Director of Operations

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:

The Director of Operations, Real Estate is responsible for the strategic oversight of facilities management, occupancy management, and support services across MTA's real estate portfolio. This portfolio includes Office, Industrial, Mixed-use (industrial with office), Public Spaces, and Retail properties, totaling 4 million square feet across 36 locations. The Director ensures the optimal functioning and efficiency of office operations, occupant well-being, and life/safety systems, while supporting MTA's broader real estate strategies. The portfolio includes several key properties with critical functions, such as data centers and command centers, ensuring uninterrupted support for core MTA operations.

The Director oversees Real Estate's facilities management unit, managing an outsourced contract workforce for maintenance, repair, and procurement activities. The Director maintains a 'first-class' standard for all properties, aligning with best practices from the CRE (Corporate Real Estate) industry in the New York City Metropolitan Region. This includes implementing advanced preventative maintenance techniques, stringent security protocols, and the latest life-safety programs. Additionally, the Director manages occupancy, ensuring efficient space planning, utilization, and optimization across all locations. The Director also provides oversight and leadership for various Real Estate support functions, including press conferences at MTAHQ and support for monthly Board and Committee meetings.

The Director collaborates closely with Project Management teams to provide strategic direction and operational insights during planning and execution phases. Additionally, the Director works with the Director of Finance to provide financial guidance, budget support, revenue forecasting, and resource allocation to ensure financial goals are aligned with operational strategies. The Director also partners with the Leasing and Acquisitions team to negotiate lease terms that affect property operations and determine project delivery methods during construction, including establishing not-to-exceed costs in agreements.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily operations across 36 owned and leased properties, ensuring building systems operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with standards.
• Manage third-party property management contracts, ensuring quality execution of maintenance, repair, procurement, and safety programs.
• Maintain a ‘first-class’ standard across the portfolio through implementation of preventive maintenance, life-safety systems, and security protocols.
• Lead occupancy management and space optimization strategies across 4M+ square feet, supported by IWMS and strong data governance.
• Supervise support services including audiovisual operations, mailroom, print center, and logistics for executive and public-facing events.
• Ensure operational continuity at mission-critical sites such as data centers, command centers, and executive offices.
• Administer and monitor Real Estate’s $85M operating budget; oversee forecasting, accruals, and variance reporting.
• Support lease negotiations and delivery planning in partnership with Leasing & Acquisitions, including defining not-to-exceed terms.
• Provide operational input and strategic support for capital projects, including coordination with Real Estate’s Director of Project Management on initiatives totaling over $100M.
• Management of the information services function which oversee all boardroom activities and off- site meetings. Additionally, this position provides leadership for the technical Audio-Visual Team that frequently holds MTA Press Conferences with Executive Leadership and Local Elected Officials.
• Provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team, aligning operations with broader real estate and agency goals.
• Oversee leased-in administration to ensure that all financial obligations are met in compliance with the lease – a total rent roll of $75m
• Respond to operational emergencies on a 24/7 basis and lead incident resolution efforts across impacted properties.

Qualifications:

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• A strong understanding of the development, monitoring, and testing of Real Estate Internal Controls. 
• In-depth comprehension of audit principles and processes.
• Must be able to respond to emergencies on a 24/7 basis.
• Strong financial and strategic planning skills require the ability to develop, maintain, and monitor budgets.
• A team player with excellent interpersonal skills capable of interacting effectively with colleagues and clients in a collaborative, matrix organization.
• Demonstrated ability to interrupt complex real estate agreements.
• Extensive knowledge of tenant management systems (Yardi preferred) and high competency with MS Office applications required, particularly Word and Excel (experienced with advanced excel functions including pivot tables, v-lookups, and Macros).

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or the equivalent in Facilities Management, Business Management, Architecture, Engineering, or Finance with a minimum of 10 years progressively responsible experience in commercial real estate required; MBA preferred (master’s degree may be substituted for experience). An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Must possess a minimum of 7 years of experience in facilities management responsibilities including preparation of budgets, accruals, reforecasts and reporting budget variances.
• Must possess a minimum of seven years of supervisory 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.