Overview
The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.
Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.
Summary
Under minimal supervision, the Rail Controller ensures
that the light rail system is safe, efficient, and reliable by directing Rail
Operators, Supervisors, Maintenance personnel, and Contractors during mainline
and yard operations. Rail Controllers monitor, manage, and control all
scheduled revenue service, special train movements, special events, and
activities along the rail right of way. This is a professional traffic
management position of a difficult nature, requiring extensive supervisory
skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment during highly stressful
situations.
The Rail Controller must be able to multi-task,
communicate in writing, and verbally provide instructions in a clear and
concise manner. Adherence to rules/policies and procedures while
exercising independent judgment is required in solving rail service issues and
during rail emergencies. Start-up experience, including railcar commissioning,
test track operations, system integration, control center procedures, and
pre-revenue service, is desirable. This position reports to the Rail
Controller Managers in Rail Transportation. This is a security and safety-sensitive
position.
This position comes
with various benefits. Candidates will be required to complete and pass all CATS
controller training and standardized tests. The candidate for this position
must have the flexibility to work various scheduled shifts on a consistent
basis.
The
Rail Control Center is a 24/7 operation, and you would be an essential employee
required to work extended hours, including holidays and weekends, with various
days off.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Ensures the light rail system is safe and efficient by performing
duties safely and complying with all applicable rules, laws, regulations, and
procedures.
- Be knowledgeable of all emergency response and recovery
procedures.
- Maintains
two-way radio communications with LRT operators, Field Supervisors, Maintenance,
and other personnel under FCC regulations during test and start-up operations
and revenue/non-revenue service operations.
- Coordinates
and manages red tag and supervisory power outages when personnel and
contractors work on or near the right-of-way.
- Coordinates
and monitors the acceptance and commissioning of new light rail vehicles.
- Coordinates
the removal and sectionalization of traction power by remotely operating
traction power substation breakers and catenary sectionalization switches.
- Monitors
train and on-track equipment movement on the mainline and rail yards, including
revenue and non-revenue trains, test trains, student training, and special
event trains.
- Adjust
service levels and headways as indicated by operating conditions and passenger
loads.
- Completes
forms incident reports and maintains records and documents.
- Performs
related duties as required.
- Directly
support continuous implementation and compliance of the North Carolina
Department of Transportation (NCDOT) State Safety Oversight Program Standards
(SSOPS) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations 49 CFR Part 673
and 672 related to the Safety Management System (SMS) and the CATS Agency
Safety Plan (ASP). Support the safety performance goals of CATS.
- Encourage
employees to proactively support and report safety concerns following the CATS
Safety Reporting options described in your training and the ASP.
- As
part of your responsibility to support the CATS Safety Culture, report safety
concerns and issues through the various methods established by CATS as outlined
in the ASP.
- Advocate
and promote a strong safety culture within CATS regarding transportation
services, capital programs, facility operations and maintenance, worksite
procedures, employees, and customers following SMS and ASP.
- Participate
in internal and external ASP audits.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Candidate
must be available to work irregular hours and shifts depending upon the
business needs of CATS.
- Candidates
must be able to remain on duty for up to four hours after their scheduled
off-duty time.
- Must
complete a 6-month probationary period.
- Maintain a professional demeanor and
demonstrate the extensive supervisory skills and sound judgment required of
Rail Controllers at all times.
- Be
able to communicate effectively and clearly in English orally and in writing.
- Must
accurately document work on logs, spreadsheets, documents, and forms and
utilize SCADA and CCTV technology, laptops, and handheld computers.
- Must
be computer literate and can adapt to the use and understanding of existing
software and future upgrades.
- Must
complete all training assignments with passing scores and maintain
qualifications.
- Must
meet Physical and Sensory Requirements and the Special Provisions listed below.
- Candidate
must be able to Initiate troubleshooting procedures while simultaneously
coordinating service restoration and continuation efforts and implement
strategies as required to minimize delays.
Must
have and must maintain a valid driver's license.
Candidates must pass a
phone screening interview and computer-based entry test to demonstrate
knowledge about areas listed under responsibilities to be considered for the
formal interview process.
Understanding of the
Policies and Procedures of CATS and working knowledge of Light Rail Operations
Policy and Procedures related to CATS light rail vehicles and operators.
- Light Rail Operations schedule.
- Organize work and set
priorities.
- Make accurate time
calculations.
- Keep legible and accurate
records.
- Work independently.
- Multitasking skills
- Thorough Knowledge and
proficiency in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisitions (SCADA) systems.
- Proficiency in energizing/de-energizing
the traction power system and signal and switch commands via SCADA.
- Operate computer terminals and
systems, including common software programs and a computerized dispatch
system.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to work while in a
seated position for extended periods.
- Must be able to work in the
assigned uniform approved by CATS.
- Operate a two-way radio, public
address system, variable message boards, camera system, and emergency
notification messaging system.
- Establish and maintain
cooperative relationships with internal and external departments.
- Willingness to evaluate employees’
adherence to CATS rules and regulations and to report irregularities to
management.
Sensory
Requirements:
- Speech
- Touch
- Hearing
- Vision – 20/20 or correctable
to 20/20 (near, distance and peripheral)
Preferred Qualification
High school diploma or equivalent and five years of rail traffic controller/dispatcher work experience using SCADA technology for external applicants. For internal applicants who are in good standing, a high school diploma or equivalent and five years of rail transportation work experience.
OR
Associate degree and three years of rail traffic controller/dispatcher work experience using SCADA technology for external applicants. For internal applicants who are in good standing, an associate degree and three years of rail transportation work experience for internal applicants.
Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation or equivalent and five years relevant work experience
OR
Associate's Degree and three years relevant work experience
Salary
$71,486 - $89,358 (salary commensurate with experience)
Conditions of Employment
The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.
Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.
Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.
The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
How To Apply
Apply online.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.
You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.
Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
Benefits
The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.
Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.
The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.
In Conclusion
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