Supervisor, Rail Transportation

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisor, Rail Transportation reports directly to the Manager of Transportation and serves as the tactical authority for CapMetro T&E crew supervision. The role standardizes practices across four Transportation Shift Supervisors, audits hours-of-service compliance across shifts, oversees operational testing and crew qualification compliance, and promotes consistent, safe, and compliant floor supervision and crew-calling systemwide. The Supervisor is an escalation point for issues beyond shift-level authority, coordinates how Shift Supervisors divide their time between floor supervision and crew-calling, and provides a second review of crew assignments when a supervisor’s disciplinary and assignment responsibilities could create a conflict of interest. When peer coverage is insufficient, the role serves as a backstop for floor supervision or crew-calling and deputizes for the Supervisor of Transportation as needed. The position supports regulatory compliance, safety, customer service, and CapMetro’s Safety Management Systems (SMS). It participates in audits, inspections, and investigations; monitors crew qualifications and operational testing; identifies cross-shift trends and corrective actions; and provides tactical direction during major service disruptions. It also directs and manages department personnel, including planning and assigning work, coordinating work with vendors and consultants, participating in hiring and other personnel actions, and overseeing training and performance evaluations. Work takes place in an office, yard, and field environment, with exposure to inclement weather. The role requires travel to yard and field locations, work across varying and rotating shifts, and availability as an on-call escalation point for emergencies and critical operational incidents outside normal operating hours. Regular attendance at the assigned work location is essential. This is an onsite, FTA safety-sensitive and security-sensitive position. Visa sponsorship is unavailable; applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States. Incumbents are subject to annual background checks and the employer’s prohibited-substances testing program.

Requirements

Eight years of progressively responsible railroad or rail transit T&E crew operations experience, including direct floor supervision or crew-calling experience.
Must be Rules Qualified and have been a certified Engineer and Conductor, and must be DSLE qualified.
Two years of lead, supervisory, or standards-development experience, including developing or enforcing operating standards, hours-of-service compliance practices, or training programs.
Knowledge of railroad or rail transit T&E crew operations, including floor supervision, ride checks, efficiency testing, and crew-calling or crew-board management.
Working knowledge of hours-of-service regulations under 49 CFR Part 228 and applicable FRA, FTA, and TxDOT requirements governing T&E crew supervision.
Ability to identify and mitigate conflict-of-interest risks between discipline and crew-assignment functions and apply practical safeguards.
Ability to coach and hold Transportation Shift Supervisors accountable for consistent standards without performing their day-to-day duties directly.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills and ability to communicate effectively across a politically, economically, and culturally diverse workforce.
Strong problem-solving and organizational skills, including assessing cross-shift operational issues and developing standardized solutions.
Ability to stand, walk, and travel to yard and field locations throughout the workday; safely operate a motor vehicle; use a telephone or radio/headset; lift and move up to 20 pounds; work at a computer terminal for several hours a day; and function amid constant interruptions.
Ability to work varying shifts, days, nights, weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts, and respond on call to emergencies or critical operational incidents outside normal operating hours.
Regular and predictable attendance at the assigned work location.
Currently authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.
Participation in the employer’s prohibited-substances testing program is a condition of employment; the position is subject to random drug and alcohol testing and annual background checks.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Transportation, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of directly related education, training, and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Establish, maintain, and enforce standardized floor-supervision and crew-calling practices across four Transportation Shift Supervisors, including ride checks, efficiency testing, and operational testing.
Audit hours-of-service compliance under 49 CFR Part 228 across all shift teams as a distinct tracked metric and escalate patterns of concern.
Coordinate Shift Supervisors’ allocation of time between floor supervision and crew-calling, including adequate staffing during peak crew-change windows.
Provide a second review of crew assignments when a Shift Supervisor’s recent disciplinary action could create a real or perceived conflict of interest.
Serve as the escalation point for rule interpretations, cross-shift staffing conflicts, and operational issues beyond shift-level authority; promote consistent application of operating rules and directives.
Standardize testing programs across shifts and ensure Shift Supervisors are cross-trained in floor supervision and crew-calling.
Deputize for the Supervisor of Transportation on crew supervision matters during absences and provide tactical cross-shift direction during major service disruptions.
Oversee operational testing and inspections under CapMetro’s Operations Testing Program and 49 CFR Part 217, monitoring quality, frequency, documentation, trends, and corrective actions.
Reinforce customer service expectations and consistent, professional passenger communication during normal operations and service disruptions.
Ensure T&E crew supervision practices comply with applicable FRA, FTA, TxDOT, and agency requirements, including hours of service, crew qualifications, and documentation.
Participate in and support FRA and agency audits, inspections, and investigations by reviewing records, statements, and operational data and supporting hours-of-service corrective action plans.
Promote a safety-first culture through accountability, hazard identification and reporting, and consideration of safety in supervisory decisions.
Review shift-level supervision and crew-calling reports to identify recurring issues, staffing concerns, and compliance trends; coordinate with the Manager of Transportation on trends, training needs, and compliance matters.
Monitor engineer and conductor qualification and certification status under 49 CFR Parts 240 and 242, identify deficiencies, and coordinate corrective actions with Transportation management and Safety and Training.
Support CapMetro’s Safety Management Systems process by ensuring staff follow safety and security policies and report concerns.
Perform other rail-related duties as assigned.
Plan, schedule, delegate, and oversee employee work assignments; authorize, coordinate, and schedule work with vendors and consultants; conduct personnel actions, including hiring and interviewing; and oversee hiring, training, assignments, and performance evaluations.