Director of Strategic Pursuits

Via; New York (NY); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) with company match

Parental leave

Equity

Paid time off

Wellness programs

Job summary

Via is seeking a Director of Strategic Pursuits in New York to lead the most important new business opportunities from initial conversations to signed contracts with cities, transit agencies, and operators. You will own the strategy that turns goals into winning proposals and long-term partnerships, guiding pricing, scope, and commercial structure.

You will independently lead high-stakes negotiations, partner with success teams for a seamless handoff to launch, and bring market learnings back to

Qualifications

• Experience working with city governments, transit agencies, and elected officials.
• Proven ability to use data to inform strategy and pricing.
• Skilled in complex negotiations and stakeholder management.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to operate in ambiguity.
• Strong written and verbal storytelling skills.

Responsibilities

• Own strategy for high-value pursuits from market shaping to award.
• Build relationships with senior partners and influence procurement thinking.
• Develop win strategies based on agency insights and competition.
• Lead negotiations with executive stakeholders and shape commercial terms.
• Collaborate with Partner Success for seamless handoff to launch.
• Contribute market learnings to roadmap and geographic expansion.
• Represent Via in complex, multi-stakeholder contexts.

Skills

Public sector experience

Data analytics

Strategic relationship building

Executive communication

Leadership

Job description

Via is on a mission to create public transportation systems that provide far greater access to jobs, healthcare, and education. Our platform serves as the technology backbone for modern transit networks, transforming antiquated and siloed public transportation systems into smart, data-driven, and efficient digital networks. With hundreds of agency partners around the world, Via is recognized as the leading transportation technology and service provider globally.

As a Director of Strategic Pursuits at Via, you will lead our most important new business opportunities from first conversation to signed contract. You’ll work with cities, transit agencies, and operators who are rethinking how their communities move, and you’ll own the strategy that turns their goals into winning proposals and long-term partnerships. Our team is made up of talented, collaborative people who are passionate about making public transit better, and at Via, the work we do together translates into real impact for the people who depend on it every day.

About the Role:

• Own the strategy for Via’s highest-value, most complex pursuits, from early market shaping through RFP response, negotiation, and award
• Build relationships with prospective partners at the most senior levels, becoming a trusted advisor long before a procurement is issued and helping shape how agencies think about what’s possible
• Develop a clear win strategy for each pursuit, grounded in a deep understanding of the agency, the competitive landscape, and the community the service is meant to support
• Use service data, benchmarks, and performance insights to make the case for Via’s approach and to inform pricing, scope, and commercial structure
• Independently lead high-stakes negotiations with executive stakeholders, turning politically sensitive and highly complex situations into agreements that work for both the partner and Via
• Partner closely with Partner Success to ensure a seamless handoff from pursuit to launch, so that what we promise is what we deliver
• Bring what you learn in the market back to Via, influencing our roadmap, positioning, and approach to new geographies and service models

About You:

• 10+ years of experience in complex, senior-level public sector environments, working with city governments, transit agencies, and elected officials
• Experience with public procurement, including RFPs, negotiations, and contracting, and a sharp instinct for what evaluators and decision-makers care about
• Quantitatively inclined and data savvy; you use complex data sets to build a compelling case and influence senior stakeholders both internally and externally
• An entrepreneurial relationship builder who brings clarity and confidence to ambiguous, politically sensitive situations, turning them into opportunities to build trust
• An exceptional communicator and storyteller, in writing and in the room, who can make a complicated idea feel simple and persuasive
• A reliable, motivated self-starter who shapes the way things are done and sets a standard others aspire to
• A natural leader in every sense, someone whose judgment, presence, and way of operating raises the quality of the work and the people around them, regardless of title

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range: $160,000-$210,000, determined by experience, knowledge, and skills. Total compensation also includes variable pay and equity.
• Comprehensive health coverage, with low-cost dental and vision plans.
• A 401(k) with a generous company match and vesting.
• Fully paid parental leave for new parents, with extended leave options.
• Additional benefits (mental health, pet insurance, and other wellness perks).
• 20 days of paid time off (PTO) annually.

There has never been a more exciting time to be on the cutting edge of public mobility.

As set forth in Via’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

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