SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

The Director Program Implementation, on Northeast Corridor Commission staff, will develop and lead implementation activities for the CONNECT NEC 2035 (C35) plan through a highly collaborative multi-agency process. The Commission was established by Congress in the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 to coordinate the agencies that share the region’s core rail network. While the Commission has been administratively hosted by Amtrak since 2011, it is an independent team of highly motivated transportation professionals.

C35 provides a blueprint for the initial 15-year phase of the vision established in FRA’s 2017 NEC FUTURE Record of Decision. With passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Commission member agencies are preparing for significant financial resources to support its implementation. C35 defines projects and a coordinated sequencing approach for special projects and capital renewal works that can be implemented or be underway by 2035. The C35 projects are intended to advance the NEC toward a state-of-good repair (SOGR), improve reliability, make the network more resilient against disruptions, and set the stage for future growth.

This position will be responsible for leading and developing corridor-wide program management tools and procedures in coordination with Commission member stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the C35 sequence of projects.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Facilitate C35 implementation by leading a highly participatory, consensus-driven program management process with the Commission’s member organizations.
• Develop corridor-wide program management tools for states and railroads to coordinate C35 construction activities including but not limited to Program Management Plans, a master dynamic schedule of pre-construction and construction activities/track outages, and technology solutions and platform for sharing real-time information.
• Engage the Commission’s Operations & Performance Committee and Implementation Working Group, made of NEC Commission members from USDOT, Amtrak, and nine states, typically representing the most senior levels of their organizations. Engage with the full Commission as appropriate.
• Lead multi-agency working groups and other coordination activities with staff at various levels and in various roles and departments at stakeholder agencies as they gather, develop, share, and refine data and analyses.
• Build and manage a team of Commission staff to assist with both technical work and stakeholder coordination and facilitation.
• Engage and manage consultants to supplement Commission staff resources. Consultant management will include the development of scopes of work, estimation of project budgets, oversight and/or participation in the consultant selection process, and day-to-day management to ensure that consultant products are delivered on-time and on-budget.

Participate in other Commission initiatives to ensure C35 implementation activities align with and support future CONNECT NEC plans, five-year Capital Investment Plans, One-Year Implementation Plans, quarterly and annual reports, and implementation of the NEC Commuter and Intercity Rail Cost Allocation Policy.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work in a highly collaborative team environment.
• Consensus-based stakeholder facilitation and coordination skills.
• Familiarity with and an ability to coordinate a variety of technical disciplines including, but not limited to, railroad engineering design and construction, program management, construction scheduling, workforce planning, and cost estimation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent quantitative and analytical skills.
• Ability to translate technical analyses into meaningful and appropriate information for different audiences and purposes (staff-level coordination, executive-level action, education for elected officials and the public, etc.).
• Ability to multi-task effectively while remaining flexible in a fast-paced environment.
• Location can be New York City, Washington DC or Philadelphia. Travel will be up to about 25%.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or program management.
• Thirteen or more years transportation engineering experience with an emphasis on passenger rail or public transportation.
• Knowledge of rail infrastructure, construction, and operations along the Northeast Corridor.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in engineering or program management.
• Professional Engineering license.
• Direct experience in passenger rail, freight rail, or transit.
• Direct experience managing consultants in the delivery of professional service related projects.
• Understanding or experience with NEC Commission activities.

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

The Commission is administratively hosted by Amtrak. Please submit your application through Amtrak’s Careers website (Position ID 90302326).