Chief Mechanical Officer

• Direct all mechanical operations involving inspection maintenance repair overhaul testing and servicing of locomotives passenger railcars and shop facilities.
• Develop and execute preventive predictive and reliability-centered maintenance programs that improve fleet availability reduce road failures and repeat defects and maximize equipment service life.
• Establish and enforce mechanical standards maintenance procedures configuration controls quality assurance processes and auditable equipment-performance measures.
• Own daily and long-range maintenance planning fleet availability backlog reduction capital equipment replacement warranty recovery material availability and lifecycle asset management.
• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets; establish disciplined controls for staffing overtime authorization contractor use purchasing and capital-project delivery; and take timely corrective action when performance or spending varies from plan.
• Coordinate mechanical activities with Transportation Engineering Operations Procurement and Safety departments to support reliable passenger service.
• Implement and maintain an effective computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) including accurate asset records work orders inspection documentation defect history labor charging parts usage and management reporting.
• Translate service requirements into a disciplined daily fleet plan and provide executive leadership with timely accurate reporting on fleet condition risks resource needs and recovery actions.

• Serve as the executive leader responsible for the safety performance of all Mechanical Department employees contractors facilities and equipment.
• Develop implement and enforce mechanical safety and compliance programs consistent with applicable FRA requirements including 49 CFR Partsand 270; OSHA standards; environmental requirements; and District rules and policies.
• Build a proactive just and accountable safety culture that emphasizes visible field leadership hazard recognition stop-work responsibility employee engagement timely reporting and continuous improvement.
• Ensure all shop employees and supervisors receive required safety training qualification certification and recurring safety instruction.
• Require strict compliance with all personal protective equipment (PPE) lockout/tagout confined space entry hot work fall protection electrical safety respiratory protection and hazardous material handling procedures.
• Conduct regular shop safety inspections audits risk assessments and workplace evaluations to identify hazards and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure supervisors perform routine job safety briefings and verify employees are following established safe work practices.
• Ensure prompt fact-based investigation of injuries near misses equipment failures derailments rule violations and other safety events; identify root and contributing causes; assign corrective actions; verify timely closure; and test whether corrective measures are effective.
• Monitor compliance with mechanical safety rules and hold managers supervisors and employees accountable for maintaining a safe work environment.
• Maintain a frequent visible presence in shops and work areas across all shifts; verify that standards are understood and followed; and promptly correct unsafe conditions at-risk practices and weak supervisory controls.
• Lead emergency preparedness planning for mechanical operations including emergency response procedures evacuation plans incident command coordination and disaster recovery.
• Partner with labor representatives safety committees and regulatory agencies to promote workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
• Use leading and lagging safety indicators to identify trends set improvement targets communicate results candidly and implement initiatives that measurably reduce risk and workplace injuries.

• Lead mentor and develop managers front-line supervisors and mechanical employees through clear expectations consistent follow-through coaching training performance management and succession planning.
• Foster teamwork professionalism accountability and employee engagement throughout the Mechanical Department.
• Support collective bargaining agreement administration and maintain productive labor-management relationships.
• Plan staffing and assignments to meet service requirements efficiently manage attendance and overtime within approved controls and work constructively with labor representatives to resolve issues and improve performance.
• Establish and routinely report departmental goals and performance measures for safety regulatory compliance fleet availability inspection compliance mean distance between failures road failures repeat defects maintenance backlog workforce productivity overtime budget variance and capital-project delivery.
• Represent the Mechanical Department during regulatory inspections internal audits and executive planning meetings.

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Business Administration Transportation or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible railroad mechanical experience.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible railroad or rail-transit mechanical experience including at least five years leading managers or supervisors in a safety-sensitive 24/7 maintenance operation. Passenger-rail maintenance leadership is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of applicable FRA passenger-equipment and mechanical regulations OSHA standards electric railcar or comparable rolling-stock systems maintenance planning quality assurance and fleet-management systems.
• Demonstrated measurable success improving employee safety regulatory compliance fleet availability equipment reliability labor productivity cost control and maintenance execution while leading a represented workforce and managing multimillion-dollar budgets.
• Strong record of ethical leadership sound judgment candid communication labor-management collaboration change leadership and data-based decision-making.
• Ability to respond to mechanical emergencies and work outside normal business hours in support of a 24/7 passenger-rail operation.
• Valid drivers license and ability to satisfy all applicable safety-sensitive employment background and medical requirements.

NICTD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. It is our policy to fill vacant positions with qualified candidates without regard to race color religion national origin sex (including gender identity sexual orientation and pregnancy) age genetic information disability veteran status or other protected class assuming the individual can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

NICTDs complete EEO Policy Statement is available upon request to the Districts EEO Officer Ms. Melissa Jones at ext. 289; e-mail:

Applicant Note: This application form is intended for use in evaluating your qualifications for employment. It is not an employment contract. Please answer all questions completely and to the best of your ability. False or misleading statements are grounds for refusal or termination of employment and benefits.

Applicants are considered without regard to race color religion national origin gender age disability marital status veteran status sexual orientation citizenship or any other characteristic protected by law in all employment decisions.