Transportation Rail Officer 2 (40 Hour)

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT), is now accepting applications for a Transportation Rail Officer 2 within the Bureau of Public Transportation, located in New Haven, CT.

WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
• Join an award winning agency! CTDOT was recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) and named the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) CT Employer of the Year for 2024!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Full time, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday
• First shift
• Part of the P-4 (Engineering and Scientific) bargaining unit
• For all office based postings: This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy. The Policy can be found HERE.  Employees in their initial working test period must work on site.

THE ROLE

The Transportation Rail Officer 2 will work within the Office of Rail at the Component Change Out Shop (CCO), in the Property and Maintenance of Way Services Section in New Haven. This position is primarily accountable for property agreement initiation, oversight, administration, and the oversight of maintenance of way activities along freight and passenger railroads in the State of Connecticut. It involves the coordination of these activities with Utilities, Metro-North, Amtrak and freight railroad forces It also includes working with the federal and municipal government representatives. Successful candidates will be willing and able to work on bridges over waterways, and rail tracks near live rail traffic.

The Bureau of Public Transportation’s Property and Maintenance of Way Services Section is responsible for the following: 

• Reviews and coordinates collaborative design reviews of utility and occupancy license permits requests. 
• Performs property encroachment reviews and coordination.
• Performs oversight activities for rail force account and maintenance inspections and activities.
• Develops agreement terms for utility and occupancy permits.
• Works with Geographic Information Systems and databases to record and resolve property management issues and licenses.
• Performs rail property management functions and identifying efficiencies to rectify revenue collections.   

WHO WE ARE

As one of Connecticut's largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,300 individuals statewide in five distict bureaus. It is the DOT's mission to provide a safe and efficient intermodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving environmental and cultural resources. The Department of Transportation is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

Learn more about our mission, vison, and values by clicking here!

Selection Plan

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e. Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. 

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU LIST ANY JOB-RELEVANT LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS IN THE “LICENSES AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS” SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• For Bridge positions, a respirator test may be required for certain locations.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
  
  
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

• Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Important Information After You Apply:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

Connect With Us:

• Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jasmyn.Raymond@ct.gov. 
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Transportation, Bureau of Public Transportation this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks involving rail transportation programs, projects and activities in one or more of the specialized areas of operations, equipment, construction, maintenance, capital projects, finance and administration.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Develops and/or implements programs, projects and activities for rail transportation involving operations, equipment, construction, maintenance, engineering, capital projects, property management, administration or finance relating to rail activities;
• Prepares various documents which may include technical reports, train operating schedules, service contracts, service and non-service related agreements including leases, licenses and easements, equipment procurement, maintenance, cycles and equipment specifications, construction schedules, project contracts, force account agreements, construction methods, design functions, project budgets, material specifications, audit schedules, financial contracts, budgets and reviews, grant applications, quarterly reports and other administrative instruments;
• Develops detailed analyses;
• Reviews, interprets and coordinates contracts, agreements and/or Federal Railroad Administration regulations and Connecticut General Statutes with railroads and local, regional, State and Federal agencies;
• Develops preparations for legislative, informational and public hearings;
• May provide final review of reports, schedules, agreements, etc., in order to ensure completeness, accuracy and conformance with procedures and standards;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of railroad functions in operations, rail equipment, rail construction, rail maintenance, engineering, capital projects, finance or administration;
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
  • analyze and recommend solutions to rail problems;
  • plan, organize, conduct and implement projects and reports;
  • understand, analyze and interpret agreements, rules, laws, and regulations;
  • utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of experience in a professional or technical capacity in a railroad or railroad related organization.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have included responsibility for the planning and execution of large, complex rail transportation projects and/or programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science Degree.
• Experience in the railroad construction environment.  
• Experience and knowledge of FRA 213 guidelines and AREMA standards.
• Expertise or knowledge of contract management, or project management.
• Experience with utility construction and permitting processes.  
• Knowledge of or experience with Railroad passenger and freight operation in Connecticut.
• Experience in developing relationships with stakeholders.
• Experience in identifying problems, researching solutions, applying critical decision-making skills and measuring results.
• Experience analyzing and reviewing engineering reports, plans, and specifications.
• Experience communicating with various constituents through phone, email, and face to face interactions.
• Experience presenting work to large audiences.
• Experience in prioritizing work assignments and meeting deadlines on various group and individual projects.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Experience using COMPASS, ProjectWise Explorer, and the MS Office Suite with an emphasis on Excel, SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook including managing data, composing correspondence and report writing.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury or physical harm from railroad or construction environments and a moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to year round weather conditions.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.