Asst. Director Business Solutions

Responsibilities

Port Department Vision and Mission

The Port Department is one of the five-line department businesses of the PANYNJ.  It is responsible for managing the largest port complex on the East Coast and the third largest in the nation.  It operates a highly competitive and dynamic business in a very complex political environment.  The Port has become an economic engine that provides over 400,000 jobs in the region and nearly $100 billion in economic activity.  

For the past 15 years, the Port has been preparing itself for the growing demand for increased trade resulting in more cargo and for the rapid migration to larger vessels carrying that cargo.  To date, the Port Authority has invested nearly $6 billion in new infrastructure and plans another $1.2 billion investment in the next several years.  Port tenants have also been investing to improve their ability to expand with nearly $2 billion of private investment to date and another $1 billion underway.

As a landlord Port, the Port Authority leases property to tenants that operate Port facilities.  Since we do not directly handle cargo, we must influence the efficiency and productivity of the port in more strategic ways.  Today, the challenges in this area continue to grow.  Improving Port productivity requires a more collaborative approach.  The Port Department has taken a strong leadership role in making the changes necessary to keep the Port of New York and New Jersey highly competitive.

We must also be mindful that the Port must grow in a sustainable way.  Port Security and the safety of those who use the Port must remain paramount.  If the Port is to grow, it must do so by reducing its environmental footprint.  And finally, greater attention must be paid to improved resiliency.   

The Port Authority is a unique government body serving both the States of New York and New Jersey and because of the mandate to be financially self-sufficient, increasing revenues while remaining competitive is a major challenge of the Port Department.

Functional Oversight

Reporting to the Port Department Deputy Director, the Assistant Director, Port Support Services is responsible for providing daily leadership and oversight of critical functions supporting the business and staff of the entire Port Department as well as our obligations throughout the  Agency.  These critical areas include Business Services, Financial Services, Port Strategic Policy and Planning and Market Analysis and Research. These units provide human resource, administrative, financial, policy, planning and analytical support to employees within the Port Department to help them be as efficient and effective as possible, while contributing to business and resource decisions in a data-driven way.  

• Provides oversight and direction to the Managers of Business Services, Finance, Administration, Strategic Policy & Planning and Market Analysis & Research and through them, their subordinates.
• Oversees and participates in the development, measurement and reporting on the department’s strategic vision, goals, objectives, policies, and priorities and recommends policies and procedures across all divisions and units of the Port Department. This includes Strategic Planning, Business Planning, Enterprise Risk Management Planning and Annual Key Deliverables as appropriate.
• Plans, directs, supports, and controls the preparation and analysis of key financial data including but not limited to the annual budget, long range forecasts, quarterly updates used for agency reports and internal management reporting.
• Provides strategies and guidance to the Director and Deputy Director on the department’s overall financial performance.
• Works closely with the Director and Deputy Director to formulate strategies for efficient and effective utilization of resources, personnel and performance management issues including securing new positions as necessary, filling vacancies, obtaining contract staff as needed to meet Department’s goals, succession planning etc.
• Ensures that “all-hands” staff meetings for Port Department are organized twice each year.
• Provides oversight of external legislative and regulatory programs, maintains contact with public officials and ensures input on all national and local policies that affect the Port.
• Provides guidance to staff responsible for developing public berth usage guidelines including management and annual review and update of tariffs for both the port facilities and the New York-New Jersey Rail division.
• Oversees the recording and reporting of all port activity including the revenue associated with it.
• Provides market analysis and industry intelligence and research to colleagues across the Port Department units and divisions in a timely manner to ensure that all staff have the information necessary to achieve their goals and objectives.

Qualifications

Candidates must present the following qualifications to be considered eligible for this position:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, public administration, public policy, finance or other related field.  Advanced degree is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible senior level management experience, preferably for an organization comparable to the complexity and size of the PANYNJ.
• Superior leadership abilities acquired through demonstrated record of increasingly responsible jobs. 
• Ability to communicate complex business, technical, financial, legal and political issues both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated experience in managing, leading and developing a large diverse professional staff, with a proven record of effective team building.
• Demonstrated experience interacting in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict, build consensus, and facilitate problem solving and collaboration among various stakeholders.
• Ability to handle high levels of pressure and strong transactional, analytical and decision-making skills.

Desired

Ideal candidates will present the following profile:

• Superior interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to interact effectively with the workforce at all levels as well as with external constituents. Superior written and oral communication skills with demonstrated experience in preparing and delivering presentation materials to senior staff.
• Experience with the Port Authority Board and authorization process and/or knowledge in public sector governance and statutory compliance.
• Knowledge of port/cargo industry and marine terminal management.
• Ability to lead, motivate, mentor and develop staff.

How To Apply

Interested candidates should apply to this job by clicking on the Apply Now button and submitting a combined cover letter and resume.

Only applicants under consideration will be contacted.

About The Port Authority

Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency's network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey/Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) is an Equal Opportunity Employer.