Position Summary:
The Director, Office of Railroad Planning and Engineering is responsible for policies, programs, and technical assistance to promote effective rail decision making on projects using principles and processes that satisfy FRA responsibilities. The incumbent directs a multidisciplinary staff of railroad engineers, planners, and transportation industry analysts by providing management and leadership in management of systems planning, and project planning and engineering.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identifies best practices in railroad planning and supports railroad planning improvements. Develops standards, guidance and communications tools on railroad planning, and works closely with the Environmental Management Program Office to ensure strong integration among projects, engineering designs, environmental requirements, and rail plans.
- Directs engineering and operations oversight of projects funded by grants or loans, including progress reviews, site visits, and managing oversight contractors.
- Oversees project planning which includes guidance and technical assistance on: (i) travel demand modeling, (ii) operations analysis and simulation, (iii) operations & maintenance cost assessment, (iv) capital cost estimation, (v) stations area planning, (vi) corridor service development planning, and (vii) right of way support.
- Network Route Modeling. Develops tools for national, regional, corridor and terminal area route planning. Performs capacity modeling, including analysis of shared corridors. Utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools to analyze, plan and forecast network performance and to provide guidance to regional and state planners. The incumbent has broad knowledge of information system tools available to support infrastructure planning initiatives.
- Assesses conceptual and preliminary engineering and final design deliverables to meet investment program requirements. Reviews project development deliverables, including right-of-way acquisition, permitting, utilities and other program and project agreement requirements.
- Oversees systems planning which includes development, guidance and technical assistance on: (i) technical planning, models and tools, (ii) regional planning, (iii) state rail planning and review, and (iv) major projects oversight.
Oversees project engineering which includes: (i) engineering policy, guidance and technical expertise, and (ii) project engineering reviews and approvals. - Develops tools for national, regional, corridor and terminal area route planning. Performs capacity modeling, including analysis of shared corridors. Utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools to analyze, plan and forecast network performance and to provide guidance to regional and state planners.
Required Education & Experience:
- This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision
- This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management
- Demonstrated experience managing complex transportation infrastructure projects and programs on a national, regional, and/or local scale.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen.
- The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.
- Demonstrated experience in railroad transportation planning, as well as railroad project development and/or engineering.