Senior Director, Product Development

SALARY RANGE

$184,171 - $217,383

DEPT/DIV

Information Technology

SUPERVISOR

DCTO,Transp.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

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 a core IT discipline and a broad understanding of related domains.

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

• Possesses extensive knowledge in a core IT discipline and a broad understanding of related domains.
• 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.
• Possesses extensive knowledge in a core IT discipline and a broad understanding of related domains.
• 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.
• Develops the stages of the product lifecycle, from ideation, definition, prototyping, design, validation & testing, launch, run stage, and eventual product retirement.
• Understands customer needs, market trends, and the competitive landscape to inform product strategy and feature prioritization.
• Reviews metrics on the sustainability, viability, and quality of delivered products within agreed service targets.
• Influences the strategic direction of one or more disciplines within IT.
• Oversees the effectiveness and efficiency of product(s), and develops, proposes, and implements improvement strategies.
• Possesses knowledge in a single discipline and broad knowledge in related disciplines of domains.
• ⁠Provides leadership direction with a high level of independence, discipline, and attention to detail, and drives business value across all program activities and functions.
• Establishes department strategies to support the IT organization’s vision.
• Directs day-to-day operations and motivates team(s) to achieve results; may be responsible for a budget.
• 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.
• 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.

Minimum 10 yearsof relevant experience with a minimum of five years of supervisory/management experience.

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 constantly 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).

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.

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.

Critical Technical Skills

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with IT teams, support professional development, and promote adherence to technology best practices.
• Experience collaborating with IT and business leaders to develop and manage product roadmaps aligned with digital strategies and current Intelligent Transportation Technology trends.
• Experience assessing product effectiveness and efficiency and identifying or implementing improvement strategies, including opportunities to leverage Artificial Intelligence.

Core Competencies

Core Competency

Proficiency Level

Competency Definition

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

Collaborates

Expert

Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives

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.