TriMet

Description

TriMet is seeking a strategic, safety-driven leader to serve as our Director of MOW (Maintenance of Way). This position reports directly to the Executive Director of Maintenance Operations, and will lead all right-of-way (ROW) infrastructure maintenance while ensuring the overall safety, reliability, and performance of the Portland Metro Region’s light rail system. This role will include oversight of signals, track, bridges, overhead catenary systems, and traction power substations.

This role is critical to maintaining our rail system in a State of Good Repair (SGR), in full compliance with regulatory standards and agency performance goals. The Director will champion a high-reliability culture through strategic planning, preventative maintenance programs, and KPI-driven improvements, while aligning MOW operations with TriMet’s Safety Management System (SMS) and long-term asset management strategies.

We’re seeking a collaborative and forward-thinking leader with a deep commitment to safety and reliability as foundational values. This individual will lead, develop, and motivate teams to deliver consistent, measurable improvements while maintaining the highest standards of operational safety and service dependability. Success in this role requires deep technical expertise in rail infrastructure, maintenance, and safety, a proven track record of fostering a strong safety culture and experience navigating complex operational and regulatory environments at both the state and federal level. Demonstrated success managing large teams, union environments, and cross-functional projects is essential.

This role requires being onsite five (5) days per week.

Ensure a commitment to safety through consistent and professional behaviors in performance of job requirements. Safety is a fundamental value that guides all aspects of our work. Perform related duties as required.

Serve as a good steward of TriMet and maintain a strong and current understanding of customers’ experiences and of TriMet’s product and service offerings.

Forbes Magazine recently ranked TriMet as one of the top five places to work in Oregon! TriMet is ranked the number one Oregon-based employer in the state, as well as the top “Transportation and Logistics” employer in the state.

Essential Functions

1. Provide leadership and effectively integrate and translate the principles and focus of the District's strategic direction into the management of the MOW Department. Responsibilities include setting of goals and performance objectives, KPIs, and monitoring and adjusting objectives as needed to achieve results.
2. Develops and implements preventative maintenance plan that includes the measurement for all maintenance activities to ensure safe, cost efficient and quality based maintenance practices. Oversees MOW managers in the day-to-day maintenance activities that includes, but are not limited to, preventive maintenance, defect repair, equipment purchases and overhaul and responding to all daily defects that occur on the ROW. Responsible for the overall safety of LRV's, Roadway Workers, LRV Operators and Customers in the ROW.
3. Provide overall leadership assistance to MOW managers in the selection, training, supervision, assignment, evaluation, and counseling of MOW supervisors. Model and hold staff accountable for exemplary customer service through open communication, employee participation, performance management, and professional development.
4. Research, resolve and manage labor relations issues in compliance with applicable provisions of TriMet/ATU labor agreements. Act as management representative for grievances and act as the agency representative in arbitrations and mediations.
5. Develop and establish Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) guidelines for oversight and assurance systems are maintained, repaired and operating safely. Administer documentation standards and processes that support a solid checks and balances approach to QA/QC.
6. Oversee and lead staff in meeting the requirements of the On Track Safety (OTS) plan and providing Employee in Charge services on behalf of TriMet to third party contractors to assure the ultimate level of Safety in the ROW when work activities are taking place.
7. Provide high level assistance to the Executive Director of Maintenance and provide leadership oversight of MOW managers with the overall planning, budgeting, management of cost effectiveness, develop State of Good Repair planning and recognize achievements, development, implementation, and management of the department's goals and performance objectives.
8. Research and using data generated information, evaluate and develop plans of corrections for operational issues that will ensure a safe and reliable operation.
9. Provide overall leadership assistance to other MOW managers with monitoring equipment performance, reliability, safety, and cleanliness. Monitor maintenance work productivity and implement improvements in work methods and efficiencies related to defect response and work assignments.
10. Develop, and process all detailed scopes of work for purchases and contracted work related to the department. Act as Project or Contract Manager for contracted maintenance services and procurements as needed.
11. Coordinate with other TriMet divisions, regional agencies and with third party contractors, to participate in design and assist during construction, testing, acceptance, warranty, and maintenance programs for new LRT alignment projects.
12. Works closely with the Training department to ensure adequate training is provided to all staff.
13. Control, monitor, and approve budgets and operational forecasts for department, including capital expenditures, labor resources, and materials and supplies (M&S); accountable for monitoring own department. Identifies opportunities for containing costs, and may be responsible for increasing revenue. Accountability for budget includes direct reports’ monitoring.

