Senior Director, Product Development

Description

Position at MTA Headquarters

JOB TITLE:

Senior Director, Product Development

SALARY RANGE:

$201,676 - $238,043

DEPT/DIV:

Transportation IT Products

SUPERVISOR:

DCTO, Transport.System Products

LOCATION:

2 Broadway, New York, NY, 10004

HOURS OF WORK:

9:00 am - 5:30 pm (7.5 hours/day) or as required

Please note this position is only open to MTA employees.

This position is eligible for teleworking, which is currently 2 days per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

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.

Summary:

This role is responsible for directing the development of product lifecycles from inception/innovation through design, build, and ultimately the ongoing run stage before an eventual product retirement. This role must possess extensive knowledge in an IT discipline critical to IT operations and a broad knowledge of related domains (e.g., AI/ML, cloud services, cyber security, penetration testing, architecture). This premium technical role demands a high level of expertise and precision, as it involves leading cutting-edge projects, solving complex technical challenges, and ensuring the delivery of premium quality solutions that meet stringent performance and reliability standards. This position requires a proactive approach to innovation, a commitment to continuous improvement, and the ability to inspire and mentor a team of skilled professionals to achieve excellence in their technical endeavors. The role is also responsible for overseeing cross-functional teams assigned to design, build, and maintain one or more product lines. Various products including, but not limited to: Corp Finance/ Capital Planning & Budget Legal, Risk & Safety Enterprise Asset Management Workforce Products (Payroll, Pension, Timekeeping, Recruitment) Employee Experience Platforms/Back-End Operations/DBA Bus & Paratransit Scheduling Crew Pick Transportation Intelligent Systems, Train Control B&T Products Customer Experience Revenue Fare Collections

Responsibilities:

• Premium Role Responsibilities- May conduct one or multiple of responsibilities listed below based on IT discipline:
• Possesses extensive knowledge in an IT discipline critical to IT operations and a broad knowledge of related disciplines and domains (e.g., AI/ML, cloud services, cyber security, penetration testing, architecture, etc.).
• Determines the strategic direction of key IT disciplines such as AI/ML, cloud services, cyber security, penetration testing, architecture, etc.
• Possesses knowledge of UX principles to guide the development of products that provide a seamless and intuitive user experience.
• May lead and expand our White Hat team to proactively identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities through rigorous penetration testing.
• May oversee the development and implementation of cutting-edge machine learning algorithms and AI-driven solutions to enhance our transportation computing products.
• May drive the architecture and deployment of cloud-based infrastructure to support scalable, secure, and efficient software development processes.
• Creates and implements a clear and compelling product vision and strategy that aligns with MTA’s goals and customer needs.
• Oversees all potential risks to the product. Approves mitigation strategies.
• Approves/develops the budget for product initiatives. Oversees that product initiatives are completed on time and within budget.
• Leads through change, including the ability to adapt to shifting priorities and market conditions.
• Directs IT teams, fostering professional growth and ensuring adherence to best practices.
• Delivers monthly or quarterly results to senior leadership, with performance subject to regular review against targets.
• Collaborates with IT and business leaders to create and manage product roadmaps aligned with digital strategies.
• Oversees team compliance with governance processes and adherence to technology architectures and methodologies.
• Oversees system support processes to maintain product quality and sustainability.
• Understands customer needs, market trends, and the competitive landscape to inform product strategy and feature prioritization.
• Directs day-to-day operations and motivates team(s) to achieve results; may be responsible for a budget.
• Develops the stages of the product lifecycle, from ideation, definition, prototyping, design, validation & testing, launch, run stage, and eventual product retirement.
• Review metrics on the sustainability, viability, and quality of delivered products within agreed service targets.
• Oversees the effectiveness and efficiency of product(s), and develops, proposes, and implements improvement strategies.
• ⁠Provides leadership direction with a high level of independence, discipline, and attention to detail, and drives business value across all program activities and functions.
• Defines key performance indicators (KPIs), regularly evaluates performance against established metrics, and utilizes data-driven insights to inform continual application optimization activities.
• Reviews budgets, contracts, and allocation of resources. Recommends timelines and additional resources to help achieve goals and objectives.
• Maintains an engaged workforce and fosters a positive culture throughout organizational change.
• Establishes department strategies to support the IT organization’s vision.
• Models, encourages, and rewards coaching, development, and recognition as critical management responsibilities.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all policies and standards
• May be required to work hours outside regular work hours, as applicable
• Observes the work performed by contractors, as applicable
• Reviews invoices and approves them if the work has contractual standards, as applicable
• Addresses performance issues with the contractor when possible, as applicable
• Escalates issues to other parties when needed, as applicable

