Supervisor, Rail Dispatch

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisor, Rail Dispatch reports directly to the Chief Dispatcher and provides day-to-day supervision of a rail dispatching shift team supporting the CapMetro Railroad system. The role oversees shifts, coaching, scheduling coordination, and operational support to help Dispatchers perform safely, accurately, consistently, and in compliance with established operating rules, safety procedures, and FRA requirements. As the first-line dispatch operations supervisor, this position ensures adequate shift coverage, assigns work, monitors performance, resolves operational issues, and provides guidance during service disruptions, incidents, abnormal operations, and emergencies. The Supervisor maintains a visible presence in the dispatch center and reinforces FRA compliance, safe decision-making, and accurate, complete, timely, audit-ready communications, records, documentation, and incident reporting. The role focuses on daily operational leadership, implementing established rules, training requirements, certification standards, and safety programs through coaching, performance documentation, escalation of concerns, and coordination with operational teams. Work is primarily performed in an office, Operations Control Center, or rail dispatching environment. The position involves safety-sensitive coordination, time-critical decisions, operational supervision, and managing multiple priorities. The incumbent is an on-call escalation point and may need to respond to emergencies, major service disruptions, or other critical incidents outside normal operating hours. Regular and predictable attendance at the assigned work location is essential. The position is onsite, with the primary workplace at a CapMetro facility or field location and an expectation to work there four or more days per week; mobility status may change based on business needs. Visa sponsorship is unavailable, and applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. This is a security-sensitive position, and incumbents are subject to annual background checks.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Eight years of progressively responsible experience in rail, transit, transportation, dispatching, or a closely related operations environment.
Knowledge of railroad operating rules, dispatching procedures, signaling systems, track and bridge operations, and industry practices for safe, compliant passenger and freight rail operations.
Knowledge of rail safety principles, Safety Management System practices, hazard identification, risk assessment, incident prevention, and corrective action processes.
Knowledge of applicable FRA regulations and requirements relating to dispatching, certification and qualification, operational testing, training records, hours of service, incident response, and regulatory documentation.
Strong leadership and supervisory skills, including assigning work, monitoring performance, coaching employees, addressing attendance and conduct concerns, and promoting accountability.
Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate operational and technical information to employees, contractors, trainees, and stakeholders.
Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Proficiency in standard business and operational software, including word-processing, spreadsheet, scheduling, and workforce-management tools.
Ability to promote a positive safety culture through open communication, hazard reporting, rule compliance, and continuous improvement.
Ability to identify and respond appropriately to safety risks, rule deviations, communication breakdowns, fatigue-related concerns, workload challenges, and other conditions affecting safe dispatch operations.
Ability to coordinate staffing, shift coverage, overtime, schedule adjustments, time-off requests, and workforce planning in a 24/7 operating environment.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, contractors, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and make timely decisions during routine operations, disruptions, incidents, emergencies, and other safety-sensitive situations.
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.
Regular and predictable attendance at the assigned work location is an essential function.
Ability to sit and stand frequently throughout an eight-hour workday, reach vertically and horizontally, and use telephone, radio, or headset equipment effectively.
Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 20 pounds.
Ability to work at a computer workstation for six to eight hours per day and operate effectively amid frequent interruptions and competing priorities.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree in Transportation, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
An equivalent combination of directly related education, training, and experience may be considered.
Preferred Rules Qualified Engineer, Conductor, Transportation Supervisor, or Qualified Train Dispatcher.
One year of lead, supervisory, training, scheduling, or team coordination experience is preferred, including work direction, coaching, or performance follow-up in an operational setting.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily dispatch operations for the safe and efficient movement of passenger, freight, and excursion rail service in accordance with operating plans, rules, instructions, procedures, and applicable FRA requirements.
Monitor real-time train movement coordination, dispatcher workload, authorities, permits, bulletins, restrictions, and radio and telephone communications.
Act as the on-duty supervisory escalation point for disruptions, delays, abnormal operations, weather events, equipment failures, track outages, incidents, and emergencies; provide direction within established authority and escalate matters to the Chief Dispatcher as appropriate.
Coordinate with field supervisors, contractors, Safety, Training, Customer Service, and other stakeholders to resolve service issues and communicate safety-critical information.
Supervise Rail Dispatchers’ daily work, assignments, workload, attendance, shift coverage, and schedule adjustments.
Coach and guide dispatchers through routine check-ins, shift and job briefings, safety reminders, performance feedback, and documentation of coaching, attendance, performance concerns, and corrective actions as appropriate.
Maintain regular communication with the Chief Dispatcher about staffing, performance, service reliability, operational readiness, training needs, safety concerns, compliance matters, and dispatch operations.
Promote hazard identification, near-miss reporting, operating-rule compliance, stop-and-review discussions, and timely escalation of safety concerns.
Support implementation of operating rule changes, special instructions, bulletins, timetable revisions, service plans, safety advisories, temporary procedures, and other regulatory or operational requirements.
Support dispatcher training, qualification, certification, recertification, operational testing, and skills development by tracking requirements, identifying gaps, and coordinating with the Chief Dispatcher, Safety, and Training.
Analyze operational information to identify recurring service, safety, compliance, communication, staffing, and performance issues, and communicate significant trends to the Chief Dispatcher.
Review dispatch logs, reports, communications, authorities, incident records, training and qualification documentation, operational testing records, certification records, and other required records for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, compliance, and audit readiness.
Ensure operational events, incidents, service disruptions, safety concerns, rule-related issues, and handoffs are documented according to internal procedures and regulatory requirements.
Support incident investigations and after-action reviews by gathering dispatch information, helping develop timelines, identifying communication or rule-compliance issues, supporting root-cause analysis, and tracking corrective actions.
Support CapMetro’s Safety Management Systems process by ensuring staff follows safety and security policies, considers safety in every action, and reports safety and security concerns.
Perform other rail-related duties as assigned.