Director Capital Strategy (Environmental Review Policy)

Metropolitan Transportation Authority; New York (NY); On-site; USD 137,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

MTA transportation pass

Premium health coverage

Pension plan

Job summary

Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking a Director, Capital Strategy (Environmental Review Policy) to lead engagement in CEQR/SEQR/NEPA environmental reviews and coordinate with all MTA agencies on policy priorities.

The role requires a decade of transportation planning and at least six years of managerial experience, with a Bachelor’s or Master’s in a related field; telework is available one day per week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Transportation, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Economics, or a related field.
• Ten (10) years of experience in Transportation Planning, Infrastructure, Finance, Planning, Real Estate, or related field.
• Six (6) years of managerial experience.
• Master's degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the review of external environmental review actions (CEQR, SEQR, NEPA, and related processes) where any MTA agency is an Interested or Involved Agency.
• Coordinate with stakeholders across all MTA agencies to develop consensus on policy priorities and infrastructure needs.
• Lead the development of comment letters and formal responses during public comment periods and other milestones.
• Regularly convene internal stakeholders to align on the environmental review portfolio and establish standardized approaches.
• Partner with capital agency colleagues to develop standardized review protocols and improve coordination.
• Identify gaps in CEQR, SEQR, NEPA, and other frameworks and advocate for improvements that reflect transit impacts.

Skills

Environmental policy

Stakeholder engagement

Policy development

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Transportation/Urban Planning/Public Policy

Job description

JOB TITLE: Director, Capital Strategy (Environmental Review Policy)

Agency: Construction & Development

Dept/Div: Planning/Climate & Land Use Planning

Reports To: Senior Director, Land Use Strategy

WORK LOCATION: 2 Broadway

Hours Of Work: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM or as required (7.5 HR/ DAY)

JOB FAMILY: DAB

GRADE: 008

Salary Range: $136,505 to $170,631

Deadline: Open Until Filled

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.

MTA Construction & Development reserves the right to remove this posting before the application deadline.

Agency Mission

MTA Construction & Development (C&D) is responsible for the planning, development, and execution of all capital construction projects across the MTA region. Through centralized oversight and management of the MTA's $68.4 billion Capital Program, C&D ensures the efficient delivery of critical infrastructure projects that support the region's vast transportation network. As part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the largest transportation network in North America, C&D plays a key role in modernizing and expanding services that support 15.3 million residents across New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. C&D is committed to delivering safe, innovative, and cost-effective capital projects that enhance the customer experience and strengthen the reliability and resilience of the MTA system.

Telework

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.

Job Summary

The MTA Land Use Strategy Team, housed within C&D Planning, leads initiatives at the intersection of land use and transit planning. MTA’s Land Use Strategy Team engages with municipal governments and other stakeholders throughout the MTA service region to boost land use policies that support transit and other sustainable transportation modes. The Land Use Strategy Team routinely engages with technical and legal experts across all MTA agencies, including New York City Transit, Long Island Railroad, Metro-North Railroad and MTA Bridges & Tunnels.

The Director, Capital Strategy (Environmental Review Policy), as part of the MTA’s Land Use Strategy Team, will lead the MTA’s engagement in environmental review processes conducted by external entities in which any MTA agency is designated as an Interested or Involved Agency. This includes, but is not limited to, the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR), New York State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Among multiple policy objectives, the primary goal of the position is to ensure that transit impacts and mitigations are sufficiently addressed in the progressive milestones in environmental review process.

This role does not oversee or manage environmental reviews for MTA-led projects where an MTA agency serves as the Lead Agency. Instead, this position serves as the MTA’s primary strategist and coordinator for engagement in environmental reviews led by other entities, ensuring that external review processes reflect the needs and priorities of the regional transit system.

