Project Manager - Rail Operation and Maintenance

STV is seeking a Director of Rail Operations & Maintenance to join our Systems department. Rail Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Practice manages STV’s team of consultants and is a practitioner in the practice which provides strategic and technical advisory services across the lifecycle of rail systems, from planning and operational readiness through commissioning and long-term asset performance. This position will:

• Play a critical role identifying consulting opportunities through client engagement, market analyses and collaboration with other STV cohorts,

• Provide leadership and contributions in the development of proposals,

• Plan, lead organize and oversee work performed by the practice.

This role supports transit agencies, operators, and infrastructure owners in improving service reliability, optimizing maintenance strategies, and ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant rail operations across passenger and freight programs.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Advisory

• Lead development of operational concepts, service plans, and scheduling strategies

• Assess and enhance operational readiness for new or expanded rail services

• Develop and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ESOPS relative to O&M and Con-Ops

• Analyze performance metrics (on-time performance, reliability, capacity, safety) and identify improvement opportunities

• Support incident management planning and operational risk mitigation

• Develop and assist clients implement process improvements aimed at improving client key performance indicators

• Assist development of operations and maintenance contract documents including scope of services, performance metrics and specialized contract provisions

Maintenance & Asset Performance

• Advise on maintenance strategies across rolling stock, track, systems, and facilities

• Implement preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance programs

• Support asset lifecycle planning, capital renewal strategies, and whole-life cost optimization

• Establish asset management frameworks aligned with ISO 55000 principles

Project Delivery & System Integration

• Provide O&M advisory through design, procurement, testing, and commissioning phases

• Support operator mobilization and transition to revenue service

• Coordinate system integration and interface management across disciplines

• Review technical specifications, performance requirements, and contract deliverables

• Conduct operational and maintenance audits

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Support Safety Management System (SMS) implementation and continuous improvement

• Conduct risk assessments, hazard analyses, and safety certification support

• Ensure compliance with applicable rail safety regulations and industry standards

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with agencies, operators, maintainers, and delivery partners

• Facilitate workshops, simulations, and operational readiness exercises

• Deliver clear, executive-level reporting and technical presentations

Practice Leadership

• Balance resource utilization to ensure that staff are appropriately utilized and workloads balanced across the practice

• Work with other project teams to provide appropriate support

• Work with staff on development goals

• Identify resource needs and support processes to address needs

• Provide leadership to help STV execute its strategic plans

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Transportation, Rail Systems, or related field

• 8-12+ years of experience in rail operations, maintenance, or rail systems consulting

• 3-5 + years managing professionals

• Demonstrated experience across passenger or freight rail environments

• Strong understanding of operational performance and maintenance practices

• Experience supporting rail project delivery, commissioning, and operational readiness programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (P.E.) or equivalent

• Experience with CMMS / digital asset management systems

• Familiarity with international rail standards and best practices

• Experience with PPP, concessions, or operator mobilization

• Knowledge of RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety)

Core Competencies

• Rail systems and operations expertise

• Data-driven decision making

• Asset lifecycle management

• Safety leadership and risk management

• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement

• Executive communication and technical reporting

Key Performance Indicators

• Measurable improvements in service reliability and availability

• Optimization of maintenance cost and asset performance

• Successful operational readiness and system commissioning milestones

• Safety compliance and audit outcomes

• Client satisfaction and delivery excellence

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment (office, field, and client site)

• Travel to rail facilities and project locations required

• Flexibility for commissioning, testing, and operational support activities

Compensation Range:

$149,671.54 - $171,053.19

STV offers the following benefits • Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account • Dental insurance • Vision insurance • Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable) • Disability insurance • Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment • 401(k) Plan • Retirement Counseling • Employee Assistance Program • Paid Time Off (starting at 16 days) • Paid Holidays (9 days) • Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year) • Parental Leave (up to 80 hours) • Continuing Education Program • Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.

Not sure this role is the perfect match? We encourage you to apply if STV’s work and values resonate with you. We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do. At STV, we believe strong talent comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and your skills and experience may align with this or another opportunity as we continue to grow.