Senior Director

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.

Please note this position is open to MTA employees only

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:

Responsible for directing all activities of the Vendor Performance within Vendor Relations for conducting in-depth research, analysis, background reviews, and investigations concerning contractor, consultants, and suppliers’ business integrity, ethics, and overall performance to facilitate informed responsibility determinations.  The position supports senior management with executing core responsibilities and activities within and external procurement Operations.  This position also provides status updates to senior management and executives, as required.  The Senior Director also manages the formal vendor performance evaluation system used at the MTA (VENDEVAL – Vendor Evaluation); ensures other evaluation systems (All Agency Construction Evaluation (ACE) and Capital Evaluation (CEP)) are utilized in background checks, as appropriate; manages the identification of significant adverse information (SAI) associated with vendors; and convenes special responsibility hearings with various vendors’ presidents to examine issues of ethics, integrity and poor performance.  Such efforts allow the MTA to document the need to allow vendor rehabilitation or to remove such a vendor from future awards.

Responsibilities:

• Select, develop, and motivate personnel within the department. Provide career development for subordinates. Provide prompt and effective coaching and counseling. Review and support the performance of staff. Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables all employees to develop and contribute to their full potential.
• Directs and manages the production of approximately 1000 vendor background checks per year for the MTA Agencies, including MTA C&D, evaluate the results, make recommendations, and convene formal briefings to senior management; draft SAI memos for senior management to submit to the MTA Chair (or its designee); ensure the implementation of policies, procedures, and guidelines for assessing vendor responsibility. These functions are critical as they directly support the assessment of a vendor’s responsibility and its ability to be awarded work, particularly any Significant Adverse Information which may be present.
• Fully responsible for the management and quality assurance review of vendor background checks for prime and subcontractors to ensure they are performed in accordance with the All-Agency Responsibility Guidelines and to the gold standards of review established by Vendor Relations to ensure vendors seeking MTA procurements are effectively reviewed before award or modifications.
• On critical or difficult matters of responsibility, especially in determining the use of firms with SAI, assist the Assistant Deputy Chief, Supplier Relations ACDO, and procurement directors and senior project management in making the responsibility determination.
• This Director reviews the background checks in support of contracts going before an MTA Board for all MTA Agencies.
• Ensures staff identify and contribute information for the monthly MTA Vendor Information and Transit Advisory List (VITAL) Report, which is shared with Procurement and MTA Operations Chiefs as well as New York City and NY State Government entities. 
• Oversee and manage the process involving vendors located in a Discriminatory Jurisdiction, which may ultimately result in obtaining a waiver from New York State.
• Responsible for the development of training and providing training in Responsibility and Vendor Performance issues for procurement personnel, project managers, and senior management. This is critical to ensure uniformity in understanding and interpreting information for their use in making a responsibility determination.  
• Research, review, evaluate, and analyze complicated court rulings, civil and criminal judgements, and other legal and financial documents to support the determination of responsibility in the awarding of contracts notwithstanding significant adverse information.
• Collaborates with other MTA agencies on vendor performance matters for efficient and quick resolutions
• Is held accountable for overseeing and evaluating contractor performance, where applicable:
  • Observing the work performed by the contractor;
  • Reviewing invoices and approving them if the work meets contractual standards;
  • Addressing performance issues with the contractor when possible; and
  • Escalating issues to other parties as needed.
• Other duties as assigned - Performs ad hoc special projects, as assigned, in response to both internal and external inquiries. 

Qualifications:

• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
• Knowledge and understanding of procurement and project management methodologies, as well as a strong understanding of business best practices in a public transport environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively negotiate and convey the MTA’s overall objectives
• Excellent organizational and presentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work with all internal levels within a given organization, including senior management.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact well with external agencies.  External agencies may include the Governor’s Office for New York State, New York City government elected officials, 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, with the ability to multitask and work cooperatively with all stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with key internal and/or external stakeholders.
• Must have strong managerial skills to effectively direct a staff of professional and technical employees in implementing the short- and long-term goals and direction for the area of responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to complete short- and long-term projects effectively and as efficiently as possible.
• Demonstrated analytical capabilities and quantitative skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or comparable applications, i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Transportation, Public Policy, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from an accredited college may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum 8 years related experience, including at least 4 years in a managerial and/or leadership role in a large, multi-faceted, fast-paced organization or governmental body preferred.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Knowledge of Public Authorities Law Section 1209, Public Authorities Law Section 2879, NTS Finance Law, and US federal sentencing guidelines.
• Familiarity with the MTA’s policies and procedures, including the Procurement Guidelines, the All-Agency Responsibility Guidelines, and Best Practices.
• Familiarity with the MTA’s collective bargaining procedures.

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.