Position Requirements

A minimum of a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering or systems engineering is required.

Eight (8) years of total credited experience.*

Five (5) years of experience in Maintenance of Way, track, overhead catenary systems, substations, and signals and switches are required.

Two (2) years of experience in a unionized workforce are required.

Three (3) years of leadership/management responsibilities at a medium to large public or private organization are required.

Possession of current/valid Class "C" license issued by Oregon or Washington; ability to pass a driving record check meeting TriMet driving record standards.

Or any equivalent combination of experience and training.*

The amount of credit a candidate receives for prior years of experience is based on the relevancy of that experience to the required or preferred prerequisites of the job description. Experience is prorated based on hours worked. LRHR assigns and validates the "credited experience".

Selection Criteria

Type of Position / Grade / FLSA

Grade 21, Exempt, Non-Union, Full-Time.

Salary Range

Minimum: $153,939.00

Maximum: $230,910.00

Salary offers will be determined by a candidate’s education, training and relevant experience. Any final offer of employment will fall within the range stated above. For transparency, we choose to list the full available grade range, however, TriMet’s salary administration process will ultimately determine the final salary offered.

Selection Process

Candidates will be selected based at a minimum on the result of:

1. Application Review (please include: Cover Letter and Resume)

2. Panel Interviews

3. Reference Check

Supplemental Information

Make sure you describe in detail how your education, training and work experience fit with this role. You are encouraged to attach a resume, cover letter, training certificates and/or letters of recommendation with your application. You are permitted five attachments of less than 5MB each.

Internal applicants: Information in your personnel file will not be used in lieu of information requested on your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you are a qualified veteran and would like to apply for veterans' preference points, you will need to reflect your status on the application and attach supporting documentation at the time of application submission.

If you need accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for any part of the application process, contact our Human Resources staff at 503-962-7505, or the TTY line at 7-1-1. Note that we require a minimum of two workdays' notice prior to the need for accommodation.

TriMet is an equal opportunity employer, committed to developing an organization that is reflective of and sensitive to the needs of the diverse community we serve, including veterans, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement

As applied to the workplace, applicants and employees must be qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions may include required job functions performed infrequently as well as production standards related to the quality and quantity of work.

If a person with a disability could meet job qualifications with a reasonable accommodation, TriMet will work with the employee to accommodate the need. If TriMet's accommodation is effective in allowing the employee to perform the essential functions of the job, it need not be the employee's preferred accommodation.

Regular Full-Time or Limited Term Full-Time

Non-Union Employee Benefits

A regular full-time, non-union employee is an employee who works a minimum of 30 hours per week. A limited term, full-time employee must be hired for six or more months, have a predetermined ending date, and work a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Medical Plan Options

• Regence Non-Union PPO 80/20 - Deductible: $300 Individual/$900 Family; Office Visit: 20%, after deductible; Out-of-Pocket Max: $2,300 Individual/$6,900 Family; Prescription Drugs: $10 Generic/$25 or 20% Formulary/50% Non-formulary. Benefits listed are for in-network, preferred providers.
• Regence Non-Union Health Savings Account (HSA) - Deductible: $1,650 Individual/$3,300 Family; Office Visit: 20%, after deductible; Out-of-Pocket Max: $5,000 Individual/$10,000 Family; Prescription Drugs: 20%, after deductible. Benefits listed are for in-network, preferred providers.
• Kaiser Permanente EPO - No deductible; Office Visit: $10 copay; Out-of-Pocket Max: $600 Individual/$1,200 Family; Prescription Drugs: $10 copay.

All medical plans include prescription drug and vision coverage.

