Trolley Infrastructure Manager

Mid-South Transportation Management, Inc.; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid-South Transportation Management, Inc. in Memphis is seeking a Manager of Trolley Infrastructure to lead safe, reliable operations across trolley track, overhead power, stations and related assets.

You will plan, direct, and monitor inspection, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and capital improvement activities for trolley systems. This exempt, safety-sensitive role demands strong leadership, budgeting, and coordination with agencies and contractors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or related field; equivalent combination considered.
• Five years of progressively responsible transit/rail/infrastructure experience, with maintenance and project exposure.
• At least two years of supervisory/management experience leading unionized staff or contractors.
• Ability to plan and manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs, work orders, schedules, and performance.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee day-to-day maintenance, inspection, repair, and improvement of trolley infrastructure and facilities.
• Develop and maintain an infrastructure preventive-maintenance program with standards and procedures.
• Ensure track compliance with relevant standards and adopt formal maintenance and inspection programs.
• Prioritize corrective work based on safety risk, regulatory requirements, asset condition, and resources.
• Manage trolley track and right-of-way conditions, including rails, ties, switches, drainage, and related components.
• Oversee inspection of overhead contact systems, electrical distribution, grounding, and related power infrastructure.
• Coordinate inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair of signals, control devices, and warning systems.
• Ensure hazard assessments, lockout/tagout, electrical safety controls, and other precautions are included in work planning.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate assigned personnel; promote accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate outages, service interruptions, testing, and return-to-service with Trolley Operations and other departments.
• Maintain asset inventories, inspection records, and project documentation using approved systems.
• Monitor infrastructure condition and trends; recommend renewal or replacement strategies.
• Support incident investigations and root-cause analysis for infrastructure failures and safety events.
• Ensure permits, inspections, certifications, and regulatory documentation are completed and retained.
• Coordinate with agencies, utilities, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders on infrastructure work.
• Participate in emergency preparedness and response activities; be prepared for on-call duties.

Skills

Infrastructure knowledge

Safety compliance

Leadership

Communication

Planning & organizing

Contract administration

CMMS / EAM software

Problem solving

Education

Engineering degree

Professional credentials (PE or equivalent)

Tools

CMMS

EAM systems

Asset tracking software

Job description

Job Title: Manager of Trolley Infrastructure

Department / Division: Trolley

Reports To: Director of Trolley Operations and Maintenance

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Non-Bargaining Unit: No

Safety Sensitive Position (49 CFR Part 655): Yes

Pay Rate / Range: $85,000 - $90,000

JOB FUNCTION:

