Director, IT Enterprise Architecture - Cloud and InfrastructureMetropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

In order to protect our employees and continue to provide safe and reliable service to our communities, as of November 14, 2021 we are requiring all new MTA hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their start date.  MTA will consider exceptions for religious and medical reasons, where appropriate.  “Fully vaccinated” means you must have both doses of a 2-dose vaccine and two weeks have elapsed since the second dose, or have received 1 dose of a 1-dose vaccine and two weeks have elapsed since the dose.  Proof of your vaccination status in the form of a CDC vaccine card must be submitted prior to your start date.

The position is responsible for defining, upholding, and communicating the vision of the IT architecture and solutions that support the MTA business strategies. The individual(s) assigned will provide architectural leadership and guidance in their area of responsibility to support the MTA IT Divisions in aligning IT solutions with the needs of the enterprise.

Will guide and support the strategic delivery of new IT Cloud and Infrastructure solutions.  Based on assignment, the skills and knowledge of this position includes Cloud, Virtual environment, Storage, Applications, Databases, End point computing and Security Architecture.

This position is expected to influence the organization and work independently with senior business and IT leaders while acting as a mentor and role model.  Also included is the development or use of models, interface designs, and development of internal and external checks and controls to ensure proper governance, security, and quality of IT assets.

The Technical Architecture unit within the Architecture and Strategy organization of the MTA Information Technology (IT) Department, has primary accountability for aligning technology and the overall direction of IT through strategic planning and evaluation; effectively aligning IT activities with individual agency business requirements and the forward-thinking objectives of the MTA enterprise as a whole and the position is at the forefront of this.

Direct the design of information technology architecture based on strategic MTA business and operating models

• Assist IT and business leadership in setting the technology direction for the MTA based on a holistic understanding of, and alignment with, the key priorities of the MTA enterprise.  Avoid costly silo-based technology solutions in favor of solutions that incrementally contribute to an integrated and efficient architecture that maximizes IT investments while improving MTA operating performance.  Lead the development and maintenance of the IT Business Plan, which is supported by Operating and Operating-Funded Capital budgets as well as in line with the MTA Financial Plan.
• Develop and publish the current- and target-state MTA Technical Architecture that aligns the MTA’s future application architecture and MTA business plans
• Develop Web-based systems architecture, service-based architecture including microservices, enterprise application architecture as well as managing expectations when balancing alternatives against business and financial constraints
• Understands all domains of architecture and applies that knowledge to create solution architectures to solve complex business and technical problems
• Experience with modern architectures, digital and cloud solutions
• Develop Architecture solutions across on premise and cloud
• Work Cross-Functionally with Architects, Product Managers, Design Engineers, Developers and Business Analysts
• Work closely with business and technical staff and with staff from suppliers as a key contributor in complex and critical environments during project discovery, planning and design phases
• Participate on projects during scoping and design phases giving guidance, direction, and ensuring overall fit with architecture direction.  Complete architectural assessments and unbiased analysis of key decisions within projects including impact on systems, costs, business processes, timelines and other key variables.
• Work with the various IT units to develop a practice for determining, approving and managing preferred technologies.  Maintain a list of approved technologies.  Perform unbiased analysis of technical options and lead the support and adoption of standards in the organization.
• Stay up to date with business priorities and technology trends to ensure reference architecture and strategy stays current.  Understand successes and failures in the marketplace to better guide the MTA’s architecture strategy.
• Ensure an overall architecture with consistent uses of data and significant reuse of technology and business services throughout the company.
• Lead the review of proposed solution architecture, both service based and custom development, for technical compliance
• Gain trust of key leaders and build/evangelize the value of the IT organization
• Work with senior leadership as a lead in the Information Technology strategic planning process to deliver a strategic plan with a three-year outlook that ensures success by aligning business and IT strategy
• Drive integration across all aspects of the enterprise architecture and ensure an end-to-end enterprise focus
• Participate in complex decision making and understand the far-reaching implications across the MTA, business partners, and vendors during solution consideration.
• Direct the development and maintenance of the MTA enterprise architecture, which provides an organization-wide view of current and future business, information, applications and technology architectures that align with the MTA and Agency business strategies and investments decisions
• Direct development and maintenance of models of the enterprise reference architecture by taking into account near term and long-term business drivers
• Manage the architecture: continuously monitor the models and update them as necessary to show changes, additions, and alterations. Consistently revisit the long-term architecture making alterations to it and projects as new efforts and strategies are identified.

