Project Manager, Programmatic/Program Management

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority•Alexandria, VA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) is seeking a Project Manager to plan, coordinate, and deliver projects that support the VPRA's Operations group as they oversee the multi‑billion‑dollar statewide rail program. This role will lead efforts to develop and implement CADD and design standards, technical specifications, and engineering policies; manage technical projects tied to infrastructure improvements; and support Operations with ad hoc initiatives across Virginia. Success in this role requires strong project management, exceptional organization and planning, knowledge of design and construction, and a collaborative approach to developing deliverables. The Project Manager will also carry out a range of business, technical, fiscal, and administrative functions to support program needs. This position may be based in Richmond or Alexandria, Virginia.

Requirements

A minimum of 5 years of project management experience managing design and/or construction activities for a large (>$10M) transportation project in the role of project manager, project engineer, or similar capacity.
Experience with engineering and design activities for passenger rail projects and familiarity with railroad engineering principles related to track and station elements.
Experience coordinating project activities with Virginia municipalities and statewide agencies, including the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
Knowledge of federal, state, and local transportation policies, funding, and legislative and regulatory requirements related to freight and rail Projects, including 49 CFR, Subtitle B, Ch. II and AREMA guidelines.
Ability to provide project management support on several projects simultaneously.
Ability to use technical expertise and influence to gain consensus on technical matters.
Ability to conduct independent research into engineering-related matters, prepare reports, present findings, and make recommendations.
Ability to manage technical teams, consultants, and construction contractors.
Demonstrated ability to work as a team member, leader, manager, and problem solver in an organization with a diverse staff and customer base.
Proficiency in using MS Word, MS Project/Oracle P6, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet Explorer, and MS SharePoint/Teams.

Nice To Haves

Rail or transit capital project management experience.
Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and Enterprise Management Information Systems, including Asset Management and project management software.
Relevant design, construction, and/or operations experience with Class 1 railroads, specifically CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Corporation.

Responsibilities

Develop, publish, manage, and maintain, via periodic updates, a set of VPRA common engineering standards and specifications for VPRA Capital Projects that incorporate, among other things, AREMA recommendations, CSX Transportation (CSXT), Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), Amtrak, and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) standards. This could include developing CADD Standards and guidelines, VPRA-specific design standards, and a manual.
Support updates to any existing manuals, established processes, engineering standards, and specifications across the Operations department to ensure alignment, as appropriate, with various applicable standards, including AREMA recommendations, CSXT, NS, Amtrak, VRE standards, and industry best practices.
Deliver ad hoc projects when a VPRA programmatic need arises
Develop technical learning materials and host in-house seminars periodically to train applicable Operations staff on projects/materials developed in the role.
Support the Director of Program Management with periodic updates to the VPRA Program Management plans.
Employ an understanding of rail and transit operations, including the environmental review process, to ensure deliverables/solutions meet the needs of the Rail Services, ROW, Planning, and Engineering & Construction teams.
Develop and manage scopes of work, budgets, work plans, resource plans, and other supporting documents required for the job and activities assigned.
Support Program Management team, Operations, Finance, and Legal teams, and others as required.
Develop and present reports, dashboards, executive summaries, and other verbal media to support VPRA and its leadership team.
Occasional statewide travel may be required for project-related tasks and nationally for conferences.