Assistant Vice President Bridges & Structures

General Summary:

The Assistant Vice President Bridges & Structures plans, directs, manages and oversees the activities and operations of the Engineering Department projects and programs related to all bridge and building structures. This position is responsible for furthering company bridge engineering goals and objectives, directing a variety of bridge maintenance and bridge engineering activities, coordinating assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies as required and is accountable for accomplishing departmental goals and objectives complying with FRA and PUC regulations.

General Duties:

• Performs duties to ensure compliance with company safety and operating rules, policies, procedures, and governmental regulations.
• Monitors, manages and suggests change recommendations as needed for quality control methods used during the design and construction of company projects.
• Designs new bridge decks, foundation systems and structural components.
• Performs bridge inspections required on all structures within the network.
• Audits current conditions of the railroad infrastructure and prepares a short- and long-term plan for maintenance and capital projects in conjunction with other Engineering department managers.
• Manages FRA 237 program.
• Surveys existing conditions of a structure for use in design.
• Calculates loading on a bridge per AREMA guidelines.
• Manages the maintenance and control of all bridges, structures and track structure on the bridges.
• Plans, develops and controls expenditures of annual capital and maintenance budgets and five-year plan.
• Develops and maintains accurate timelines for project estimates, control and execution.
• Assesses vendors for competence, capabilities, resources and financial status.
• Monitors progress of all structural projects and compares actual costs with estimates.
• Assists in developing railroad facilities that increase rail revenues.
• Works with federal, state and local agencies to protect railroad franchise and obtain funding for company projects.
• Prepares monthly reports, detailing progress and costs.
• Reviews and studies existing equipment, facilities, systems, and processes to improve safety and efficiency, increase quality and reduce costs.
• Trains all Engineering employees on bridge safety and bridge inspections.
• Manages the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies and priorities for each assigned service area.
• Monitors developments and legislation related to assigned areas of responsibility; evaluates impact upon company.
• Oversees and participates in the development and management of the departmental budget; approves the forecast of funds needed for equipment, materials and supplies; analyzes and approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary to develop plans, policies, etc.
• Represents and coordinates assigned activities for the Engineering department with other departments, elected officials and outside agencies.
• Conduct investigations in cooperation with government agencies to determine causes of transportation accidents and to improve safety procedures.
• Negotiate and authorize contracts with equipment and materials suppliers and monitor contract fulfillment.
• Set operations policies and standards, including determination of safety procedures for the handling of dangerous goods.
• Recommend or authorize capital expenditures for acquisition of new equipment or property in order to increase safety and efficiency.
• Provide administrative and technical assistance to those receiving grants.
• Travel up to 75-85% of the time to existing bridge locations (PA, DE, MD and VA) as well as any potential business acquisitions.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited college or university required.
• 5-7 years of (full-time equivalent) professional experience in bridge engineering, bridge design or bridge inspection.
• Professional Engineering license.
• A valid state Driver’s License.
• Must not be afraid of heights and climbing bridges.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Remain current with and uniformly apply evolving federal, state and local laws or decisions affecting the department.
• Ability to interpret and apply applicable Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.

Behavioral Expectations:

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Excellent analytical and observation skills.
• Self-motivated and able to prioritize work.
• Develop strong cross-functional work relationships with other operating and work collaboratively with all departments in a productive and effective manner.
• Promote safe work environment by conducting safety audits, attending company safety meetings and meeting with individual staff members.
• Collaborate with other managers and staff members in order to formulate and implement policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.

Physical Requirements:

• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; climb; repel; walk; use hands and reach with hands and arms. 
• The employee is required to sit; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.

Work Environment:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions. 
• The employee is frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts and vibration. 
• The employee is exposed to work in high elevations; fumes or airborne particles and risk of electrical shock.