Dental Plan Options

• Delta Dental of Oregon, provided by Moda - Preventive Services paid at: 100%; Basic Services paid at: 80%; Major Services paid at: 50%; $2,000 max benefit per person/year; Orthodontia paid at: 50% to $3,000 lifetime max/person.
• Kaiser Dental - $10 Copay; Preventive Services paid at: 100%; Basic Services paid at: 80%; Major Services paid at: 50%; $2,000 max benefit per person/year; Orthodontia paid at: 50% to $3,000 lifetime max/person.

Coverage Effective Date - Medical and dental insurance is effective first of the month following date of hire.

Waive Medical and Dental Coverage - TriMet non-union, exempt employees who waive their medical and dental coverage through TriMet and provide proof of coverage outside of TriMet, will receive $250 per month as taxable income.

Medical and Dental Rates – Non-union employees working 30+ hours/week pay 6% of the total monthly premium for medical and dental. Non-union employees working 20-29 hours/week pay 25% of the total monthly premium.

Medical and Dental Rates – Non-union employees working 30+ hours/week pay 6% of the total monthly premium for medical and dental. The rates below reflect the employee's portion of the monthly premium.

Rates effective January 1, 2025

Regence Non-Union 80/20 PPO

Employee: $ 45.54

Employee & Spouse: $ 109.78

Employee & Child(ren): $ 91.48

Employee & Family: $ 146.36

Regence Non-Union HSA

Employee: $ 45.54

Employee & Spouse: $ 95.62

Employee & Child(ren): $ 79.68

Employee & Family: $ 127.50

Non-Union HSA Employer Monthly Contribution

Employee: $ 62.50

Employee & Spouse: $125.00

Employee & Child(ren): $125.00

Employee & Family: $125.00

Kaiser Permanente EPO

Employee: $ 48.76

Employee & Spouse: $ 97.54

Employee & Child(ren): $ 87.78

Employee & Family: $ 146.30

Delta Dental of Oregon

Employee: $ 4.26

Employee & Spouse: $ 8.04

Employee & Child(ren): $ 8.10

Employee & Family: $ 12.16

Kaiser Dental

Employee: $ 3.94

Employee & Spouse: $ 7.44

Employee & Child(ren): $ 7.48

Employee & Family: $ 11.22

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

TriMet employees have access to the EAP through Canopy. The EAP is a free, confidential resource available to help employees (and their household members) with life's everyday issues. It also provides many other services including, but not limited to: counseling sessions, webinars, financial coaching, home ownership program, and online access to a wealth of information and resources.

Wellness Program

TriMet supports health and wellness through our Wellness Matters Program. Annual wellness offerings include Flu and COVID shot clinics. Omada Healthy Lifestyle Support Program focused on the prevention and management of diabetes and hypertension. Sword, a digital physical therapy program to treat back, joint, and muscle pain from the comfort of your home for employees and dependents who are enrolled in a TriMet medical plan.

Flexible Spending Accounts

• Health Care Spending Account - Allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for medical, vision, and dental expenses not covered by their health plan.
• Dependent Care Spending Account - Allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for dependent care expenses.
• Limited Flexible Spending Account - Allows employees enrolled in the Regence HSA plan to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for vision and dental expenses not covered by their health plan.

Childcare Reimbursement Account

• TriMet will contribute up to $150 to a Childcare Reimbursement Account every month for employees who contribute a minimum of $25 per paycheck into a Dependent Care FSA and are employed with TriMet for six continuous months or more. This contribution is for qualified childcare expenses incurred in the month contributed.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Available to eligible, non-union employees working at least 20 hours/week, 90-day waiting period, pays 60% of the employee's salary to a maximum of $10,000/month.

Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance - TriMet provides Basic Life and AD&D Insurance to assist employees and their families in the event of death or dismemberment.

Benefit Amount: 1x annual earnings, $150,000 max

Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance - Employees may purchase additional life and AD&D insurance for themselves, spouse/domestic partner, and their child(ren). Employees pay the full cost for this insurance and must elect coverage for themselves in order to elect coverage for their dependents.

Employees may purchase one or more of the following voluntary coverages:

Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance - Employees may purchase additional life and AD&D insurance for themselves, spouse/domestic partner, and their child(ren). Employees pay the full cost for this insurance and must elect coverage for themselves in order to elect coverage for their dependents.

