RAIL ENGINEERING TEAM LEAD - 02242026-75249

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DAVIDSON COUNTY

This position is in the Passenger Transportation, Rail and Freight Division - Freight and Rail Safety & Engineering - Rail Engineering Section.

For more information, visit the link below:
https://www.tdot.tn.gov/PublicDocuments/HR/Passenger-Transportation-Rail-and-Freight-Division-Freight-and-Rail-Safety-&-Engineering-Section-e8d091.pdf

This position has a starting salary of $9,100 monthly/$109,200 annually.

This position has a hybrid work schedule of three days in the office and two days working from home.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS (Education must be from an accredited institution.)
Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in related field and 5 years of demonstrated competency in related field
OR
Associate degree in related field and 7 years of demonstrated competency in related field
OR
High school diploma and 9 years of demonstrated competency in related field

Overview

The Rail Engineering Team Lead will lead, mentor, and train the Rail Engineering Team through empowerment, communication, and delegated authority. This position will develop work plans that align with TDOT's strategic vision and will effectively delegate authority and responsibility while ensuring the availability of resources for the Rail Engineering Team to be successful.

The Rail Engineering Team Lead will lead the development and implementation of departmental policies, discipline-specific technical guidance, procedures, and manuals related to rail engineering for incorporation into TDOT's programs and projects. This position will ensure the implementation of the quality assurance program to achieve program efficiency and effectiveness. The Rail Engineering Team Lead will supervise technical staff and implement performance plans, schedules, and budgets, ensuring expected outcomes, performance, and accountability of each team member. The Rail Engineering Team Lead will research national best practices to drive innovation and efficiency within the Rail Engineering Team.

Responsibilities

Manage resources and staff utilization and assist the Rail Engineering Team in performing their roles effectively and efficiently, optimizing the Team's ability to administer Rail Engineering processes successfully.

Administer the FHWA Rail-Highway Crossings (Section 130) Program that provides funds to eliminate public railway-highway crossing hazards. Maintain the Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA) National Crossing Inventory and the State Railroad Crossing Inventory. Assess all public grade crossings in Tennessee for safety project selection using a data-driven process; identify railroad crossings that may require separation, relocation, or protective devices; and establish and implement a schedule of projects.

Lead performing technical reviews of railroad crossings to provide recommendations for compliance with federal requirements for minimum adequate railroad crossing warning devices on federal-aid projects. Apply engineering judgment, specifically Part Eight of the MUTCD, that pertains to highway-rail grade crossings.

Lead crash investigations and track crashes for Tennessee Code 65-11-113 Automatic Warning or Protective Devices enforcement. Prepare crash files with reports, pictures, videos, walk-throughs, legal contracts, etc.

Assist in the development of consultant acquisition plans and oversight of external partners for professional engineering services in accordance with the Brooks Act. Provide support in developing Requests for Proposal (RFP), assist in determining scoring criteria, serve on selection committees, assist with negotiating contracts, attend de-briefs with consultants, manage contract tasks, review invoices, and complete consultant grading.

Lead the Rail Engineering Team in providing exceptional customer service to internal and external customers, exercising effective listening skills, providing prompt responses, maintaining complete and accurate documentation, and communicating effectively.

Establish and ensure there is a direct relationship between quality and work outcomes by developing and implementing quality control and quality assurance processes for the Rail Engineering Team's rail engineering activities.

Assist with the management of the policy direction for the Rail Engineering Team as part of a matrix structure, creating policies, procedures, guidelines, and performance metrics that support adherence to federal and state requirements, include best practices, and improve planning processes. Assist with the financial performance of the Rail Engineering Team in alignment with TDOT financial processes to ensure transparency and accountability.

Manage change and conflict, clarify the vision, take ownership of the change, communicate effectively, remain transparent, lead by example, and hold yourself and others accountable throughout the process.

Ensure the Rail Engineering Team remains current on national best practices as it relates to rail engineering processes and procedures; incorporate research, evaluations, and implementation of emerging processes and technologies into the rail engineering responsibilities that will improve efficiency, resiliency, effectiveness, reliability, sustainability, and the safety of Tennessee's transportation network; integrate federal and state requirements into TDOT's guidance documents, processes, and procedures. Participate in peer exchanges with State and local governments and applicable industry partners for key insights and collaboration.

Provide oversight in the development of the Rail Engineering Team deliverables, and ensure they are consistent, predictable, and repeatable to provide consistently high levels of achievement, mitigation of risk, production of annual reports as required, and an established track record of success.

Competencies (KSA's)

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies (KSACs):
Skilled in team building, communication, change management, and emotional intelligence
Skilled in leading meetings, including agenda writing and time management
Skilled in innovative and creative problem solving
Ability to develop and maintain working relationships and communicate with a wide variety of individuals
Ability to use critical thinking and judgement to problem solve and make well informed decisions independently
Ability to perform multiple tasks accurately and in a fast-paced environment
Knowledge of interviewing practices and techniques
Knowledge of the principles in leading groups to achieve the desired objectives, including conflict resolution
Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision including planning, organizing, directing, motivating, and making decisions
Knowledge for the rules, processes, and technical skill sets for the area supervised