Position Summary:
The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) mission is to enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods for a strong America, now and in the future. FRA executes this mission through development and enforcement of safety regulations, investment in passenger and freight rail services and infrastructure, and research into and development of innovations and technology solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leads the creation of assessments of the nation’s freight rail network performance, including: financial performance of railroads; market share; service reliability and quality; asset condition and performance; economic and community impacts; and delivery of policy goals established by Congress and the Administration.
- Coordinates analyses of market conditions and outlook for rail-carried commodities and other industries supported by the freight rail network; assesses risks and opportunities for freight railroads; supports other offices in review of applications for financial assistance, including market sustainability of proposed investments; manages activities related to the acquisition, processing, and use of the waybill sample and other rail traffic databases.
- Leads the development and administration of rail safety planning, improvement and development processes and evaluation systems, including data-driven, risk-based models.
- Oversees the development of data and methodology to support multimodal freight policy decisions.
- Leads assessment of short-line (Class II and III) railroad capital investment needs and identifies opportunities for meeting those needs where economically prudent; develops policy proposals and outreach to public sector and railroads to assist in meeting needs of Class II and III railroads; supports other offices in review of applications for financial assistance from short-line railroads.
- Advises DOT officials on rail industry by leading the production of market and data intelligence, and geographic information systems, in support of safety and development missions; coordinates FRA input on STB proceedings and activities.
- Oversees planning and support for rail safety information systems analysis, design, and development in coordination with the Office of Information Technology.
- Oversees all benefit cost and economic analysis for the agency including a) complex Regulatory Impact Analyses in support of railroad safety and other agency regulatory actions; and b) Benefit Cost reviewer for FRA and assigned DOT-wide discretionary grant programs.
- Coordinates analysis of impact of railroad mergers and acquisitions, labor-management disruptions, railroad abandonments, and other restructuring that affect the industry; assesses impact of current or proposed regulatory changes on railroad industry.
Required Education & Experience:
- Demonstrated experience evaluating programs and policies in one or more of the following areas: regulatory development, data strategy and analytics, and or economics; and providing effective and efficient recommendations that impact strategic objectives and organizational goals.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Demonstrated experience with an organization’s economic and cost benefit analyses strategies, direction, policies, procedures and practices.