•  

Develop architecture principles, strategies, and frameworks; Ensure framework compliance across the MTA

• Develop MTA architectural whitepapers, standards, and policies and communicate to MTA business and IT stakeholders
• Provide consultative guidance to the Strategic business and IT Governance leads in the establishment and support of IT strategy and architectural governance workflow process and metrics
• Provide leadership in development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness; sustain culture and supporting staff during organizational growth/changes
• Monitor industry technology changes/trends and Enterprise Architecture best practices, with an emphasis on transportation, and update strategies and standards accordingly

Management and Oversight

• Work collaboratively with senior management to integrate cross program activities and functions
• Lead architecture development assignments across initiatives
• Develop presentations and communication strategies to ensure enterprise architecture strategies are conveyed and supported throughout the MTA.  Build support and key relationships to allow for cross agency buy-in of architecture ideas
• Participate in overall business planning, bringing a current knowledge and future vision of technology and systems as related to the MTA’s goals
• Develop and enforce data management policy and procedures to ensure the protection of MTA information assets
• Deploy resources to manage and control all projects related to the selection, acquisition, development, and installation of major information systems.
• Develop and maintain an appropriate organization structure for the Enterprise Architecture unit that can support the long-term information needs of the company.
• Create and monitor a system to evaluate and report on business value from IT investments, using analytics and business intelligence, including identifying and defining performance targets to show progress on meeting EA program and project goals.

Human Resource Management

• Forecast needs and skills requirements for Enterprise Architecture based on priorities.
• Coach, develop, manage, and lead Enterprise Architects.
• Build and maintain a strong team in areas of accountability, collaboration, data stewardship, technology, and business partnering.
• Actively participate in management and employee development programs to meet set organizational objectives.
• Mentor and develop direct reports to achieve strategic objectives through career goals and development plans.
• Conduct personnel management, including hiring, coaching, professional development, training, salary administration and performance management.

Financial Management

• Participate in preparing annual operating and capital budgets for the Enterprise Architecture unit.
• Demonstrate consistent quality of finance and administration, funding, communications, and systems; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve the program / project goals.
• Develop and maintain Enterprise Architecture policies and standards aimed at minimizing costs related to the acquisition, implementation, and operation of IT systems.
• Maintain contact with key IT suppliers and maintain knowledge of current technology, equipment, prices, and terms of agreements to minimize the investment required to meet agreed service levels. 
• Evaluate alternatives, perform appropriate cost benefit analysis, and recommend solutions that minimize costs and risks.

Human Resources - Attract, develop, coach, and retain high performance team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control and performance.

·         Full life cycle experience responsible for the development of a complete set of architectural views for an enterprise in accordance with one of the more common architecture frameworks

·         Must have proven effective problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, leadership and analytical skills.

·         Extensive knowledge of industry trends related to information systems and related technology.

·         Knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to MTA and its agencies

·         Exceptional verbal, written, presentation and communications skills

·         Ability to present technical topics to business executives in clear, non-technical language

·         Advanced organizational skill, with the ability to create redesign and/or integrate complex organizational systems

·         Financial/budgeting planning and management experience

·         Ability to adapt plans to fit in with the constantly shifting needs and demands of the business departments

·         Demonstrated ability to manage a staff with responsibility towards a section/dept. budget.

·         Must have ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, effective human relation skills.

·         Understanding of and ability to administer Corporate Policies and Procedures effectively and consistently.

·         Must be a proven team leader with excellent facilitation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

·         Deep understanding of RESTful architecture principles and their applicability.

·         Strong understanding of Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).

·         Demonstrated understanding with version control systems and pipelines.

          Hands on experience with Infrastructure as Code.

·         Familiarity with servers, serverless, storage, networking, databases, and security.

·         Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience communicating at all levels

·         Thorough knowledge, understanding, and experience deploying, managing, and securing multiple Hybrid Multi Cloud, OS and Directory Service environments including AWS, Azure, Google, Linux and Microsoft