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 shift operations, coaching, scheduling coordination, staffing coverage, work assignments, performance, and operational support to help ensure Dispatchers perform safely, accurately, consistently, and in compliance with operating rules, safety procedures, and FRA requirements. As the first-line supervisor for dispatch operations, this position serves as the on-duty supervisory escalation point for disruptions, incidents, abnormal operations, and emergencies. The Supervisor maintains a visible presence in the dispatch center, reinforces safe decision-making and compliance, addresses operational and workforce issues, and ensures dispatch communications, records, documentation, and incident reports are complete, timely, accurate, and audit ready. The role implements established operating rules, training requirements, certification standards, and safety programs through coaching, performance documentation, escalation of concerns, and coordination with rail operations, safety, training, and field supervision teams. It focuses on daily operational leadership rather than program administration or standards management, which are the Chief Dispatcher’s responsibility. Work is primarily performed in an office, Operations Control Center (OCC), or rail dispatching environment. The position involves safety-sensitive coordination, time-critical decisions, oversight of complex work, and management of competing priorities. The incumbent is an on-call escalation point and may need to respond to emergencies, major service disruptions, or critical incidents outside normal operating hours. Regular and predictable attendance at the assigned work location is essential. This is an onsite position, with the primary workplace at a CapMetro facility or field location and an expectation to work in the office or field location at least four days per week. Mobility status may change based on business needs or organizational decisions.

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 and compliant passenger and freight rail operations.
Knowledge of rail safety principles, Safety Management System (SMS) practices, hazard identification, risk assessment, incident prevention, and corrective action processes.
Knowledge of applicable FRA regulations and compliance requirements related to dispatching operations, certification and qualification programs, 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 communicating 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 applications, 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, scheduling adjustments, time-off requests, and other 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, service disruptions, incidents, emergencies, and other safety-sensitive situations.
Able to sit and stand frequently throughout an eight-hour workday; reach vertically and horizontally; and effectively use telephone, radio, or headset equipment.
Able to lift and move materials weighing up to 20 pounds and perform sustained computer workstation work for up to six to eight hours per day.
Able to work effectively with frequent interruptions and competing priorities.
Regular and predictable attendance at the assigned work location is an essential function.
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.
The position is security-sensitive; incumbents are subject to annual background checks.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree 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 safe and efficient passenger, freight, and excursion rail service in accordance with operating plans, rules, instructions, safety procedures, and applicable FRA requirements.
Monitor real-time dispatching activities, including train movement coordination, Dispatcher workload, authorities, permits, bulletins, operating restrictions, and radio and telephone communications.
Serve as the on-duty supervisory escalation point for service disruptions, delays, abnormal operations, weather events, equipment failures, track outages, incidents, emergencies, and other operational challenges; provide direction within established authority and escalate issues to the Chief Dispatcher as appropriate.
Coordinate with field supervisors, contractors, Safety, Training, Customer Service, and other operational stakeholders to resolve service issues and communicate safety-critical information.
Supervise Rail Dispatchers’ daily activities, including work assignments, workload, attendance, shift coverage, and schedule adjustments.
Provide coaching, guidance, performance feedback, routine check-ins, shift and job briefings, and safety reminders; document coaching, attendance, performance concerns, and corrective actions as appropriate.
Communicate regularly with the Chief Dispatcher about staffing, employee performance, service reliability, operational readiness, training needs, safety concerns, compliance matters, and dispatch operations.
Promote a proactive safety culture through hazard identification, near-miss reporting, adherence to operating rules and safety procedures, stop-and-review discussions, and escalation of safety concerns.
Support implementation of operating rule changes, special instructions, bulletins, timetable revisions, service plans, safety advisories, temporary operating 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 functions.
Analyze operational information to identify recurring service, safety, compliance, communication, staffing, and performance issues, and communicate significant trends and concerns to the Chief Dispatcher.
Review dispatch logs, reports, communications, authorities, incident records, training and qualification documentation, operational testing records, certification records, and other required documentation for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, regulatory compliance, and audit readiness.
Ensure operational events, incidents, service disruptions, safety concerns, rule-related issues, and handoffs are documented in accordance with internal procedures and regulatory requirements.
Support incident investigations and after-action reviews by gathering dispatch information, assisting with timeline development, identifying communication or rule-compliance issues, supporting root-cause analysis, and tracking corrective actions.
Support Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Safety Management Systems (SMS) 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.