Description
Position at MTA Construction & Development
JOB TITLE:
Director, Capital Strategy (Environmental Review Policy)
AGENCY:
Construction & Development
DEPT/DIV:
Planning/Climate & Land Use Planning
REPORTS TO:
Senior Director, Land Use Strategy
WORK LOCATION:
2 Broadway
HOURS OF WORK:
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM or as required (7.5 HR/ DAY)
JOB FAMILY: DAB
GRADE: 008
SALARY RANGE:
$136,505 to $170,631
DEADLINE:
Open Until Filled
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.
MTA Construction & Development reserves the right to remove this posting before the application deadline.
Telework
This position is eligible for telework, which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.
Job Summary
The MTA Land Use Strategy Team, housed within C&D Planning, leads initiatives at the intersection of land use and transit planning. MTA's Land Use Strategy Team engages with municipal governments and other stakeholders throughout the MTA service region to boost land use policies that support transit and other sustainable transportation modes. The Land Use Strategy Team routinely engages with technical and legal experts across all MTA agencies, including New York City Transit, Long Island Railroad, Metro-North Railroad and MTA Bridges & Tunnels.
The Director, Capital Strategy (Environmental Review Policy), as part of the MTA's Land Use Strategy Team, will lead the MTA's engagement in environmental review processes conducted by external entities in which any MTA agency is designated as an Interested or Involved Agency. This includes, but is not limited to, the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR), New York State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Among multiple policy objectives, the primary goal of the position is to ensure that transit impacts and mitigations are sufficiently addressed in the progressive milestones in environmental review process.
This role does not oversee or manage environmental reviews for MTA-led projects where an MTA agency serves as the Lead Agency. Instead, this position serves as the MTA's primary strategist and coordinator for engagement in environmental reviews led by other entities, ensuring that external review processes reflect the needs and priorities of the regional transit system.
Responsibilities
Lead MTA's review of external environmental review actions (CEQR, SEQR, NEPA, and related processes) where any MTA agency is an Interested or Involved Agency, ensuring coordinated, consistent, and high-quality responses.
Coordinate with stakeholders across all MTA agencies to develop consensus on policy priorities, infrastructure needs, mitigation strategies, and technical positions across a broad and evolving pipeline of environmental reviews.
Lead the development of MTA comment letters and formal responses during public comment periods and other review milestones.
Regularly convene internal stakeholders to align on the agencywide environmental review portfolio and establish consistent approaches that reinforce the goals of the MTA's Land Use Strategy Team.
Partner with capital agency colleagues to develop standardized review protocols, improve coordination, and integrate lessons learned from internal review practices into MTA-wide procedures.
Identifying gaps or shortcomings in CEQR, SEQR, NEPA, and other external review frameworks, and leading interagency efforts to advocate for improvements that better account for transit impacts and MTA infrastructure.
Plan ahead for updates to environmental review guidance and develop recommendations for new or improved analyses that external agencies should incorporate to more accurately assess transit impacts and mitigation needs.
Proactively engage with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Mayor's Office of Environmental Coordination (OEC), and other external entities on policy issues and updates to environmental review guidance, including the SEQR Handbook and CEQR Technical Manual.
Proactively identify gaps or limitations in existing environmental review frameworks and advocate for improvements that better reflect impacts to MTA infrastructure, riders, and operations.
Regularly brief colleagues and senior leadership on the environmental review portfolio, key issues, emerging risks, and policy recommendations.
Create, maintain, and oversee document management systems, databases, and archives that support coordination, institutional memory, and efficient access to past reviews and MTA correspondence.
Coordinate closely with capital agency partners to form unified positions and learning from their internal review practices to establish standardized, MTA-wide protocols for responding to external reviews.
Developing and institutionalizing clear procedures that improve the consistency, efficiency, and quality of MTA engagement in external environmental review processes.
Ensuring that key issue areas-including transportation, land use, zoning and public policy, urban design and visual resources, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions and climate change-are fully and accurately reflected in external environmental reviews.
Education and Experience
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Transportation, Urban Planning, Business, Public Policy, Economics, or a related field.
Must have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in Transportation Planning, Infrastructure, Finance, Planning, Real Estate, or a related field.
Must have a minimum of six (6) years of managerial experience.
A Master's degree is preferred.
Comprehensive Benefits & Total Rewards Package:
Transportation & Financial Benefits
Commuting Made Easy - Enjoy a complimentary MTA transportation pass, plus access to tax-advantaged commuter benefits to maximize your savings.
Premium Health Coverage at Low Cost - Access high-quality individual, family, and domestic partner healthcare, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
Secure Your Future - Build long-term financial security through pension plans and retirement savings accounts designed for eligible employees.
Time Off & Work-Life Balance
Generous Time Away - Recharge with substantial paid time off and comprehensive holiday schedules that support your personal and family commitments.
Holistic Support Services - Access our dedicated Work Life Services team and Office of the Chaplains unit for personal guidance and support when you need it most.
Professional Growth & Development
Learning & Development Program - Advance your career through structured professional development opportunities, skills training, and leadership programs tailored to support your growth within the organization.
Educational Investment - Pursue your career goals with in-house training and professional development, tuition reimbursement support, and partnerships with educational institutions.
Employee Experience & Community
Employee Assistance Programs - Comprehensive support services to help you navigate life's challenges with confidence and resources.
Discounts & Perks - Take advantage of MTA employee discount programs offering savings on products and services.
Connect & Belong - Join our vibrant Employee Resource Groups to build meaningful connections, share experiences, and contribute to an inclusive workplace culture.
How to Apply
For Internal Applicants: Log in to the My MTA Portal, click on the My Job Search tile, select the Careers link, search for the desired position, click Apply, and follow the on-screen instructions.
For External Applicants: Visit www.mta.info, click the "Careers" link located in the footer under the "The MTA" section, then click on "See All Open MTA Positions". Search for the desired position, click Apply, and follow the instructions.
Additional Information:
Final salary is determined by experience, skill set, and alignment with compensation practices. The posted range reflects expected compensation and may be updated as market or business needs evolve.
To be eligible for consideration for a new role, current MTA employees must complete at least one year of service in their current role prior to applying. Additionally, eligibility to interview is contingent upon maintaining a satisfactory record of job performance, attendance, and disciplinary conduct.
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").
