BASIC FUNCTION:
The individual in this position reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and serves as APTA’s resident expert on rail transit issues, including light rail transit (LRT), streetcar, and heavy rail. The individual supports APTA’s rail transit system operators; provides expertise and recommendations on rail transit policy and technical issues; manages several committees focused on rail operations, maintenance, and policy; supports programming for several APTA conferences; manages APTA’s standards development work for the rail transit industry; and interfaces with Federal regulatory agencies including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:
Specific duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Technical Expertise
- Provides technical expertise regarding operations, maintenance, capital programs, signals, and communications for rail transit systems;
- Serves as an expert and key resource regarding rail technology and trends/innovation in rail transit for APTA members, APTA staff, and federal agencies and officials;
- Provides strategic planning for members in regard to implementation of new technologies, identifying industry trends, and helping members anticipate and plan for change;
- Manages and oversees the development of standards relating to rail transit operations, maintenance, technology, and procurement. This includes helping to identify the need for specific standards, management of working groups, oversight of outside consultants as appropriate, publication of standards, and progress reports; and
- Provides session programming for the annual APTA rail conference and for other APTA conferences as appropriate.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Serves as staff adviser to various rail committees and subcommittees focused on rail transit and streetcar, with responsibility for coordinating and facilitating the activities of the committees, working groups, subcommittees, and technical forums;
- Maintains strong relationships with key officials from federal agencies with oversight over rail transit, primarily FTA. This includes communicating between federal officials and APTA members on regulatory and funding issues, coordinating industry input, and supporting member engagement with federal officials and agencies; and
- Engages industry professionals, academics, researchers, media, conference audiences, and other stakeholders on rail transit initiatives.
Strategic Leadership
- Promotes APTA’s mission and vision in a confident and consistent manner via media appearances, interviews, listening sessions, focus groups, and conference speaking roles in addition to other activities;
- Provides input to and execute APTA’s Strategic Plan in accordance with APTA’s mission; and
- Manages special projects on behalf of the industry for subject matters related to rail technology.
Other
- Develops budget proposals for the rail transit work programs and standards, including consultant contracts. Manages and monitors expenses for assigned funds;
- Manages rail transit technical working groups, subcommittees, and technical forums community pages on the APTA web site. Ensures that pages are updated regularly for content and current information;
- Facilitates peer reviews related to rail transit; and
- Performs other duties as may be assigned.
MEASURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Program Management
- Timely and highly responsive support of member activities, including rail-related committees and working groups;
- Competency in funds and other resource management;
- Participation in APTA peer reviews;
- Leadership on the development of Standards;
- Initiates new ideas in support of APTA members’ needs;
- Degree of coordination with internal and external resources, including engagement of the FTA and FRA as appropriate; and
- Degree to which individual can help APTA members anticipate trends and changing technologies as well as prepare our members for change.
Association Development
- Demonstrated active coordination with companion associations as well as federal, state, and local agencies;
- Active participation in strategic planning and business plan development for APTA; and
- Demonstrated efforts to obtain funding and other resources for rail programs.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in technical specialty coupled with 5+ years of experience in rail transit operations or planning, transit agency or transportation project management, and/or transit equipment maintenance, acquisition, or planning. Also requires familiarity with current FTA and other federal programs. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively with people and organizations as well as work independently and under pressure, meeting multiple deadlines. Must be willing to travel to support reviews, committees, and conferences. With multiple off-site conferences, meetings and peer reviews, travel is a requirement.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK CONDITIONS:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Performance of duties requires the use of hands and fingers to handle or feel. The job frequently requires the ability to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Persons interested in applying for this position should submit their cover letter and resume to the Vice President-Human Resources & Administration via email at aptajobs@apta.com.
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APTA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
