Director, Office of Rail Economic Development and Safety (Program Manager Senior III)

Posting number: 5484-TSO-8/26

Department: Maryland Department of Transportation

Job classification: PROGRAM MANAGER SR III

Posting type: Open

Categories: Transportation

Summary

Open Recruitment

Executive Service Position

(This position serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority).

 If you have ever taken a flight from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport; renewed your Maryland driver’s license; traveled to an Orioles game on the Light Rail; embarked on a cruise from the Port of Baltimore; received roadside assistance from CHART Emergency Patrol; reduced your commute time by using one of Maryland’s toll roads then you have experienced some of the superb services provided by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT).
  
MDOT has various careers for people of all experiences, backgrounds, and abilities who come together to contribute to one mission—connecting our customers to life’s opportunities. Join us in serving our Maryland residents, visitors, and businesses!
 
The Maryland Department of Transportation, Secretary’s Office (MDOT TSO), is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Director, Office of Rail Economic Development and Safety (Program Manager Senior III) within the Office of Planning, Programming, & Project Delivery (OPPPD) - Rail and Intermodal Freight (RIF) section. The OPPPD develops rail safety and economic development policy, manages MDOT owned freight rail assets, coordinates rail safety activities, and implements rail-focused economic developments.

The Director, Office of Rail Economic Development and Safety, serves to provide the vision, strategy and office direction for advancing rail-oriented economic development, competitiveness and market share, and ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and policy. The incumbent will manage the office’s staff, direct the MDOT Freight Rail Grant Program, and develop plans and programs that develop rail and freight economic impacts.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Directing and managing personnel, missions and operations.
• Increasing competitiveness of rail goods movement by identifying and seeking federal and state investments.
• Creating policies, sharing information, and working with shippers, local governments, state agencies, and rail operators.
• Eliminating conflicts between local development and rail operations, including safety and operational conflicts.
• Ensuring preservation of economic development opportunities by protecting MDOT assets against encroachment.
• Working closely with MDOT MTA and MDOT SHA to communicate and coordinate the office’s programs, investments, policies, and vision with related activities within those modes.
• Establishing and implementing an overall economic development plan for goods movement in the state increasing the proportion of goods shipped by rail.
• Representing the agency before federal, state and local officials, legislative committees and senior managers and executives of other agencies concerning program activities.

The current vacancy exists at MDOT TSO, in the Office of Planning, Programming & Project Delivery (OPPPD), which is located in Hanover, MD (Anne Arundel County).

This position may allow a hybrid work schedule, including telework and required on-site work hours.  

Examples of duties

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience:

Six (6) years of experience in professional work. 

Two (2) years of this experience must have involved one or more of the following: The supervision of other employees, overseeing and coordinating the general operations of a unit, applying rules and regulations, or exercising responsibility for the development of policies or procedures. 

Three (3) years of thi