Director, Service Design Production

Job ID: 11261

Business Unit: Metro-North Railroad

Location: New York, NY, United States

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Department: Service Design

Date Posted: Apr 7, 2025

Description

POSTING NO.

11261

JOB TITLE:

Director, Service Design Production

DEPT/DIV:

Operations Administration/Service Design

WORK LOCATION:

420 Lexington Avenue, 1 0 th Floor

FULL/PART-TIME

FULL

SALARY RANGE:

$ 126,590 - $ 164,719

DEADLINE:

April 14, 2025

Metro-North Railroad reserves the right to remove this posting before the Application Deadline.

Opening:

MTA Metro-North Railroad is a dynamic organization, operating out of the jewel of New York City, Grand Central Terminal. We provide service to over 86.5 million customers, traveling in and out of New York and Connecticut. A subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North Railroad is one of the busiest commuter railroads in the nation. MTA Metro-North Railroad strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities to its employees.

Position Objective:

Responsible for the planning, implementation, and development of a comprehensive operating strategy, both short-term and long-term, that is responsive to the public and supports operations, marketing, and the community cost-effectively and efficiently. The position is accountable for coordinating and integrating activities amongst all departments necessary to support the daily operation. The work performed under this position has a direct impact on the service provided to Metro-North's approximately 230,000 daily customers - planning and scheduling 685 daily revenue trains, writing job schedules for nearly 2,000 operating employees and approximately 1,000 pieces of rolling stock, and creating and issuing up to 4 timetables and related documents annually, along with approximately 150 Special Programs each year.

Responsibilities:

Oversee and direct all work of the Service Planning group related to the Service Plan , including:

• Project future demands for service, identify market opportunities, and coordinate service and fare strategies.
• Identify capital program elements needed to support long-term service plans.
• Evaluate and analyze service plan strategies as well as support specific plan elements.
• Analyze operating impacts of construction projects and develop operating plans to minimize impacts.
• Support the fleet strategy and rolling stock plan processes.
• Coordinate the schedule change process with capital projects and routine maintenance of way activities to ensure that track occupancy time is maximized and customer impacts are minimized.
• Develop future operating plans for major capital and expansion projects in coordination with other agencies/rail operators, including CDOT, Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, and the LIRR.

Oversee and direct work of the Deputy Director, Service Design Production, regarding the development and evaluation of periodic Train schedule changes:

• Develop cost-effective service change proposals that will enhance service to our customers.
• Evaluate specific proposals' customer and operating impacts (including costs).
• Coordinate schedules with other rail operators (Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, CDOT) to ensure that all schedule changes work with MNR and are included in MNR operating documents.
• Direct the review and analysis of operating performance with the Transportation, Mechanical, and Engineering Departments to identify recommended schedule adjustments.

Oversee and direct all work regarding periodic review and revision of Train Crew Staffing levels and job assignments, including:

• Direct development of Road Passenger Crew Schedules 2-3 times per year to optimize efficiency and minimize the approximately $180M annual road passenger crew payroll expense.

Oversee and direct all work of the Deputy Director, Service Design Production, regarding the monitoring and periodic recommended revision of Metro-North equipment plans:

• Oversee the development of equipment programs to accommodate new schedules and changes in ridership or infrastructure.
• Evaluate both customer and operating impacts of equipment plan changes.

Participate in the Emergency Management Task Force, including:

• Annual updates of the Alternative Service plans included in the Metro-North Emergency Plans ("Red Book").
• Work with Operating departments during operational emergencies as needed to adapt/develop and implement service plans and schedules to respond to the circumstances of the situation. Produce special schedule documents for distribution internally and to the public.

Oversee and direct work of the Service Planning group related to Connecting Services , including:

• Develop and launch new connecting services, including conducting full-scale analyses and development of business cases for such projects.
• Manage ongoing connecting services operations.
• Identify regional funding sources and work to obtain funding for key Metro-North Railroad service initiatives (e.g. - connecting service projects, CMAQ supplemental funds, etc.).

Oversee critical high-profile special projects , including:

• Procurement and implementation of appropriate train scheduling technologies.
• Rail Simulation to determine the impact of Positive Train Control on operations, including the implementation of a new rail simulation platform to support future operations simulations needs.

Select, develop, and motivate staff and provide career development for team members. Provide effective coaching and counseling. Manage team and individual performance. Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables staff to develop and contribute to their full potential.

Required Qualifications:

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of rail transit or other transportation operations.
• Excellent ability to evaluate impacts of potential service changes on our customers and on MNR operations.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and planning skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with internal departments, the public , and various types and levels of public agencies.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills with the ability to train, motivate, and foster teamwork.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Strong quantitative reasoning skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills with the ability to develop strategic initiatives.
• Strong ability to operate effectively in high-pressure situations in a flexible and adaptable manner.
• Strong ability to exercise a high level of independent judgment and decision-making.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and/or comparable applications (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

The following is/are preferred:

• Strong knowledge and understanding of Metro-North Railroad Operations.

Required Education and Experience:

• Strong knowledge and understanding of Metro-North Railroad Operations.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in planning, and/or service development , preferably in a transportation environment.
• In lieu of experience in planning or service planning, a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively more complex experience in passenger rail operations.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a progressively more complex management responsibility overseeing a diverse workforce.

The following is/are preferred, but other satisfactory combinations of relevant experience, education, and/or technical credentials will be considered:

• Graduate Degree in: Transportation Planning, Engineering, Planning, Business, and/or related field.

Other Information

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the "Commission").

Employees driving company vehicles must complete defensive driver training once every three years for current MNR drivers; or within 180 days of hire or transfer for an employee entering an authorized driving position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.