Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Salary: $81,226.00 - $116,762.94 Commensurate with Experience

SUMMARY
The Assistant Manager of Rail Transportation supports the day-to-day management of rail transportation operations, including rail dispatch and field service delivery, to help ensure safe, reliable, coordinated, and procedurally compliant service. Reporting to the Manager of Rail Transportation, this role provides operational leadership to dispatch and field supervision staff and supports effective execution of daily service across assigned shifts, lines, or operating areas.

This position helps coordinate rail dispatch activities, frontline field operations, staffing and coverage, service response, operating rule compliance, communications, and documentation. The Assistant Manager works closely with Rail Field Supervisors, Lead Rail Field Supervisors, Rail Dispatchers, the Rail Control Center, maintenance, safety, security, and other transportation personnel to maintain service continuity and support timely response to changing operating conditions.

The role also supports workforce performance, training and qualification activities, incident response and follow-up, field and dispatch quality assurance, implementation of operating procedures and service changes, and continuous improvement. This position requires sound operational judgment, strong communication, and the ability to lead effectively in a fast-paced, safety-sensitive transit environment.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Rail Transportation Operations Leadership

• Support the day-to-day management of rail transportation operations, including field supervision and rail dispatch functions.
• Provide direction and operational support to Lead Rail Field Supervisors, Rail Field Supervisors, Lead Rail Dispatchers, Rail Dispatchers, and other assigned staff.
• Help ensure transportation activities are carried out safely, reliably, and consistently with operating rules, procedures, service priorities, and management expectations.
• Maintain awareness of system conditions, staffing, service performance, and emerging operational issues across assigned areas.
• Support consistent execution of transportation responsibilities across shifts, lines, and operating conditions.

Service Execution and Operational Coordination

• Support daily service execution by coordinating staffing deployment, shift coverage, field assignments, dispatch activities, and other transportation requirements.
• Work closely with the Rail Control Center, field supervisors, dispatchers, maintenance, and other operational partners to address service conditions and maintain continuity of operations.
• Monitor delays, service disruptions, equipment-related impacts, staffing concerns, and other issues affecting transportation service.
• Support implementation of temporary operating changes, service adjustments, special instructions, and operating bulletins.
• Help ensure transportation resources are deployed effectively to support safe and dependable service.

Dispatch and Communications Oversight

• Oversee day-to-day dispatch activities, workload distribution, staffing coverage, communications practices, and operational documentation.
• Reinforce clear, accurate, timely, and professional communication among dispatch, field operations, the Rail Control Center, and other operational partners.
• Help ensure dispatchers follow established communication protocols, procedures, escalation requirements, and documentation standards.
• Monitor the quality and consistency of dispatch communications, logs, delay coding, and other operational records.
• Support effective use of dispatch systems, radios, status boards, logs, and other transportation communication tools.

Field Operations and Rules Compliance

• Reinforce compliance with rail operating rules, standard operating procedures, bulletins, communication requirements, and safety expectations.
• Conduct or oversee field checks, ride checks, operator observations, audits, and related reviews of transportation performance.
• Monitor the effectiveness of field supervision and frontline service delivery and address observed gaps in performance, conduct, or procedural compliance.
• Support implementation and field reinforcement of new or revised operating rules, procedures, bulletins, and service expectations.
• Help ensure field supervision practices remain consistent and responsive across assigned operating areas.

Incident Response and Service Recovery

• Respond to incidents, delays, emergencies, customer-impacting events, and abnormal operating conditions affecting rail transportation service.
• Coordinate with field supervisors, dispatch, Rail Control Center personnel, maintenance, safety, security, and other departments to support timely service response and recovery.
• Provide operational direction within assigned authority and ensure significant issues are escalated appropriately.
• Support organized transportation response during special events, planned outages, severe weather, and other high-impact operating conditions.
• Participate in incident reviews, investigations, debriefs, and follow-up activities related to transportation operations.

