Director of Railroad Capital Programs

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority•Boston, MA

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Railroad Capital Programs, reporting to the Senior Director of Railroad Capital Programs, will oversee Commuter Rail capital projects executed by the Railroad Operations department, including station, facility, track, communication and signal, power, and rolling stock initiatives. This position is responsible for financial oversight, resource management, and administrative activities; directing and managing Commuter Rail projects from initiation and scoping through close-out to ensure all budgetary, staffing, and operational requirements are met. This position also supports the Ferry Operations department in the execution of Commuter Ferry vessel, barge, terminal, and related projects. The Director will manage staff, oversee training and administrative tasks, manage contract budgets, and coordinate with interdepartmental teams on a wide range of capital program requirements and railroad-specific topics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Facilities Management, or Project Management from an accredited institution.
Seven (7) years of relevant experience in design, construction, development, and/or project management of large and complex capital projects.
Five (5) years of relevant experience in the management of railroad or transit projects, or related experience in a supervisory or leadership capacity.
Advanced knowledge of project controls with the ability to critically evaluate and validate consultant and contractor cost and schedule submissions.
Demonstrated success managing and supervising staff and consultants in a technical or operational environment.
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and experience utilizing data visualization tools such as Tableau.
Demonstrated proficiency in Project Management Information Systems and scheduling software, such as Procore, e-Builder, Primavera P6, MS Project, etc.
Superior analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills, with a focus on resolving complex infrastructure challenges.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively present to and coordinate with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
A valid driver’s license in accordance with MBTA policy.
A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
An associate degree from an accredited institution with an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
A master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
A nationally recognized certification or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Facilities Management, or Project Management from an accredited institution.
Five (5) years of additional relevant experience in design, construction, development, and/or project management of large and complex capital projects.
Experience delivering projects utilizing alternate delivery methods.
Experience managing on-call ROW repair or rehabilitation construction contracts.

Responsibilities

Oversee and manage a team of Project Managers, Project Coordinators, consultants, contractors, vendors, and other staff throughout the execution of project assignments to ensure program requirements, contract costs, and schedule milestones are met.
Oversee all projects and initiatives managed internally within the Railroad and Ferry Operations departments, as well as those executed externally through Keolis, Amtrak, CSX, Mass Coastal, Boston Harbor City Cruises, and other force account providers.
Lead the strategic development of project scopes, budgets, and schedules to drive the capital planning and development process for Commuter Rail and Commuter Ferry initiatives.
Direct the procurement of consultants and contractors and approve staff recommendations for contract proposals or bids.
Oversee negotiations for project assignments, task orders, amendments, change orders, and the strategic use of contingency funds.
Manage the timely review and analysis of monthly payment and schedule submissions from consultants and contractors.
Organize and manage stakeholder update meetings, value engineering sessions, constructability reviews, and risk workshops, among other meetings.
Support groups within the Railroad Operations department, including Engineering, Mechanical, Transportation, PTC, and the Rail Modernization team. Also responsible for providing similar support to the Ferry Operations department.
Coordinate and collaborate with other MBTA departments, including Capital Planning, Finance, Procurement, Contract Administration, Capital Delivery, and Vehicle Engineering, among other departments.
Coordinate and collaborate with external stakeholders such as Keolis, Amtrak, CSX, Mass Coastal, the FTA, FRA, and the NECC to ensure regulatory compliance and effective project delivery.
Ensure proactive communication and coordination with outside agencies, abutters, utility companies, community groups, and other affected third parties.
Ensure all pre-construction requirements, including environmental permits, real estate actions, and municipal agreements, are finalized and approved before projects are advertised for construction.
Oversee the construction process from procurement to contract closeout to ensure projects remain on time and within budget.
Proactively engage in the resolution of potential field issues and complex tasks in active rail environments.
Secure critical resource commitments from engineering, mechanical, and transportation disciplines; lead the planning of construction access, diversions, and track outages in coordination with the Railroad Operations Track Outage Committee and MBTA Right-of-Way (ROW) Diversion Program Planning team.
Organize and prioritize departmental workload while proactively identifying infrastructure needs and state-of-good-repair requirements.
Prepare and present comprehensive financial reports and analyses for senior management, the Board of Directors, and external agencies.
Respond to inquiries from customers, vendors, and colleagues in a professional manner consistent with Authority customer service standards.
Maintain 24/7 availability to respond to project or operational emergencies, either directly or through delegated staff.
Operate a company or personal vehicle to conduct site visits and attend off-site meetings.
Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.
Additional responsibilities may include a focus on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendum for department or location-specific functions.