Senior Director of ROW Planning & Operations

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is seeking a Senior Director to lead planning and execution of Right of Way access for maintenance, capital, and construction projects. You will direct ROW planning, safety programs, and resource allocation across multiple MBTA divisions, ensuring on-time, safe, and compliant operations.

The role requires strategic oversight, strong union relations, and the ability to respond to emergencies and outages with effective coordination and communication at

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required;7+ years in transit/industrial environment preferred.
• Experience managing people and enterprise-wide projects in transit or industrial settings.
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to executive leadership and regulatory agencies.
• Strong collaboration skills with multiple departments and unions.

Responsibilities

• LeadROW access planning, optimization, and execution for maintenance, capital, and outages.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, and safety programs for ROW operations.
• Direct budgeting, resource allocation, and KPI development for the department.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Coordinate with E&M, Operations, Capital Programs and other MBTA units to minimize service impact.
• Provide executive-level reporting and risk management across ROW activities.
• Develop and implement process improvements to modernize ROW access practices.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder coordination

Strategic planning

Project management

Budget management

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Senior Director of ROW Planning & Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the planning, coordination, and execution of Right of Way (ROW) access required to support maintenance, capital, construction, and infrastructure activities across the MBTA. Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Engineering & Maintenance (E&M), this role provides leadership and oversight to Construction Logistics, Maintenance Planning, and Maintenance Operations within the Infrastructure Maintenance Division. The Senior Director is accountable for the end-to-end ROW access program, ensuring that access to the ROW is safely planned, effectively coordinated, and efficiently utilized to maximize productive work opportunities while protecting employees, contractors, customers, infrastructure, and revenue service. The Senior Director works across E&M, Operations, Capital Programs, and other MBTA departments to establish access priorities, resolve competing operational and resource demands, improve the execution of maintenance and capital work, and drive continuous improvement in ROW access practices.

• Responsible for the ongoing enhancement of the customer experience by overseeing and directing all activities associated with safely and efficiently accessing the MBTA Right of Way (ROW) to perform maintenance and construction activities.
• Provide the Chief of E&M Infrastructure with ongoing leadership, direction, and information relating to the current state of ROW access planning and execution.
• Support all E&M functional areas: Engineering & Maintenance (E&M): Power Systems Maintenance (PSM), Signals & Communications Maintenance (SCM), Maintenance of Way (MOW), and Stations, Facilities, and Structures (SFS), and serve as a key leader capable of directing the department in the absence of senior leadership.
• Supervise staff in a heavily unionized environment and through Directors, Superintendents, Supervisors, and other front-line and administrative staff responsible for the planning, execution, and documentation of work performed on the MBTA ROW.
• Review, plan, and oversee construction projects and maintenance activities impacting MBTA service to ensure project safety and minimal impact to revenue service.
• Ensure all ROW access is planned and all work zones are protected in compliance with the applicable MBTA policies and procedures.
• Provide leadership and oversight of Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) activities and personnel responsible for establishing and maintaining protection for employees and contractors working on or around the ROW.
• Lead a team responsible for executing all aspects of service diversions on the MBTA network including readiness activities, staffing and supporting ongoing outages, and ensuring infrastructure is safely returned to service.
• Coordinate with teams to ensure RWP resources are appropriately assigned and deployed based upon work plans, operational conditions, safety requirements, and organizational priorities.
• Establish priorities when multiple maintenance, capital, construction, or emergency activities compete for limited ROW access, RWP resources, operational support, or available work time.
• Provide executive-level coordination during infrastructure failures, emergencies, severe weather, service disruptions, diversions, and other abnormal operating conditions.
• Identify systemic barriers to successful execution and work with ROW Access Planning and E&M leadership to improve future access plans, work packages, resource strategies, and operating processes.
• Lead teams to monitor ROW access compliance under the Operational Testing & Inspection Program (OTIP).
• Lead and monitor resource allocation decision-making, including operation and capital budget requests and implementation, alignment with strategic goals, and resource priorities; establish a strategy for defining key performance indicators (KPIs) for the department with clear definitions, milestones, and metrics.
• Through process development, data analytics, and strategic planning, provide the department the structure and support needed to strive for modernization of ROW access practices through improvements in planning, scheduling, coordination, or access procedures.
• Participate in the development and management of the department's annual operating and capital budgets, ensuring sound fiscal oversight of all resources.
• Ensure all inventory, equipment, facilities, and materials under their control are protected, maintained, and stored in a safe operating condition.
• Work with the Office of Administration to review and assess current and future staffing needs. Participate in all phases of the recruitment and selection of employees for the department.
• Ensure all employees have received the proper training to perform tasks, operate equipment and vehicles, and comply with Authority policies and procedures.
• Monitor and oversee any investigations into systems failures and the implementation of corrective actions.
• Ensure the department's compliance with Authority policies and procedures, including compliance with all applicable safety standards, discipline processes, and mandated training.
• Establish and maintain sound union/management relations while upholding the rights and interests of management and adhering to collective bargaining agreements.
• Respond to each inquiry, whether from a customer, vendor, or co-worker, in a courteous and professional manner.
• Respond, directly or through others, and/or report to work for emergencies, extreme weather conditions, or any other abnormal conditions that impair service or the safety of service, twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
• Drive a company or personal vehicle to visit work sites and to assist at emergencies, service disruptions, and/or other events as needed.
• Uphold the rights and interests of the Authority while building and maintaining an effective relationship with employees.
• Assist in the management of a workforce by ensuring the fair and consistent application and strict adherence to the rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the Authority, including the EEO, Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Anti-Retaliation policies.
• Perform related duties and projects as assigned.

Supervision

• Leads a team of 20+ staff including Directors, Deputy Directors, Managers, Supervisors, and Coordinators.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Ten (10) years of experience in transit or industrial environments involving maintenance planning, construction planning/execution, and/or transportation operations.
• Seven (7) years of experience managing people and/or leading enterprise-wide projects in a transit or industrial setting.
• Experience developing and monitoring operating and capital budgets.
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to executive leadership and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information in an appropriate manner.
• Excellent customer service and conflict resolution skills.
• Valid driver’s license in accordance with MBTA policy.
• Ability to provide internal and external customers with a courteous and professional experience.
• Ability to supervise and work effectively with a diverse workforce.

Substitutions

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• An associate degree from an accredited institution with an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• A master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience.

• Experience monitoring and providing oversight to maintenance or construction projects impacting the right-of-way.
• Experience performing Roadway Worker In Charge (RWIC) or Employee In Charge (EIC) duties in a transit environment.
• Experience in rail transportation operations.