work experience.

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According 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”).

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.