Director of Strategic Pursuits

Via
New York, NY
On-site

Who this role is best for

Public sector professionals with negotiation experience and data-driven storytelling skills will find this leadership role in strategic pursuits with Via.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with deep public sector experience and a track record in shaping transportation strategies for cities and agencies
    — “10+ years of experience in complex, senior-level public sector environments”
  • Individuals who excel in translating data into persuasive narratives for high-level stakeholders
    — “Quantitatively inclined and data savvy; you use complex data sets to build a compelling case”
  • Professionals adept at navigating politically sensitive negotiations and building long-term trust with agencies
    — “An entrepreneurial relationship builder who brings clarity and confidence to ambiguous, politically sensitive situations”

Things to consider

  • This role requires a high level of autonomy and leadership, even without a formal title
    — “A natural leader in every sense, someone whose judgment, presence, and way of operating raises the quality of the work”
  • The position demands a long-term commitment to partnership development, not just short-term sales goals
    — “own the strategy that turns their goals into winning proposals and long-term partnerships”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience in shaping procurement strategies and influencing agency thinking before RFPs
    — “becoming a trusted advisor long before a procurement is issued”
  • Emphasize your ability to lead negotiations with executive stakeholders and secure complex agreements
    — “Independently lead high-stakes negotiations with executive stakeholders”
  • Showcase your ability to align technical solutions with community needs and agency objectives
    — “Develop a clear win strategy for each pursuit, grounded in a deep understanding of the agency”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful contract negotiations
  • high-value pursuit strategy
Typical background
public sector experiencesales and negotiation

Skills & requirements

Required

Public Sector ExperienceComplex NegotiationsData AnalysisRelationship BuildingCommunication

Preferred

Policy Analysis

Stack & domain

LeadershipCommunicationPublic TransportationTransit Networks

About the role

Original posting from Via via Greenhouse

Via is on a mission to create public transportation systems that provide far greater access to jobs, healthcare, and education. Our platform serves as the technology backbone for modern transit networks, transforming antiquated and siloed public transportation systems into smart, data-driven, and efficient digital networks. With hundreds of agency partners around the world, Via is recognized as the leading transportation technology and service provider globally.

As a Director of Strategic Pursuits at Via, you will lead our most important new business opportunities from first conversation to signed contract. You’ll work with cities, transit agencies, and operators who are rethinking how their communities move, and you’ll own the strategy that turns their goals into winning proposals and long-term partnerships. Our team is made up of talented, collaborative people who are passionate about making public transit better, and at Via, the work we do together translates into real impact for the people who depend on it every day.

About the Role:

Own the strategy for Via’s highest-value, most complex pursuits, from early market shaping through RFP response, negotiation, and award

Build relationships with prospective partners at the most senior levels, becoming a trusted advisor long before a procurement is issued and helping shape how agencies think about what’s possible

Develop a clear win strategy for each pursuit, grounded in a deep understanding of the agency, the competitive landscape, and the community the service is meant to support

Use service data, benchmarks, and performance insights to make the case for Via’s approach and to inform pricing, scope, and commercial structure

Independently lead high-stakes negotiations with executive stakeholders, turning politically sensitive and highly complex situations into agreements that work for both the partner and Via

Partner closely with Partner Success to ensure a seamless handoff from pursuit to launch, so that what we promise is what we deliver

Bring what you learn in the market back to Via, influencing our roadmap, positioning, and approach to new geographies and service models

About You:

10+ years of experience in complex, senior-level public sector environments, working with city governments, transit agencies, and elected officials

Experience with public procurement, including RFPs, negotiations, and contracting, and a sharp instinct for what evaluators and decision-makers care about

Quantitatively inclined and data savvy; you use complex data sets to build a compelling case and influence senior stakeholders both internally and externally

An entrepreneurial relationship builder who brings clarity and confidence to ambiguous, politically sensitive situations, turning them into opportunities to build trust

An exceptional communicator and storyteller, in writing and in the room, who can make a complicated idea feel simple and persuasive

A reliable, motivated self-starter who shapes the way things are done and sets a standard others aspire to

A natural leader in every sense, someone whose judgment, presence, and way of operating raises the quality of the work and the people around them, regardless of title

Compensation and Benefits: 

Base salary range: $160,000-$210,000, determined by experience, knowledge, and skills. Total compensation also includes variable pay and equity.

Comprehensive health coverage, with low-cost dental and vision plans.

A 401(k) with a generous company match and vesting.

Fully paid parental leave for new parents, with extended leave options.

Additional benefits (mental health, pet insurance, and other wellness perks).

20 days of paid time off (PTO) annually.

There has never been a more exciting time to be on the cutting edge of public mobility. 

Ready to join the ride?

Source: Via careers (Greenhouse)

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