Hospital Indemnity insurance helps keep your finances on track when you are in the hospital. It pays you or a covered family member directly and you can use it to help cover costs such as copays, deductibles and living expenses.

Critical Illness insurance can help with costs from a serious illness that your medical insurance does not cover. It pays you or a covered family member a lump sum to use toward expenses like deductibles, groceries or childcare during recovery.

Accident insurance can help with costs that medical insurance does not cover if you are hurt in an accident. It pays you or a covered family member directly and you can use it toward your deductible, copay or daily expenses during recovery.

Pension

Defined Contribution Plan 401(a)

TriMet provides a defined contribution pension plan to non-union employees. TriMet matches the equivalent of 10 percent of a non-union employee's base pay into an investment account each pay period. The employee also has the option of contributing up to 15 percent of his/her base pay pre-tax to the account each pay period. The employee directs the investment of the employee's individual account. The employee is vested in the account after three years of service.

Deferred Compensation Plan 457

A Deferred Compensation Plan Section 457 (a plan for public employees) allows the employee to build retirement savings with pre-tax dollars to supplement pension, Social Security and private investment.

Sick Leave

Employees receive 12 sick days of leave for a total of 96 hours (8 hours x 12 days) each January 1. Unused sick leave can be carried over to a maximum of 1,700 hours (212.5 days). Employees hired mid-year receive a prorated amount of sick leave for the first year hired. Upon separation, 60% of accrued sick leave is deposited into your 401(a) account up to a maximum of 1,700 hours.

Holidays

Non-Union employees have one day off with pay on each of the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day following Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Personal Days

Each regular non-union employee is allotted six (6) personal days with pay to be used within the calendar year. Employees hired mid-year receive a prorated amount of personal day for the first year hired.

Vacations

Employees accrue vacation eligibility for each continuous full year of service effective on the date of hire anniversary. For employee hired on or after November 15, 2012, the following schedule will apply:

Years of Service Weeks of Vacation

Upon employment* 3 weeks

After 3 years 4 weeks

After 8 years 5 weeks

• During the first year of employment with TriMet if employment is terminated the three weeks of vacation are not eligible for payout. Other than during the first year of employment, if employment is terminated, both the employee's banked vacation, and the vacation that has accrued ratably since the employee's last date of hire anniversary is eligible for payout in accordance with this policy.

Free Transit Pass

All active employees, their spouses/domestic partners, and eligible* dependents are eligible for a photo identification badge, which is honored as a bus/MAX pass on all lines of the District.

• Child dependents are eligible for a free transit pass up to age 19, or age 24 if living at home and attending school full-time.

Employee Learning and Development

TriMet provides a range of classes, including instructor-led classes (ILT), virtual instructor-led (VILT) classes, and eLearnings for all employees, including online learning with 1000s of available modules. Instructors include external facilitators who are leaders in their field and internal subject matter experts. In addition to classes, Our Learning Program provides support services and leadership development offerings. Classes are free for employees!

Tuition Reimbursement

TriMet encourages employees to further their knowledge, skills, and job effectiveness through higher education in degree programs or through individual coursework from an educational institution reasonably related to the District’s business and/or the employee’s job. TriMet will reimburse 90 percent of tuition, books, and fees required for eligible coursework, up to a maximum of $5,250 each year, following satisfactory completion of coursework. Reimbursement is subject to TriMet’s available funding of the program.

Employee Recognition

TriMet's goal is to provide a culture of appreciation, one where recognizing employees' contributions are routinely acknowledged, both formally and informally. Our programs and appreciation align with agency performance goals and celebrate milestones and successes. We offer social media-style communication tools to celebrate employee milestones, numerous events during the course of the year, and special appreciation for all of our front-line workforce!

Frequent Flyer Mileage

Frequent flyer miles (miles flown on business or resulting from a business expense) may be applied to personal frequent flyer miles.

TEI Membership

TriMet's corporate fitness center (TEI) is available to employees, and their spouse or eligible domestic partner, at five locations. Membership dues are only $13.00 per month for TriMet employees and an additional $6.00 per month for a spouse or eligible domestic partner.

NOTICE: The information contained in this document is intended solely to provide general information regarding the benefits offered by TriMet. This information is subject to change at any time.

Revised: 11/12/2024

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