Program Dir - 90293446 - Chicago

As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

Are you ready to join our team?

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

Develops, refines, implements, and oversees the overall Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) projects within Chicago Union Station (CUS). Directs a team of Program Managers to advance capital improvement projects to improve safety, circulation, operations, accessibility, and customer experience at CUS. Directs a range of Preliminary Engineering, NEPA, Final Design and Construction efforts, including multi-party, joint-benefit service and infrastructure improvement initiatives, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. Works closely with external stakeholders including Metra, City of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Department of Transportation, Regional Transit Authority, Federal Railroad Administration, and others. Identifies and resolves key issues and concerns that may arise while multi-year planning, design, and implementation efforts progress. This position is responsible for ensuring the overall objectives of the CHIP projects at CUS are achieved and for monitoring the adherence to programmatic goals throughout the various project phases.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Leads a team in developing, reviewing, and implementing all CHIP-CUS projects undertaken by Amtrak and its partners.
2. Collaborates with various Amtrak subject matter experts to ensure project details align with company and regulatory requirements.
3. Communicates project scope, schedule, budget, risks, etc., with Amtrak and FRA leadership on a regular basis.
4. Leads capital budget requests and reporting for the program on a monthly and annual basis.
5. Creates a collaborative partnership among the CHIP-CUS team, internal and external stakeholders, and executive leaders.
6. Presents program details to a variety of internal and external audiences as necessary.
7. Other duties as may be assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, planning, business administration, or related field.
2. 15 years of relevant experience.
3. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
4. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
5. Extensive experience in CapEx project development and implementation.
6. Ability to drive continuous improvement and efficiencies.
7. Ability to work independently as well as manage a team of seasoned professionals.
8. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
9. Must have work authorization in the United States.
10. Expertise in developing and delivering complex, multi-year projects with a variety of internal and external partners.
11. Ability to drive consensus with key stakeholders to advance long term strategic objectives while managing competing priorities.
12. Experience with the environmental review process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal and state environmental, historic preservation, and permitting requirements.
13. Demonstration of strong written and verbal communication, business acumen, critical thinking and problem solving, decision making, empathy, and professional ethics.
14. Experience showing strong interdepartmental leadership with the ability to identify problems and develop and implement solutions.
15. Experience working with government agencies and organizations.
16. Extensive understanding of business operations and the impact departmental actions have on the corporation and operations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Graduate degree in architecture, engineering, planning, public policy/administration, business, and/or other relevant fields.
2. Theories, principles, and practices of passenger railroad systems planning, operations, governance, funding, and financing.
3. Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing the design, engineering, and construction of passenger railroad capital improvement projects.
4. Project delivery, engineering, and maintenance roles, responsibilities, and requirements.
5. Railroad systems including track, structures, communications, signals, track usage/outage procedures.
6. Fire and life safety systems.
7. Principles and practices of capital and operating budgets preparation and administration.
8. Principles and practices of contract negotiation and administration.
9. Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
10. The Amtrak organization, Federal Railroad Administration, and the Midwest regional rail network.
11. Demonstrated experience of building and gaining consensus across stakeholders with divergent viewpoints around a common vision and path forward to deliver and optimize program and project benefits.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

1. Primarily office-based environment with work from home flexibility.
2. Frequent use of a computer keyboard, monitor, and mouse to perform a variety of tasks.
3. Work in fast-paced, time sensitive circumstances with frequently changing priorities.
4. Frequently resolve problems with conflicting priorities in cognitively demanding situations with ability to work well under pressure.
5. Approximately 10% travel, as required.

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

The salary/hourly range is $109,350-$159,408. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, internal equity, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

Work Arrangement: 04-Hybrid Weekly
Job Family/Function: Engineering
Relocation Offered: No
Travel Requirements: Up to 25%

You power our progress through your performance.

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions require a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen. Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an EOE/Affirmative Action Minority/Female employer, and we welcome all to apply. We consider candidates regardless of race/color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), national origin/ethnicity, age, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.