Sr Associate Strategic Initiatives

This position is eligible for teleworking, which is currently one day per week. 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.

Position Objective:

This position will support at least two interdepartmental task forces. The energy interdepartmental task force will pursue multiple initiatives including participation in the energy rate-making process with NYPA and Con Edison, implementation of MTA-wide Energy Management Software Platform; and pursuit of market-based solutions to purchase lower-cost energy. Conduct three or four analyses in support of other departments’ strategic initiatives such as, for example, analysis of the impact of overtime on MTA pension expense and procurement and implementation of MTA-wide Advertising Data Management Platform.

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 Advertising RFP. Projects assigned to the Strategic Initiatives - Analysis division have a large quantitative and/or process design component. The Senior Associate, 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 analytic 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, evaluation of historical cost trends, and 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.

Required Qualifications:

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Must be able to perform rigorous data analysis to identify and develop optimal business strategies. With direction from Director of Strategic Initiatives, identify available information, transform it into useful data sets, and execute appropriate analytics and modeling in order to provide quality information to guide strategic decision-making. Assist in formulating recommendations for pragmatic business transformation strategies based on these insights and in some cases, assist in executing these strategies.
• Excellent quantitative, analytical, 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 in a clear and succinct way 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 team process and staff development skills.
• 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.
• A minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible experience in consulting, finance, engineering, or other highly analytic disciplines.
• A Master’s Degree in business, finance, mathematics, statistics, or other highly analytical discipline 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”).

Employees driving company vehicles must complete defensive driver training once every three years for current MNR drivers; or within 180 days of hire or transfer for an employee entering an authorized driving position.

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.