Responsibilities

• Lead MTA’s review of external environmental review actions (CEQR, SEQR, NEPA, and related processes) where any MTA agency is an Interested or Involved Agency, ensuring coordinated, consistent, and high‑quality responses.
• Coordinate with stakeholders across all MTA agencies to develop consensus on policy priorities, infrastructure needs, mitigation strategies, and technical positions across a broad and evolving pipeline of environmental reviews.
• Lead the development of MTA comment letters and formal responses during public comment periods and other review milestones.
• Regularly convene internal stakeholders to align on the agencywide environmental review portfolio and establish consistent approaches that reinforce the goals of the MTA’s Land Use Strategy Team.
• Partner with capital agency colleagues to develop standardized review protocols, improve coordination, and integrate lessons learned from internal review practices into MTA-wide procedures.
• Identifying gaps or shortcomings in CEQR, SEQR, NEPA, and other external review frameworks, and leading interagency efforts to advocate for improvements that better account for transit impacts and MTA infrastructure.
• Plan ahead for updates to environmental review guidance and develop recommendations for new or improved analyses that external agencies should incorporate to more accurately assess transit impacts and mitigation needs.
• Proactively engage with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination (OEC), and other external entities on policy issues and updates to environmental review guidance, including the SEQR Handbook and CEQR Technical Manual.
• Proactively identify gaps or limitations in existing environmental review frameworks and advocate for improvements that better reflect impacts to MTA infrastructure, riders, and operations.
• Regularly brief colleagues and senior leadership on the environmental review portfolio, key issues, emerging risks, and policy recommendations.
• Create, maintain, and oversee document management systems, databases, and archives that support coordination, institutional memory, and efficient access to past reviews and MTA correspondence.
• Coordinate closely with capital agency partners to form unified positions and learning from their internal review practices to establish standardized, MTA-wide protocols for responding to external reviews.
• Developing and institutionalizing clear procedures that improve the consistency, efficiency, and quality of MTA engagement in external environmental review processes.
• Ensuring that key issue areas—including transportation, land use, zoning and public policy, urban design and visual resources, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions and climate change—are fully and accurately reflected in external environmental reviews.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Transportation, Urban Planning, Business, Public Policy, Economics, or a related field.

Must have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in Transportation Planning, Infrastructure, Finance, Planning, Real Estate, or a related field.

Must have a minimum of six (6) years of managerial experience.

A Master's degree is preferred.

Comprehensive Benefits & Total Rewards Package

Transportation & Financial Benefits

• Commuting Made Easy – Enjoy a complimentary MTA transportation pass, plus access to tax-advantaged commuter benefits to maximize your savings.
• Premium Health Coverage at Low Cost – Access high-quality individual, family, and domestic partner healthcare, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
• Secure Your Future – Build long‑term financial security through pension plans and retirement savings accounts designed for eligible employees.

Time Off & Work-Life Balance

• Generous Time Away – Recharge with substantial paid time off and comprehensive holiday schedules that support your personal and family commitments.
• Holistic Support Services – Access our dedicated Work Life Services team and Office of the Chaplains unit for personal guidance and support when you need it most.

Professional Growth & Development

• Learning & Development Program – Advance your career through structured professional development opportunities, skills training, and leadership programs tailored to support your growth within the organization.
• Educational Investment – Pursue your career goals with in-house training and professional development, tuition reimbursement support, and partnerships with educational institutions.

Employee Experience & Community

• Employee Assistance Programs – Comprehensive support services to help you navigate life's challenges with confidence and resources.
• Discounts & Perks – Take advantage of MTA employee discount programs offering savings on products and services.
• Connect & Belong – Join our vibrant Employee Resource Groups to build meaningful connections, share experiences, and contribute to an inclusive workplace culture.

Additional Information

Final salary is determined by experience, skill set, and alignment with compensation practices. The posted range reflects expected compensation and may be updated as market or business needs evolve.

To be eligible for consideration for a new role, current MTA employees must complete at least one year of service in their current role prior to applying. Additionally, eligibility to interview is contingent upon maintaining a satisfactory record of job performance, attendance, and disciplinary conduct.

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”).

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.