Director, Advanced Train Control Systems

State of Alaska; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Alaska Railroad seeks an experienced leader to manage ARRC's train control systems and related projects, ensuring safe and compliant operation of trains. The role directs ATCS staff, oversees budgets, and drives policies, procedures, and continuous improvement across departments while coordinating with internal teams and external partners.

This position requires strong project management, regulatory knowledge, and a track record of leadership in safety-critical environments, with travel across

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in transportation, logistics, computer science, business administration, engineering, information systems, telecommunications, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience leading, managing, implementing, supporting, testing, maintaining, engineering, administering, or overseeing train control systems, train control programs, or train control projects.
• Ten (10) years of railroad operational, signaling, telecommunications, train control systems, PTC, systems engineering, or related railroad technology experience may substitute for the degree.

Responsibilities

• Directs the maintenance and management of ARRC train control systems and PT C to support safe, efficient movement of trains.
• Sets priorities, assigns tasks, and manages ATCS team leads and staff.
• Develops budgets, business cases, cost/benefit analyses for capital projects, and monitors expenditures.
• Develops department goals and sets performance objectives for staff and schedules.
• Ensures real-time, 24/7 support for train control systems and oversees quality assurance for software.

Skills

Train control systems

PTC systems

Project management

Geomatics

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Ten years of railroad experience may substitute degree

Job description

ARRC Employees Only

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

Manages Alaska Railroad train control systems and related projects to support the safe and efficient movement of trains on ARRC tracks and advance ARRC goals and initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Directs the maintenance and management of ARRC train control systems. Manages ARRC’s Positive Train Control system to support the safe and efficient movement of trains and ensure compliance with applicable federal regulations and mandates. Collaborates with and assists ARRC departments, as needed, to maintain PTC procedures and training. Conducts research to remain current on industry trends and support an effective, safety-critical system.

Supervises and manages ATCS employees to accomplish daily and long-term work assignments. Sets priorities and assigns tasks to ATCS team leads and individual team members. Maintains team focus, encourages high morale, and ensures performance objectives are met.

Creatively and independently provides resolution to technical problems in a cost-effective manner. Develops, tracks, and controls capital and operating budgets. Develops business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for capital project spending and initiatives.

Develops the Department’s short- and long-range goals and objectives and sets performance objectives for team members. Manages and provides feedback on team progress and success against established goals, objectives, and schedules.

FACTOR 1: Technical and Operational Knowledge

Thorough knowledge of train control aspects of railroad operations, including computer-aided dispatch and positive train control systems, is required. Knowledge of geomatics, the General Code of Operating Rules, and track maintenance practices is preferred. Expert knowledge of project management principles, planning concepts, methods, and practices is preferred. In-depth knowledge of applicable laws and regulations as they relate to PTC technology, telecommunications, and railroad signaling issues is preferred.

FACTOR 2: Personal Skills

The incumbent must be exceptionally self-motivated and directed, with a strong service orientation. Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills are required. Strong tactical skills are needed to oversee the department’s day-to-day operations and implementation activities. A thorough understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives is also required.

FACTOR 3: Leadership, Supervision and Control

The incumbent directs and manages the ATCS Department and its employees. The incumbent also manages contract employees and related contracts in support of ARRC corporate objectives. The incumbent directs and controls the annual operating and capital budgets. The incumbent establishes ATCS policies and procedures to ensure real-time, round-the-clock support for all ARRC train control systems within the department’s purview. The incumbent oversees quality assurance for software that supports the safe and efficient movement of trains on ARRC tracks and ATCS technology programs and projects. Proven leadership ability is required, including the ability to set and manage priorities judiciously and motivate employees in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

FACTOR 4: Communication

Communications are with ARRC employees and management, customers, vendors, and government officials in support of ARRC corporate goals. The incumbent may be required to present, justify, defend, negotiate, or settle matters involving significant or controversial issues, such as recommendations that change the nature and scope of programs or projects and often involve substantial expenditures. The incumbent must often actively participate in conferences, meetings, hearings, or presentations involving problems or issues of considerable consequence or importance. The incumbent must work constructively and knowledgeably with individuals who have diverse viewpoints, goals, or objectives. The incumbent must develop a common understanding of issues and work toward satisfactory solutions through persuasion, compromise, or suitable alternatives that align with ARRC interests and corporate goals. The ability to communicate ideas effectively to both technical and nontechnical audiences is required.

FACTOR 5: Analytical Skills and Impact

The employee uses judgment and ingenuity and exercises broad latitude in the area of ARRC train control systems and projects to: determine the intent of applicable guidelines; develop policy and guidelines for specific areas of work; and formulate interpretations that may take the form of policy statements and guidelines. Superior analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities are required.

The incumbent must be familiar with developing project plans, schedules, and progress reports, as well as procurement processes, budgets, and cost-control methods. This knowledge is necessary to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget; materials and services are delivered as specified; and costs are controlled, monitored, and reported in accordance with ARRC Finance and federal grant-reporting procedures.

The incumbent must be able to manage, oversee, and direct all phases of assigned projects, including analyzing options, identifying opportunities for performance and cost improvements, and making sound mid-project decisions to support the functional effectiveness and long-term economic feasibility of final project deliverables.

FACTOR 6: Working Conditions

The position is located in a corporate office environment; however, travel along the Railbelt and out of state is required. The incumbent may sit for extended periods of time. Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other computing equipment is necessary. Duties may require visits to the shop, yard areas, and outside work sites while overseeing testing and implementation of ARRC train control systems. The incumbent may receive calls outside normal business hours in support of ARRC’s production train control systems.

A bachelor's degree in transportation, logistics, computer science, business administration, engineering, information systems, telecommunications, or a related field and five (5) years of experience leading, managing, implementing, supporting, testing, maintaining, engineering, administering, or overseeing train control systems, train control programs, or train control projects are required.

Ten (10) years of railroad operational, signaling, telecommunications, train control systems, Positive Train Control (PTC), systems engineering, or related railroad technology experience may substitute for the degree requirement.

Excellent knowledge of train control systems, telecommunications, networks, programming, signaling systems, or related railroad technologies is required.

The above reflects only the more significant details of the position and is not intended to be all-inclusive.

IMPORTANT: Your application must clearly show how you meet each minimum qualification listed for this position. Do not assume reviewers will infer qualifications from job titles or general descriptions of duties. Applications are screened based on the information submitted.

Include all required and desired qualifications in your Applicant Profile and/or Resume. For any relevant experience, provide the employer name, job title, dates of employment, and whether the position was full-time or part-time.

Failure to provide sufficient information on your application to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications may result in disqualification from further consideration. Applicants who clearly demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated along with other qualified applicants and may be considered for the next phase of the recruitment process.

Alaska Railroad Human Resources Department

E-Mail: [e-mail]

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 107500, Anchorage, AK 99510-7500

Street Address: 327 West Ship Creek, Anchorage, AK

Fax Number: [phone]