Manager

State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee (SAIPRC); Washington, New York (District of Columbia, NY); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIPRC in Washington, DC seeks a Manager to lead a growing team shaping intercity passenger rail policy and capital planning. You will oversee the five-year CIP, capital-cost forecasts, and procurement coordination with Amtrak, FRA, and state agencies.

The successful candidate will manage contractors, develop data-driven analyses, prepare presentations, and help advance SAIPRC’s capital-cost methodology and investment decisions with lasting impact on national rail service.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in transportation, consulting, or public administration.
• High quality written, verbal, and visual communication for a wide range of audiences.
• Experience in quantitative analysis and reporting.
• Experience managing projects and consultants.

Responsibilities

• Oversee contractor teams and SAIPRC staff for CIP and forecast work.
• Foster collaboration on rolling stock procurement and investments.
• Coordinate Equipment Working Group on rolling stock and procurements.
• Develop data streams, workflows, and analyses for maintenance and fleet data.
• Develop and manage project schedules for deliverables.
• Prepare capital-cost policy proposals and build consensus.
• Deliver presentations to Amtrak, FRA, and state staff.
• Prepare reports and materials for internal and external audiences.
• Generate content for SAIPRC website and external report.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communications skills

Project management

Quantitative analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Transportation, Urban Planning, Economics, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Finance, Data Science, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Zoho Analytics

Job description

Manager

SAIPRC is seeking a manager for our growing and highly productive team. We seek candidates with outstanding analytical and communications skills, an appetite for responsibility, and a strong commitment to improving U.S. passenger rail. We offer competitive pay and benefits, flexibility including in-office, hybrid, or fully remote schedules, and an opportunity to engage with passenger rail decisionmakers in a trusted and highly visible role.

About SAIPRC

The State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee (SAIPRC) brings together Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and 23 agencies from 20 States to shape the future of State-supported intercity passenger rail. SAIPRC’s staff is a small, growing, and highly motivated team of transportation professionals working at the center of some of the most important passenger rail issues in the country. Our work supports the 33 State-supported rail services that connect major city pairs—like Los Angeles and San Diego, Seattle and Portland, Chicago and St. Louis, Washington and Charlotte, New York and Toronto, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, plus many more—and carry just under one-half of all Amtrak riders nationwide.

Created by Congress, SAIPRC plays a highly visible role in helping States, Amtrak, and FRA strengthen intercity passenger rail service. SAIPRC oversees how States make payments to Amtrak for their services; facilitates collaboration in areas like marketing, rolling stock planning, and reducing delays; and improvements to the data members use to make business decisions.

Position Summary

The Manager will play a central role in shaping how members plan, fund, and sustain intercity passenger rail equipment. This position will lead the implementation of SAIPRC’s capital-cost methodology that determines annual State payments for rolling stock maintenance, while guiding the Committee’s Equipment Working Group and coordinating closely with Amtrak, States, and FRA on new rolling stock procurements. A major part of the role will involve implementing and advancing SAIPRC’s capital-cost forecast process and five-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP), overseeing the contractor team that performs key technical work, and identifying opportunities to strengthen forecasting, planning, and decision-making. Through this work, the selected candidate will help drive the Committee’s formal approval of the CIP and associated capital-cost forecasts, directly supporting long-term investment in the nation’s intercity passenger rail fleet.

The successful candidate will collaborate with senior staff at Amtrak, FRA, and State agencies; gain exposure to the data, policy, and financial decisions that shape passenger rail service; and develop a deep understanding of how passenger rail is planned, operated, marketed, and funded. The position offers an opportunity to work at the intersection of transportation policy, capital planning, and public-sector decision-making while contributing to projects with lasting impact on State-supported passenger rail service.

Specific tasks will include:

• Overseeing teams of contractors and SAIPRC staff responsible for developing the annual CIP, capital-cost forecast development, and other projects that may be identified by the Committee
• Fostering collaboration among Members on the procurement of new rolling stock and one-time investments to ensure equipment availability that maintains current service levels and supports future growth
• Overseeing the Committee’s Equipment Working Group, a venue for State, Amtrak, and FRA collaboration on rolling stock deployment, performance of equipment, special capital projects, and new equipment procurements
• Overseeing and/or executing the development of data streams, workflows, and analyses to process and interpret financial and equipment maintenance and fleet availability data
• Developing and managing project schedules to ensure on-time completion of critical SAIPRC deliverables
• Working with SAIPRC staff and contractors to develop new capital-cost policy proposals, and build consensus among Members
• Preparing and delivering presentations to high-level staff at Amtrak, FRA, and State agencies
• Preparing reports, plans, and reference materials for internal and external audiences (including media outlets, congressional committees, and the public)
• Generating content for SAIPRC’s website and external report

Minimum Qualifications

• At least five years of experience working in transportation, consulting, public administration, or a related field;
• High quality written, verbal, and visual communication skills for a wide range of audiences;
• Experience in quantitative analysis and reporting;
• Experience managing projects and consultants;
• Ability to form relationships with staff at all levels among external stakeholders/clients;
• Experience working with stakeholders to develop strategic plans (or similar documents) and/or performance monitoring reports;
• Ability to develop highly effective presentations and compelling, clear visual communication materials; and
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Transportation, Urban Planning, Economics, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Finance, Data Science, Business Administration, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Eight years or more of experience working in transportation, consulting, public administration, or a related field;
• Experience with inter-agency coordination or management of participation of diverse groups of stakeholders;
• Familiarity with Amtrak and federal passenger rail policy;
• Familiarity or experience with a Business Intelligence Platform (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Zoho Analytics); and
• Master’s degree in Transportation, Urban Planning, Economics, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Finance, Data Science, Business Administration, or a related field (while preferred, a Master’s Degree is not required for this position and we encourage applicants who meet minimum requirements to apply).

Location and Travel

SAIPRC currently has small, in-person offices in Washington, DC. and New York, NY. Hybrid or fully remote work schedules are available. Candidates from anywhere in the United States are encouraged to apply.

The position includes approximately 5% travel, although the selected candidate may have the opportunity for additional travel if desired. Off-site meetings (usually involving overnight stays) typically occur at least three times per year.

Compensation

Annual salary will range from $125,000 to $160,000 depending on experience, location, and other factors. SAIPRC also offers a competitive benefits package.

SAIPRC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all to apply and do not discriminate against candidates based on personal characteristics protected by law.