Assistant Vice President - Maintenance of Way

This position is eligible for teleworking which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.                     

Metro-North Railroad reserves the right to remove this posting before the Application Deadline.

Opening:

MTA Metro-North Railroad is a dynamic organization, operating out of the jewel of New York City, Grand Central Terminal.  We provide service to over 86.5 million customers, traveling in and out of New York and Connecticut.  A subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North Railroad is one of the busiest commuter railroads in the nation.  MTA Metro-North Railroad strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities to its employees.

Position Objective:

This position will assist the Vice President of Maintenance of Way in all aspects of the management and oversight of the Engineering Department.  This position will also stand in for the Vice President as needed.  Incumbent will direct and control the integration and facilitation of department activities with respect to daily operational issues and planned maintenance and production work.  This position is accountable for assisting with departmental controls and ensuring managerial oversight of departmental activities, overseeing 3rd party consultants/auditors, and staff management and activity planning activities to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations in meeting industry standards, regulatory compliance, and strategic objectives in support of Metro North’s Strategic Plan.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the overall performance of the department, with responsibility for monitoring efficiencies, identifying performance bottlenecks, implementing process improvement strategies, analyzing data to optimize operations, and ensuring compliance with performance standards.
• Ensure the safety of the operation and reliability through improved maintenance and track allocation and new and innovative processes and technologies.
• Assist the Vice President in leading the Maintenance of Way Department divisional efforts in attaining the organizational and department-wide safety and operational goals and objectives by developing, promoting, and reinforcing safe work practices through the use of a coordinated, structured, and well-defined system safety plan, creating and reinforcing the importance of safety with department leadership and ensuring the same consistent messages and practices are cascaded to all employees;  assist with establishing and reviewing safety metrics for trends and dedicating resources to making sub-departments, areas, job tasks safer, reviewing technology to improve safety outcomes. 
• Ensure the proper and timely maintenance of all fixed property and operating systems throughout Metro-North in the Communications, Signal, PTC, Track, Facilities, Structures, Power, and Grand Central Terminal Maintenance Departments are in state-of-good-repair in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, Local and MNR rules, laws, standards or other applicable requirements.  Assist and support the identification and establishment of short- and long-term maintenance and repair programs (i.e., one-, five-, and twenty-year needs) and secure and allocate appropriate resources (e.g., budget, staffing, material, equipment, environmental impact, etc.) to ensure programs are executed successfully.
• Identify opportunities and develop programs to perform maintenance activities more efficiently to accelerate bringing Metro-North’s critical infrastructure assets into a state of good repair. 
• Provide leadership to the Maintenance of Way Department (consisting of 2500 employees) division leadership by fostering a climate of collaboration, problem-solving, and teamwork for all stakeholders that support the corporate mission, value, long-range goals, and departmental initiatives; assist and support creating synergy and enhancing employee development; establishing a culture of respect, integrity, trust and open communication and ensuring employees feel supported and empowered to perform at their best to ensure the infrastructure is in a state of good repair to provide a safe and reliable service to our customers and the region we serve.
• Participate in the development of the annual budget submission and hiring plan and ensure that the M of W Department operates within the established budget by designing and instituting the necessary internal processes, protocols, and controls to ensure that the department is within operating and capital budgets, scope, and schedule. 
• Assist in ensuring the effective execution of recovery and resiliency efforts.
• Oversee the use of overtime and ensure it is used for appropriate business purposes as needed.
• As necessary, represent Metro-North and provide senior-level participation in any applicable public and government oversight interactions related to M of W.
• Engage with union leadership and assist with Labor Relations negotiations and assist with settling issues, questions, and disputes, as necessary.
• Participate in the development of corporate policies, long-range planning, budget review, hiring plans, new initiatives, and projections that affect or involve the M of W Department.

Required Qualifications:

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• An understanding of American rail industry operating practices and federal, state, and local regulations as they relate to the Track, Signal, Communications, Structures, and Traction Power disciplines on electrified commuter rail systems.
• Must have experience with the maintenance and construction of track, communications, signal, PTC, Structures, or traction power fixed assets on an electrified commuter rail system.
• Demonstrable leadership skills to motivate and foster teamwork not only within the M of W Departments but other departments at MNR, CDOT, MTA, MTA agencies, NJ Transit, Amtrak, and other entities as applicable.
• Demonstrable leadership skills in the areas of safety, performance, and crisis management.
• Must be a competent and seasoned leader who will develop the capacities of the organization and have the experience to implement organizational change with strong judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to create a climate of continuous improvement.
• Outstanding communication skills with a prominence on effective public speaking, use of diplomacy, and tact resulting in positive employee relations within a political/unionized environment.
• Knowledge of FRA and OSHA regulations as they relate to Track, Communication and Signal, traction power, rail equipment components, and operation.
• Familiar with budgeting practices.
• Strong analytical skills.
• A demonstrated ability to effectively interact with a represented workforce and labor leaders.
• Must be able to work varying shifts and be on call 24/7 as required.
• Must have a valid Driver’s license.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, Transportation, Business Administration or related degree.
• Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible, senior-level management experience on an electrified commuter rail system encompassing the management of a railroad maintenance organization, engineering, capital programs, labor management and agreements, and budget process and personnel control.
• Minimum ten (10) years of experience in managing a diverse group of employees at various levels.

The following is/are preferred, but other satisfactory combinations of relevant experience, education, and/or technical credentials will be considered:

• A Professional Engineering (P.E.) license is preferred.
• Master’s Degree in engineering or related field.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with Metro-North Policies and Procedures.
• Familiarity with Metro-North collective bargaining agreements.

Other Information

This position is safety-sensitive and subject to toxicological testing.

According 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”).

Employees driving company vehicles must complete defensive driver training once every three years for current MNR drivers; or within 180 days of hire or transfer for an employee entering an authorized driving position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.