The Manager of Trolley Infrastructure is responsible for the safe, reliable, and effective management of MATA’s trolley infrastructure, including the fixed facilities and systems that support trolley operations. The position plans, directs, coordinates, and monitors inspection, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and capital improvement activities involving trolley track and right-of-way, overhead contact and power-related infrastructure, stations and stops, signals and controls, drainage, structures, and related assets, as applicable.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct and oversee day-to-day maintenance, inspection, repair, and improvement of trolley infrastructure and associated facilities and systems.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an infrastructure preventive-maintenance program, including inspection frequencies, work plans, maintenance standards, and asset-specific procedures.
• Ensures track is in compliance with APTA RT-FS-S-002-02, Rev. 1 standards, and adopt a formal track maintenance and inspection program as is defined in APTA RT-FS-S-002-Rev 1.
• Establish priorities for corrective work based on safety risk, regulatory requirements, asset condition, service impact, and available resources; ensure urgent hazards are promptly isolated, protected, reported, and corrected.
• Manage trolley track and right-of-way conditions, including rail, ties, fasteners, switches, crossings, pavement interfaces, clearances, drainage, and related components, where applicable.
• Oversee inspection and maintenance of overhead contact systems, poles, support structures, electrical distribution components, grounding/bonding, and related power infrastructure, in coordination with qualified personnel.
• Coordinate inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair of signals, communications, control devices, warning systems, and other operational infrastructure, as applicable.
• Ensure work planning includes appropriate hazard assessments, job safety analyses, work-zone protection, lockout/tagout, electrical safety controls, fall protection, confined-space controls, and other required precautions.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate assigned personnel; establish performance expectations and promote a culture of accountability, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate planned outages, service interruptions, track or system access, testing, commissioning, and return-to-service activities with Trolley Operations and other affected departments.
• Maintain accurate asset inventories, inspection records, maintenance histories, work orders, drawings, manuals, warranties, and project closeout documentation using MATA-approved systems.
• Monitor infrastructure condition and performance; analyze recurring defects, failures, service impacts, and maintenance trends; recommend renewal, rehabilitation, or replacement strategies.
• Support incident response, investigations, and root-cause analysis involving infrastructure failures, unsafe conditions, service disruptions, or property damage; assign and track corrective actions to closure.
• Ensure required permits, inspections, certifications, environmental controls, and regulatory or contractual documentation are completed and retained.
• Coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies, utilities, engineering consultants, contractors, and community stakeholders on infrastructure work and system interfaces.
• Participate in emergency preparedness and response activities, including severe weather, flooding, power interruptions, derailments, infrastructure damage, and other events affecting trolley service.
• May be required to work weekends, nights, holidays and to be on-call 24 hours a day.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist with preparation and review of policies, standard operating procedures, maintenance instructions, emergency plans, and technical standards.
• Provide technical support during audits, safety reviews, compliance assessments, internal investigations, and external inspections.
• Participate in procurement activities, including evaluation of equipment, materials, services, and contractor proposals.
• Attend training, conferences, and professional development activities to maintain current knowledge of transit infrastructure, applicable codes, safety practices, and industry developments.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director or authorized MATA leadership.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, or a closely related field; an equivalent combination of education, technical training, and progressively responsible relevant experience may be considered.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in transit, rail, trolley, public infrastructure, facilities, utilities, or industrial maintenance, including experience coordinating infrastructure inspection, maintenance, repair, or capital projects.
• At least two (2) years of supervisory or management experience leading unionized employees, contractors, or multidisciplinary maintenance teams.
• Demonstrate ability to plan and manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs, work orders, schedules, and contractor performance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of infrastructure maintenance principles and practices relevant to rail or trolley systems, including track and right-of-way, electrical or overhead systems, structures, drainage, and related assets.
• Working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local safety requirements, transit industry standards, electrical safety practices, and environmental requirements relevant to assigned work.
• Ability to assess infrastructure conditions, evaluate risk, establish priorities, troubleshoot complex problems, and make sound decisions under time-sensitive conditions.
• Strong leadership, communication, planning, organization, documentation, contract administration, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with standard office software and the ability to use computerized maintenance management systems, asset-management tools, and project-management applications.
• Ability to prepare clear written reports, scopes of work, schedules, and presentations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with employees at all levels, contractors, consultants, public agencies, and members of the community.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license and the ability to maintain eligibility to operate a MATA vehicle.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain any job-related safety training, site access credentials, or certifications required by MATA.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, project-management certification, or relevant rail/transit infrastructure credentials required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience managing trolley or rail infrastructure systems, including track, overhead contact systems (OCS), traction power, switches, signals, crossings, and right-of-way.
• Experience developing and administering preventive maintenance programs, infrastructure inspection programs, and asset management plans.
• Knowledge of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations where applicable, OSHA standards, and applicable state and local transportation requirements.
• Experience with Transit Asset Management (TAM) plans, State of Good Repair (SGR) initiatives, and infrastructure condition assessments.
• Experience utilizing computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), enterprise asset management systems (EAM), and infrastructure tracking software.
• Knowledge of electrical safety, lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined-space procedures, work-zone protection, and rail safety practices.
• Knowledge of transit safety management systems (SMS), Safety Risk Management (SRM), and safety assurance practices.
• Familiarity with industry standards and guidelines published by APTA, AREMA, IEEE, NFPA, and other applicable technical organizations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The position requires the ability to perform essential office and field functions, including standing, walking, climbing stairs or ladders where authorized, bending, reaching, and moving through maintenance and construction areas. The employee must be able to lift up to 50 lbs., as lifting parts and materials overhead is required. The employee may occasionally need to lift or carry materials or equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment includes a combination of office, maintenance facility, construction, and active trolley operating environments. The Manager may be required to work outdoors in varying weather conditions; walk on or near track and right-of-way areas; access maintenance shops, stations, stops, and infrastructure locations; and visit active work zones. Work may involve exposure to moving vehicles, rail equipment, electrical systems, uneven or slippery surfaces, noise, dust, fumes, construction activities, and other conditions typical of transit infrastructure operations. Required personal protective equipment and established safety procedures must be followed.

BACKGROUND AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS:

• Must successfully complete a pre-employment criminal background investigation in accordance with MATA policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Must successfully pass any required pre-employment drug and alcohol screening in accordance with applicable MATA policies and federal regulations.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and complete applicable employment eligibility verification.
• Must demonstrate a satisfactory employment record and professional qualifications appropriate for a management-level position.
• Must be eligible to operate MATA vehicles when required to perform assigned responsibilities.

DISCLAIMER:

This class description lists the major duties and required requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Not all duties are necessarily performed by each incumbent. Incumbents may be expected to perform job-relates duties other than those contained in this description, and MTM reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties as necessary to meet business needs.

MTM is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.