Senior Director of Mechanical

Broe•Denver, CO

About The Position

The Senior Director of Mechanical strategically oversees and manages mechanical functions at OmniTRAX railroads. The role supports General Managers in mechanical operations, ensuring compliance with corporate safety policies and procedures, and requirements from the FRA, AAR, and other regulatory agencies. It drives continuous improvement in safety, financial performance, and execution of mechanical strategies to meet or exceed company goals. The position also models OmniTRAX’s values of safety, honesty, ownership, respect, and teamwork to support successful partnerships with customers and employees. The role leads locomotive and car-repair strategies, fleet maintenance and capital planning, technology adoption, inventory strategy, and performance measurement. It manages budgets and operational accountability, supports General Managers, develops mechanical teams, and promotes compliance, safety training, and continuous improvement. The position supervises exempt and non-exempt employees and includes travel of up to 50% as business needs require.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
10 years of related work experience in rail operations or a related position.
At least 5 years of management experience and/or training.
Strong background in locomotive electrical or mechanical systems and car repair.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, schematics, and governmental regulations.
Ability to write and present professional reports, business correspondence, and procedural manuals, and to respond effectively to questions from senior leaders, managers, clients, customers, regulatory agencies, and the general public.
Ability to work with mathematical concepts including probability, statistical inference, trend analysis, and basic budget and financial principles.
Ability to apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to collect data, analyze trends, establish facts, define problems, draw valid conclusions, and create and implement action plans.
Ability to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and work with abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally with employees and business associates at all levels.
Ability to read, comprehend, and comply with rules, procedures, manuals, inspection checklists, government regulations, operating and maintenance instructions, memos, and other work-related information.
Problem-solving and troubleshooting skills that lead to effective resolution.
Basic computer skills.
Professional integrity and accountability.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in rail transportation, supply chain logistics, manufacturing, and/or oil and gas industries.
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute locomotive operating strategies that support current operations, business growth, customer requirements, and long-term corporate objectives.
Optimize locomotive fleet composition by property, including locomotive type, deployment, utilization, reliability, fuel efficiency, and cost of ownership.
Develop and oversee car-repair strategies, including in-house and third-party capabilities, capacity, cost, quality, service levels, and vendor relationships.
Lead technology strategy and adaptation and utilization.
Develop fleet acquisition and disposition strategies, including lease-versus-own analysis, capital planning, lifecycle costs, and asset utilization.
Establish and optimize critical-parts inventory strategy to ensure availability and manage working capital.
Lead fleet capital planning and prioritization, including sustaining capital, grant-funded projects, fleet improvements, and new asset investments.
Establish and oversee proactive fleet maintenance using preventive and predictive maintenance, analytics, and condition-based monitoring.
Drive locomotive utilization and availability to maximize fleet productivity and operational performance.
Monitor and improve fleet reliability, including mean time between failures, lost productivity, and identification and resolution of underperforming locomotives.
Drive fuel-efficiency and savings initiatives through performance monitoring, operational practices, and technology utilization.
Ensure compliance with railroad safety and operating rules and regulations, including Federal Railroad Administration requirements.
Support budget preparation and implementation based on corporate financial goals and growth objectives.
Monitor budget-versus-actual performance, promote cost effectiveness and profitability, and provide detailed analysis and action plans.
Develop performance goals, quality standards, and baseline measurements with the Vice President of Operations, and provide analysis and action plans.
Support General Managers in achieving mechanical process-improvement targets.
Design and implement daily procedures for locomotive and car-repair employees and ensure managers enforce them.
Ensure mechanical teams meet or exceed company and AAR standards and Transport Canada and Federal Railroad Administration regulations.
Meet or exceed mechanical and operational productivity targets.
Participate in industry conferences, identify opportunities to develop corporate mechanical standards and regulations, and report to senior leadership.
Establish mechanical personnel development plans with General Managers.
Support mechanical safety training and ensure proper application of training.
Ensure required certifications for mechanical functions are valid and current.
Promote open communication and information flow.
Analyze and evaluate overall mechanical performance against accepted standards and KPIs.
Ensure company activities and operations comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing business operations.
Attend significant railroad incidents to provide mechanical investigation analysis, support, and costing.
Work safely to prevent workplace accidents and injuries, and wear required personal protective equipment.
Perform other duties and projects as assigned.
Provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to the team; set performance goals and coach employees toward career objectives.
Cultivate a high-performance culture and build a leadership pipeline throughout the organization.
Model and lead a culture of mutual respect, cooperation, and attention to detail in executing business goals.