Senior Rolling Stock Program Specialist

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 the Rolling Stock Program Office efforts in the implementation of best practices for the acquisition and lifecycle costing of buses, subway cars, commuter rail cars and all non-revenue/work car equipment across New York City Transit (NYCT), Metro North Railroad (MNR) and Long Island Railroad (LIRR).  This position will work with business partners in NYCT, MNR, LIRR and MTA Headquarters to understand reporting needs/goals. It will conduct rigorous data analysis and modeling in support of stated reporting needs/goals. This position will work with project management offices within MTA Operating Agencies to implement and operationalize Rolling Stock Program Office’s recommendations/strategies. This position will work with the project management offices in NYCT, MNR, and LIRR helping to maintain project timelines and budgets and achieve project goals/performance milestones.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct analysis on a wide variety of rolling stock related datasets, including maintenance and performance data. Gather, analyze, and interpret a wide variety of data to support transformation of the rolling stock acquisition approach across operating agencies.
• Prepare and present findings and recommendations of various analyses to Rolling Stock Program Office leadership and operating agencies in an accurate, understandable, and timely manner. Develop reports, presentations, and/or dashboards targeted to various internal and external stakeholders.
• Support benchmarking exercises on procurement evaluation models to inform management of the latest trends and best practices for achieving best value in rolling stock procurements.
• Stimulate and engage in cross-functional collaboration across MTA operating agencies to gather information on and understand current operational practices related to rolling stock acquisition, maintenance, and life-cycle costs.
• Support the project management oversight of existing New York City Transit (NYCT), Metro North Railroad (MNR) and Long Island Railroad (LIRR) rolling stock projects.Guide project management offices in the implementation and operationalization of the Rolling Stock Program Office’s recommendations/strategies and the maintenance of project timelines and budgets; and to achieve project goals/ performance milestones.
• Apply quality controls to output data to ensure data validity, accuracy and usability by the desired audience. Identify and correct data errors and/or inconsistencies, and make sure that data meets pre-defined standards and requirements before the data is used for reporting or decision-making.
• Perform the data analysis which may include but is not limited to ROI analysis and lifecycle cost analyses of rolling stock assets. Draft conclusions that will inform strategies developed and proposed by the Rolling Stock Program Office to facilitate implementation of a total cost of ownership(“TCO”) approach related to acquisition and maintenance of rolling stock by the operating agencies (NYCT, MNR, LIRR).  Break down large requests into actionable steps that will lead to the successful fulfillment of the request or achievement of a specific goal. As an example, a request to assist in determining the TCO of a particular rolling stock car class/asset could require that the request be broken down into smaller tasks (ex. analysis of maintenance data, financial impact to agency when cars are out of service for repairs, etc.).
• May be required to conduct industry research/analysis regarding market conditions affecting rolling stock manufacturing and sub-supplier environment that may entail outreach to existing and/or potential rolling stock suppliers and reporting out on those findings. 
• Supports all activity for the successful implementation of a total cost of ownership approach to acquisition and maintenance of rolling stock across the operating agencies of the MTA, in line with corporate strategy and business goals.
• May be expected to represent the MTA at national and international public transportation forums. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven change management abilities with experience leading change.
• Must have the ability to comprehend high-level business strategy objectives and effectively develop / execute ‘roadmaps’, milestones, detailed implementation plans and Key Performance Indicators
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Excellent quantitative, analytical, project management and problem-solving skills, together with demonstrated quantitative skills and proficiency in Excel modeling. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with proficiency analyzing data and automating processes. Proficiency with advanced formulas and data manipulation techniques,
• Demonstrated ability to work with all internal levels within a given organization.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact well with external agencies.  External agencies may include the New York State Government, New York City government, elected and other public officials, as well as any staff located at other federal or state agencies or authorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a high-profile, high-pressure environment effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with key internal and/or external stakeholders.
• 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 gathering data from various stakeholders and interviewing stakeholders in a team or individual setting.
• Demonstrated ability to complete short-term and long-term projects effectively and as efficiently as possible.
• Demonstrated analytical capabilities, quantitative skill, and ability to synthesize large datasets into actionable insights for leadership and cross-functional teams.

Required Education and Experience:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in Business Administration, Transportation, Public Administration, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and
• Minimum of four (4) years of related experience in one or a combination of the following areas: public transportation administration, project management, procurement operations, budget planning. managing process improvement and efficiencies; or a Master’s degree or experience in high level comprehensive Excel modeling may be used to substitute for up to 1 year of work experience. The Master’s degree should be from an accredited college or university with a discipline in Business Administration, Transportation, Public Administration, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering or related field and two (2) years of full-time professional experience.

The Following is/are preferred:

• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite including PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools like Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent platforms.

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.