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) or related fields or equivalent experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Preferred
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience with a minimum of five years of supervisory/management experience. Required

Technical Skills:

• Expert in deep understanding of technology.
• Expert ability to develop and implement enterprise product solutions.
• Ability to prioritize, handle multitasking, and work in an agile environment.
• Ability to quickly learn and understand new technologies.
• Expert experience with managing projects and initiatives.
• Expert experience with constant shifting needs and demands of the business Departments.
• Strong experience in at least one software engineering methodology, including but not limited to: Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, DevOps, Extreme Programming (XP), Kanban, Lean, Rapid Application Development (RAD). Experience with the following language(s): Job Specific (e.g., Ruby, Python, Java, C++, COBOL, etc.) Familiarity with the following vendor-specific platforms: Job Specific (e.g. Azure, Windows Server platforms, or Linux).

Premium Technical Skills:

• Must meet the criteria in one or more of the following premium skills/IT disciplines listed below in order to be qualified for a premium role.
• Extensive knowledge of network security, including firewalls and enterprise cloud integrations, and experience in systems administration for Linux and Windows OS as well as virtualization in the cloud.
• Extensive knowledge of deploying and managing hybrid multi-cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCP) and on-premises systems.
• Extensive knowledge of cloud computing, including architecture, development, operations, security, automation, and financial management.
• Extensive knowledge of infrastructure automation using scripting languages (shell, Python, Ruby, PowerShell) and configuration management tools (Terraform, Chef, Puppet, CloudFormation).
• Extensive knowledge of large-scale data center migrations to the cloud.
• Extensive knowledge of AI/ML solutions and operations.
• Extensive knowledge of modern AI and ML frameworks and architectures to develop and deploy AI models.
• Extensive knowledge of software for simulation modeling and analysis of rail systems, such as train performance simulators, traffic management systems, and maintenance management software.
• Extensive knowledge of evaluating an organization’s security infrastructure, IT systems, and protocols.
• Extensive knowledge of conducting authorized security penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Behavioral Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, provide coaching, and direct feedback.
• Expert in active listening, attention to detail, customer service, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.
• Expert in working independently and strategically.
• Expert in identifying and analyzing risks and developing effective mitigation strategies.
• Expert technical knowledge and a diverse skill set to understand various technologies, systems, and potential risks.
• Expert in critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Expert in interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with both technical and non-technical peers.
• Expert in managing multiple projects simultaneously and prioritizing tasks based on urgency and impact.
• Extensive hands-on experience with related tools.
• Expert experience working under pressure and meeting deadlines individually and collaboratively.
• Thinks logically, assesses problems, and is results-oriented.
• Expert in identifying complex business and technology risks and associated vulnerabilities.
• Expert in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, to interact with team members, customers, management, and support personnel (technical and non-technical).
• Expert in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees at all levels within the organization, and with both internal and external customers

Leadership Skills:

• Expert leadership in leading change by developing inter/intra team communication and cohesiveness; sustainment of culture and supporting staff during organizational growth/changes.
• Expert leadership in leading people by working with staff to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management discipline for all technology-related initiatives and endeavors.
• Expert leadership in driving results by meeting organizational goals and customer expectations and making decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
• Expert leadership in business acumen by providing direction on evaluation, selection, implementation, and maintenance of information systems, ensuring appropriate investment in strategic and operational systems.
• Expert leadership in building coalitions by internally and externally building partnerships with key stakeholders to help achieve the MTA’s mission or common goals through influence or negotiations.

Critical Technical Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with technical teams to proactively identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities, including through penetration testing.
• Experience collaborating with IT and business leaders to develop and manage product roadmaps aligned with digital strategies and current Intelligent Transportation Technology trends.
• Experience supporting governance processes and adherence to technology architectures and methodologies, including those involving Artificial Intelligence.

Competencies:

Core Competency Proficiency Level Competency Definition

Collaborates EXPERT Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives

Cultivates Innovation EXPERT Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful

Customer Focus EXPERT Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions

Communicates Effectively EXPERT Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences

Values Diversity EXPERT Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization

Other Information:

Pursuant 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 with respect to veteran status and individuals with disabilities. The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.