Workforce Leadership and Performance Management

• Supervise, coach, and support assigned field supervision and dispatch personnel.
• Support staffing schedules, shift coverage, attendance follow-up, workforce readiness, and assignment planning.
• Monitor employee performance and address issues related to proficiency, professionalism, communication, service delivery, documentation, and accountability.
• Support performance management, corrective action, training coordination, qualification activities, and employee development.
• Reinforce a culture of safety, accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Documentation, Reporting, and Operational Improvement

• Review transportation logs, reports, observations, incident documentation, and other operational records for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate follow-through.
• Prepare or support reports and summaries related to service performance, incidents, staffing, field observations, dispatch activity, and operational concerns.
• Identify recurring service, communication, staffing, or process issues and provide recommendations to the Manager of Rail Transportation.
• Support audits, operational reviews, investigations, and documentation requests affecting rail transportation functions.
• Participate in implementation of process improvements intended to strengthen service coordination, communication, reliability, and operational consistency.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Core Competencies:

The position requires demonstrated competency in the following areas:

Rail Transportation Operations Supervision

Ability to support safe, reliable, and coordinated rail service through effective oversight of field and dispatch operations.

• Provides clear direction and support to transportation staff.
• Maintains awareness of service conditions, staffing, and operational priorities.
• Reinforces consistent execution across field and dispatch supervisory functions.

Service Coordination and Operational Judgment

Ability to assess changing operating conditions, coordinate transportation resources, and make sound decisions within established authority.

• Responds effectively to service disruptions and changing operating demands.
• Recognizes when issues require escalation or broader coordination.
• Balances service continuity, safety, staffing, and operational requirements.

Communication and Coordination

Ability to maintain clear, timely, and disciplined communication across transportation functions and operational partners.

• Reinforces accurate information flow and professional communication practices.
• Coordinates effectively with field operations, dispatch, the Rail Control Center, and other departments.
• Supports continuity and clarity during routine and disrupted operations.

Rules Compliance and Operational Accountability

Ability to reinforce operating rules, procedures, documentation standards, and professional expectations in a safety-sensitive environment.

• Identifies and addresses gaps in rule compliance or operational execution.
• Supports consistent documentation and required follow-through.
• Reinforces accountability for safe and professional performance.

Staff Leadership and Development

Ability to supervise, coach, and develop employees operating in real-time transportation environments.

• Provides useful feedback, direction, and performance support.
• Reinforces readiness, professionalism, and accountability.
• Supports training, qualification, and employee development activities.

Incident Response and Service Recovery

Ability to remain organized and effective during incidents, emergencies, and abnormal operations.

• Supports coordinated response and timely restoration of service.
• Maintains composure and sound judgment during high-pressure situations.
• Ensures appropriate communication, escalation, and follow-up.

Supervision Given to:

• Lead Rail Field Supervisors
• Rail Field Supervisors
• Lead Rail Dispatchers
• Rail Dispatchers

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate degree in transportation, business administration, public administration, operations, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Four (4) years of experience in rail transportation operations, rail dispatch, transit operations, railroad operations, control center operations, or another closely related operating environment.
• Experience serving in a lead, trainer, field supervision, dispatch leadership, or other responsible role involving direction of staff or daily transportation operations.
• Experience applying operating rules, procedures, communications protocols, or safety requirements in an active transportation environment.
• Experience responding to service disruptions, incidents, or other time-sensitive operational issues.
• Ability to work varying hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, and emergencies as operational needs require.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a rail transit or fixed-guideway transportation environment.
• Experience supervising field operations, dispatch staff, or transportation personnel in a 24/7 operating environment.
• Experience with rail dispatch systems, transportation communications, scheduling, rostering, or related operational tools.
• Experience conducting field observations, ride checks, operational reviews, or performance investigations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Rail transportation operations, including field supervision, dispatch, service coordination, and real-time operational response.
• Rail operating rules, procedures, communication protocols, escalation practices, and safety requirements.
• Incident response, service recovery, and cross-functional transportation coordination.
• Workforce supervision practices, including staffing, scheduling, performance management, coaching, and training support.
• Dispatch and transportation documentation practices, operational reporting, and quality control requirements.

Skill in:

• Supervising field and dispatch personnel in a fast-paced transportation environment.
• Coordinating staffing, service execution, workload distribution, and response to changing operating conditions.
• Monitoring transportation performance, identifying issues, and ensuring appropriate follow-through.
• Supporting incident response and service recovery across multiple operational functions.
• Coaching and developing supervisors, dispatchers, and other transportation staff.
• Reviewing logs, reports, observations, and operational documentation for accuracy and completeness.
• Communicating clearly with frontline employees, managers, control center staff, and cross-functional partners.

Ability to:

• Lead transportation operations in a safety-sensitive environment with shifting service demands and priorities.
• Maintain awareness of system conditions, staffing, operational risks, and service impacts.
• Apply sound judgment in directing staff and responding to operational issues.
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