SENIOR MANAGER, WAYSIDE SYSTEMS (TRACTION POWER)

LA Metro; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

LA Metro is seeking a Senior Manager, Wayside Systems for Traction Power to lead safety, reliability, and development of stations, tunnels, and traction power assets in the Los Angeles area.

The position oversees 11 supervisors and 137 inspectors, with responsibilities spanning PM programs, capital project support, and vendor contract administration. A California driver license is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Six years of relevant experience or three years of supervisory-level experience in facilities operations, maintenance in light/heavy track, signal, traction power, or telecommunications and communications systems requiring at least two years of specialized experience in area of assignment.
• A valid California Class C Driver License or ability to utilize an alternative transportation method when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Responsibilities

• Manages wayside systems work crew activities and distributes work assignments, including PM and corrective work.
• Oversees capital project support, testing, and operational activities to ensure asset performance and reliability.
• Develops budgets, schedules, and reports; monitors expenditures and cost estimates.
• Reviews contract specifications; monitors vendor performance and budget compliance; may amend contracts.
• Maintains training programs and ensures Personnel Qualification Standards are met.
• Coordinates with other departments, agencies, and vendors to meet service requirements.
• Prepares RFPs for contractor services and manages safety policies and procedures.

Skills

Staff management

PM oversight

Budget monitoring

Vendor management

Project planning

Contract administration

Safety compliance

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Assists with the overall management of various aspects of Rail Wayside Systems areas of responsibility, including work crew management and preventive maintenance (PM) work management.

Position Overview

The Senior Manager, Wayside Systems for Traction Power is responsible for managing capital project support, Reg4 testing, and operational activities, such as preventive maintenance and corrective repair programs. This role oversees 11 Supervisors and 137 Inspectors, represented by separate collective bargaining agreements, to ensure optimal system-wide asset performance and substation reliability across infrastructure components, such as station lighting systems, tunnel lighting and ventilation equipment, cross packages, power distribution, overhead catenary system (OCS) and contact wires.

Recruitment Timeline

Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of November 9, 2026. These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your GovernmentJobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

• Manages wayside systems work crew activities
• Distributes work assignments, including PM and corrective work
• Assists with developing goals, establishment of plans and priorities, and monitoring operations of assigned multi-line Track, Traction Power, Signal and Train Control, or Telecommunications and Communication Systems, or multi-craft Facility Maintenance Departments, including electronic systems, equipment installation, and building and grounds maintenance
• Conducts special operational and planning projects; prepares related reports, data, budgets, and work programs
• Maintains records of PM work
• Assists in the review of contract specifications and monitors performance and budgetary compliance by vendors; recommends amendments to and administers vendor contracts as required
• Maintains training program for staff and ensures Personnel Qualification Standards are met
• Assists in the administration of various union contracts for compliance; conducts disciplinary and grievance hearings
• Develops Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for contractor services
• Works with other departments, outside agencies, and vendors to coordinate activities
• Meets with others to discuss and ensure service requirements are met
• Investigates and reports on accidents and equipment failures
• Prepares and submits budget proposal for assigned area, and monitors annual expenditures
• Assesses and submits cost of repair estimates
• Develops and prepares programs and schedules for equipment upgrades
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees, supervisors and inspectors.

May be required to perform other related job duties

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field

Experience

• Six years of relevant experience or three years of relevant supervisory-level experience in facilities operations, maintenance in light/heavy track, signal, traction power, or telecommunications and communications systems requiring at least two years of specialized experience in area of assignment

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

• Experience supervising employees across varied reporting areas
• Experience conducting project management functions, including project planning, scheduling, budgeting, resource management, and project closure
• Experience developing procurement packages for Traction Power equipment/services [i.e. scopes of work (SOW)] and related reports
• Experiential knowledge of Traction Power Systems, including AC and DC high/low voltage systems, substations, rectifiers, relays, overhead catenary, and third rail systems
• Knowledge of relevant standards for rail electrification, including American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-Of-Way Association (AREMA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and National Electrical Code (NEC) regulations

Knowledge of

(defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices that apply to management of facilities maintenance, general services, track, telecommunications and communication systems, traction power, or signal and train control design and maintenance
• Safety regulations of the CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing environmental, safety, facilities, and rail maintenance and operations
• Public agency procurement processes and contract administration
• Microsoft Office Suite applications
• Modern management theory

Skill in

(defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Utilizing procurement processes and procedures
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, and recommending solutions
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
• Meeting safety requirements
• Determining strategies to achieve goals
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees and outside representatives
• Supervising, training, and motivating assigned staff

Ability to

(defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Oversee the operations of a facilities, telecommunications and communication systems, general services, track, traction power, or signal and train control maintenance department
• Work in teams, including contractors
• Organize and manage projects
• Mediate and negotiate, including contracts
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Plan financial and staffing needs; manage a budget
• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Travel to offsite locations
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority when classified as an Intermittent, Emergency, Annuitant, or Temporary employee, is assigned to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) or Board Clerk's Office, and/or reporting directly to the LACMTA Board of Directors
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
• High noise environment
• Work on elevated surfaces or below ground level
• Exposure to moving machinery and/or vehicles
• Exposure to physical and verbal abuse by clients/customers and/or general public
• Exposure to radiant or electrical energy (e.g., ionizing radiation, overhead catenary or contact rail power distribution, etc.)
• Exposure to outdoor weather including extreme heat, cold, dampness and/or humidity
• Extensive safety training and/or use of protective devices and personal protective equipment
• Work irregular hours, split shifts, weekends, holidays, or 24-hour-a-day on-call assignments
• Work in awkward or confining/ enclosed spaces
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals, solvents, and/or gases
• Work on slippery on uneven surfaces

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Standing
• Walking (distance 5' to 100')
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances
• Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.)
• Smelling
• Crawling, crouching, squatting, stooping and/or knees
• Pushing and/or pulling
• Light lifting or carrying 25 lbs. or less

(ML)