Chief Operation Expert-Expat [International]- BID Position

SYSTRA; Delhi; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

SYSTRA India seeks a Chief Operation Expert to lead the end-to-end operational readiness for semi high-speed rail projects. You will oversee safety compliance, high-speed signaling, and critical ITC activities, ensuring a seamless transition to commercial operation.

The role requires extensive rail-based transit experience, strategic planning skills, and strong leadership in operations. This position is based in India and engages with bids for major rail projects.

Qualifications

• Graduate in Engineering with reading/writing/speaking English
• 20 years post-qualification experience in Rail-based passenger transit systems
• 5 years in operations of rail-based passenger transit systems as Chief Operations Expert or equivalent
• Experience as Chief Operation Expert for full-time deployments (2+ years preferred)

Responsibilities

• Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management: enforce world-class safety standards for high-speed signaling and rail regulations.
• Strategic Operational Planning: design end-to-end operational strategy, timetables, capacity, and crew utilization.
• ITC Oversight: lead integration, testing and commissioning of OCC, signaling and ATC for commercial operation.
• Performance Monitoring: define KPI framework for punctuality, reliability and service quality.
• Documentation: author and approve SOPs, rule books and emergency manuals.
• Incident and Emergency Management: plan and lead response and investigations for major disruptions.
• Operational Readiness and Training: define competency framework and certify staff pre-launch.

Skills

Graduate in Engineering

Operations leadership

Railways knowledge

Safety and risk management

KPI monitoring

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

SYSTRA is one of the world's leading engineering and consulting groups specializing in public transport and mobility solutions. For over 65 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions develop by creating, improving and modernizing their transport infrastructure and systems.

Context

In India, SYSTRA is an international consulting and engineering company operating in the fields of Metros, High Speed Rail, Railways, Roads, Buildings, Urban planning, and Water & Environment for public and private organizations.

Our engineers work with passion to deliver the most reliable, cost-effective and made-to measures solutions allowing end users to move seamlessly.

SYSTRA’s unique expertise is backed with a reputation built through technical excellence delivered on projects. Thanks to our know-how of our employees spread across India, we are present at all stages from upstream studies to operation and maintenance. We provide a comprehensive solution to manage all kinds of missions: Detailed Design Consultant, Project Management, Independent checking services.

SYSTRA India’s comprehensive know-how and expertise in Railways provides a wide spectrum of solutions for any challenge (Building a new rail link, doubling the capacity, gauge conversion, upgrading a network, improving the performance of existing lines, etc.).

Our extensive experience encompasses, Bridges, station buildings, Depots, Earthwork & Track Works, Power Supply and Transmission, Signaling & Telecommunications, Rolling Stock, Utilities diversion and yard re-modelling etc.

Our services cover the entire life cycle of the project implementation.

Currently, we are bidding for Semi High Speed Rail projects across India. The position of Chief Operation Expert is the key position in these BIDs.

Missions/Main Duties

• Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management: Establish and rigorously enforce world-class operational safety standards and procedures, particularly those related to high-speed signaling systems (e.g., ETCS Level 2). The expert ensures strict compliance with all national and international rail regulations and manages operational risk assessments.
• Strategic Operational Planning: Develop the project's end-to-end operational strategy, including planning optimal train timetables, managing route capacity, and optimizing rolling stock and crew utilization to maximize service frequency and efficiency.
• Integration, Testing, and Commissioning (ITC) Oversight: Lead the technical oversight during the integration, testing, and commissioning phases of critical systems, such as the Operations Control Centre (OCC), communication systems, and automatic train control, ensuring seamless transition to commercial operation.
• Performance and Efficiency Monitoring: Implement a robust framework for monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for punctuality, reliability, and service quality. Analyze performance data to diagnose systemic issues and drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.
• Standardization and Documentation: Author, review, and approve all critical operational documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), rule books, and emergency response manuals, ensuring they align with the semi-high-speed environment and industry best practices.
• Incident and Emergency Management: Design and implement comprehensive emergency plans and lead the immediate response and investigation of major incidents or severe service disruptions, focusing on minimizing downtime and passenger impact.
• Operational Readiness and Training: Oversee the entire operational readiness program, including defining the competency framework, developing specialized training modules, and certifying all operational staff (e.g., train controllers, drivers, station personnel) prior to the launch of commercial service.

Profile/Skills

• Qualification: Graduate in any Engineering or equivalent with working knowledge of reading, writing and speaking in English [additional marks for PG in Engineering or equivalent]
• Minimum Experience: 20 years post minimum qualification in any Rail based Passenger Transit System [additional marks for more experience in any Rail based Passenger Transit System*]
• Relevant Experience: 5 years’ experience for Operations of Rail Based Passenger Transit System as Chief Operations Expert or equivalent position [additional marks for more experience; experience in position one level below allowed with less weightage]
• Eligible Assignment**(see below): Must have experience of 1 Eligible Assignment as Chief Operation Expert or equivalent position for a full-time continuous deployment period not less than 2 years [additional marks for more Eligible Assignments; less weightage for position one level below]
• International Experience: Minimum 3 years’ experience on projects for Rail based Passenger Transit system with operational speed of 160 kmph or more in Developed country(s) as defined in latest list of Developed countries as per Department of Economics and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat (UN-DESA)/World Bank – High Income Economies.
• Rail-based Passenger Transit System shall mean
• High Speed Transit System / Regional Rail Transit System (with operational speed of 160kmh and above) OR
• Urban/Suburban/Intercity/Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) [excluding LRT with design PHPDT less than 20000/Tram/Monorail Systems]
• Shall mean experience of working as a personnel of General Consultant / Project Management Consultant / Employer’s Personnel in a work / project in a Rail based Passenger Transit System with operational speed of 160 kmph or more comprising:
• Construction of Civil structures (at-grade/elevated/underground) AND
• Installation of Systems (Track, Rolling Stock, Traction & Power Supply, Signalling)

Including Detailed Design or Proof checking of designs; Bid Process Management; Project and Interface Management; Construction Supervision and System Installations and Testing & Commissioning

We commit to put people who join us at the heart of improving transportation and urban infrastructure efficiency. As we are growing, this is time to be a part of this challenging adventure. It’s not a job - it’s a career!

Workplace Type