Director of Strategy & Operations

New York City Department of Transportation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York City Department of Transportation is seeking an experienced Director of Strategy & Operations (DSO) for the Transportation Planning and Management division. This leadership role reports to the Assistant Commissioner and will align subunit programs, guide policy implementation, and strengthen internal operations.

The DSO will oversee budgeting, administration, and cross‑agency collaboration with the MTA, while championing staff development and external engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of city planning experience.
• Graduate education may substitute for experience (30 graduate credits = 1 year); must have a bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in transportation planning or transit policy is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure alignment across TD subunits and coordinate with City agencies, elected officials, and the MTA.
• Champion staff wellbeing and coordinate with TPM HR for recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.
• Oversee administrative compliance, budget planning, and streamline workflows across the subdivision.
• Coordinate Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service plan and Streets Plan implementation tracking.
• Engage stakeholders and expand partnerships with advocates and business partners.

Skills

Strategy & operations

Interagency coordination

Written communication

Public policy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in city planning or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Budget tracking tools

Procurement systems

Job description

*** To be considered for this position candidate must be serving permanently in the title of City Planner, or be reachable on the open-competitive civil service list, Exam # 5045.
Agency Mission: The Department of Transportation's (DOT) mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and to support and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of our primary customers, City residents. DOT is an equal opportunity employer, committed to recruiting and maintaining a diverse workforce in an open and inclusive environment.
Division: Transportation Planning and Management (TPM) is responsible for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods on the City's streets, supporting the larger goals of economic and social vitality for people living, working, and doing business in New York City. The Division's responsibilities include planning, street design, technical analysis, signs, transit development, freight mobility, and markings, ensuring the safety of motor vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and cyclists. Transit Development (TD), a subdivision within TPM, develops public transit-supportive street infrastructure and policies and serves as the agency's primary point of contact with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). TD's work is central to advancing Mayor Mamdani's vision for faster, more reliable buses, including implementation of the locally mandated Streets Plan.
Role Description: TD is seeking an experienced, highly motivated, and inclusive leader to serve as Director of Strategy & Operations (DSO). Reporting to the Assistant Commissioner of Transit Development and working closely with the Director of Planning & Policy, Senior Director of Bus Priority, and TPM leadership, the DSO will serve as people officer for TD, ensuring alignment across TD's programs and subunits to support high-impact decision-making and strengthen internal operations and external collaboration. Key responsibilities include:

1. Strategic Operations: Ensure alignment across TD subunits, resolve bottlenecks, drive program delivery, and coordinate with City agencies, elected officials, and the MTA;
2. People & Culture: Champion staff wellbeing and professional development; lead coordination with TPM HR to support recruitment, onboarding, and performance management;
3. Administration & Budget: Oversee administrative compliance, support recruiting, budget planning and tracking, and streamline workflows across the subdivision;
4. Priority Programs: Coordinate the Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service plan and Streets Plan implementation tracking; and
5. Engagement: Cultivate and expand stakeholder engagement strategies with advocates, business partners, and the broader public.

Minimum Qualifications

1. 1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of satisfactory full-time experience in city planning;
2. 2. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience that is equivalent to "1" above. Graduate
   education in city planning, urban planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, public administration, economic development or related fields may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree.

Special Qualification Requirements

Assignment Level III
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level III, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, one additional year of professional experience as described in "2" above.

Assignment Level IV
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level IV, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, two additional years of professional experience as described in "2" above.

Preferred Skills

Experience in transportation planning or transit policy with knowledge of NYC's transit and street design landscape experience with administrative, HR, or Chief of Staff/executive operations roles in a public-sector setting strong understanding of NYC government structure and interagency processes and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite experience with budget tracking, procurement, and project management tools.
Preference will be given to candidate who possess a driver's license valid in the state of New York is a plus.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

CITY PLANNER - 22122