Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Metropolitan Transportation Authority; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Teleworking eligible

Job summary

Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking a Manager, Strategic Initiatives to coordinate cross‑functional strategies that improve efficiency, service quality, and overall performance across the MTA family. You will drive strategic projects from insight to implementation, working with leaders to realize recurring savings and better business practices.

The role requires strong analytical ability, superior communication, and proven leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 5–6 years of professional experience preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication and analytical capabilities are essential.
• Experience with strategic planning and cross-functional coordination is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate identification and execution of strategies across MTA to improve efficiency and performance.
• Support interdepartmental and interagency groups; manage quantitative aspects of projects.
• Provide analytical support to inform decisions affecting cost structure and productivity.
• Advise on benchmarking, cost trends, and drivers to optimize operations.
• Contribute to ongoing continuous improvement initiatives within the agency.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

5-6 years professional experience; advanced degree may substitute

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Description

POSTING NO. 17331

Job Title

Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Dept/Div

Strategic Initiatives

Work Location

2 Broadway

Full/Part-Time

Full

Salary Range

$132,000

Deadline

Until filled

Teleworking

This position is eligible for teleworking. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective hire date.

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.

Approved AI Disclosure Language

AI-Enabled Recruiting Tools The MTA may use AI-enabled recruiting tools as part of the recruiting process for this position. Jobvite Talent Fit, an Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT), uses artificial intelligence to compare information in your resume and application materials against the qualifications, skills, experience, and requirements identified in this job posting to assist recruiters in evaluating candidate qualifications. Jobvite Auto Talent Rediscovery is an AI-enabled sourcing tool that evaluates previously submitted candidate profiles and application materials maintained within the MTA's Jobvite recruiting system to identify individuals whose qualifications may align with current job opportunities and who may be considered for outreach and invitation to apply. These tools assist recruiters and do not make employment decisions. All employment decisions include independent human review. Additional information about Talent Fit and the applicable bias audit is available at [e-mail]. You may opt out of AI-assisted evaluation by submitting a request to [e-mail].

Position Objective

This position will work with the Director to coordinate 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, which are a cornerstone of MTA’s financial plan. The position addresses key operational, strategic, and policy issues through the identification and implementation of best practices and other cost‑saving opportunities in cooperation with agency experts; ongoing efforts of continuous improvement and coordination are essential to encouraging excellence across the family. The results are strategies and programs to optimize and improve efficiency and effectiveness through revised MTA business practices.

Responsibilities

• Conduct financial analyses and business process reviews to support high-profile initiatives for MTA executive leadership, improving 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. Projects assigned to the Strategic Initiatives division have a large quantitative and/or process design component. The Manager, Strategic Initiatives, will have primary responsibility for executing the quantitative/analytical side of each project as well as supporting the project management/implementation side.
• Provide analytical support to MTA HQ departments to inform critical decisions that will impact MTA’s cost structure, performance, or overall productivity. Examples include benchmarking operational and support functions, evaluating historical cost trends, and identifying relevant drivers.
• Contribute significantly to interdepartmental and interagency working groups to execute strategic initiatives critical to reshaping MTA into a more sustainable and cost-effective organization.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Able to identify issues across many disciplines (land use, service planning, capital program funding, legal, etc.) to assist in the development of creative solutions and new ways of doing business that result in the best outcome for the MTA.
• Strong interpersonal skills with an established record of working in environments that require group consensus and cooperation among people with no direct reporting relationship to the position.
• Must be able to follow through with implementation in a complex organization and assess the need for adjustments to achieve success.
• Possesses excellent communication skills, both oral and written, as well as excellent quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Has the talent to discern different contexts and audiences and to reach consensus on strategy.
• Capable of building a strong and successful network, developing new relationships, and influencing decision-makers.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in team and/or group settings.
• Able to prioritize among competing needs and opportunities and manage multiple projects at the same time.
• Ability to solve problems and gather data sets in a large organizational setting.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate initiative and results orientation.
• Familiar with strategic planning concepts.
• Proficient in PowerPoint, Excel, and other software tools.

Required Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 5-6 years of professional experience. An advanced degree may substitute for 2 years of 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.