Rail Operations Coordinator (Track Access and Outages)

This Opportunity

WSP is currently seeking a full-time Rail Operations Coordinator (Track Access and Outages) to support construction projects managed from WSP's New York office located at One Penn Plaza. Potential work locations include project sites throughout the New York City region, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx.

This position requires full-time, on-site support at WSP construction field office locations. Remote or hybrid work arrangements are not available for this role.

The selected candidate will perform technical and administrative functions critical to the planning, coordination, and execution of rail construction activities. Responsibilities include supporting track access and outage planning, coordinating with railroad operations and project stakeholders, facilitating contractor access requirements, and assisting in the development and implementation of construction staging and work-window strategies. These efforts are essential to ensuring the safe, efficient, and uninterrupted execution of construction activities within active rail operating environments. 

This position offers the opportunity to work as part of WSP's nationally recognized Project Management and Construction Management practice, supporting complex transportation and infrastructure projects while contributing to solutions that help clients achieve their objectives and address operational challenges. 

Your Impact

• Coordinate the development and implementation of Track Access Plans to maximize available access opportunities, optimize the use of scheduled rail outages, and consider competing access needs for other work.

• Assist in evaluating and identifying solutions to increase available track access time and support the efficient completion of contract work.

• Coordinate with the client and project team to evaluate potential operations and track access alternatives using client simulation models, which may include reverse running, service rerouting, temporary shutdowns, and other measures intended to provide additional track access time with minimal impact on passenger travel.

• Assist in identifying operational restrictions, limitations, and constraints that may affect project execution.

• Coordinate service plans, timetables, outages, work trains, Roadway Worker Protection requirements, and flagging activities required to support contractor operations within the railroad right-of-way.

• Coordinate planned construction activities with revenue service timetables and work train movements as required to progress the work.

• Coordinate planned work, in accordance with the approved schedule, with the client’s protective forces and the rail outages required to progress contract work.

• Verify that the contractor coordinates with required third-party utilities and agencies in a timely manner to minimize interference with client operations.

• Monitor the use of the client’s Force Account resources and report variances.

• Coordinate and track approvals for contractor rail outage requests, access and protection requests, flagging requests, work train requests, test train requests, and related submissions.

• For weekend rail outage work, coordinate the team’s evaluation of work scheduled and accomplished, and document the reasons when scheduled work is not completed.

• Assist in planning and implementing field survey efforts that support construction activities.

• Assist with testing and commissioning planning activities.

• Coordinate the Flagging Team, including Change of Location requests and meetings.

• Assist in tracking work train usage and reviewing manifests.

• Assist in tracking field inspector timesheets and overtime sheets.

• Attend project coordination, operations planning, construction progress, and outage planning meetings, as required.

• Prepare reports, meeting minutes, schedules, logs, and other project documentation, as required.

• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.

• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience supporting construction, rail operations, project coordination, infrastructure programs, or related fields.

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

• Experience with construction planning, project coordination, inspections, or field operations.

• Experience coordinating, attending, documenting, and tracking regularly scheduled and ad hoc project meetings.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, meeting minutes, and project documentation.

• Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking skills.

• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

• Demonstrated experience on large-scale governmental agency capital construction projects, including rail infrastructure construction.

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate contractor requests and coordinate with team members, clients, contractors, consultants, operations personnel, and project stakeholders.

• Familiarity with construction schedules, work planning, and project coordination activities.

• Possess a valid driver’s license.

• Must successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening.

• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Transportation, Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited institution. 

• Experience supporting railroad, transit, or transportation infrastructure projects.

• Experience working on major public agency programs, including projects for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Metro-North Railroad (MNR), Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), NJ TRANSIT, or Amtrak.

• Previous experience supporting railroad operations and planning, outage planning, track access coordination, flagging operations, Roadway Worker Protection activities, or railroad scheduling. 

• Experience coordinating work trains, outage requests, service disruptions, or construction access activities within active rail environments.

• Possess an OSHA 10-Hour or OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety certificate. 

• Experience with testing and commissioning activities on transportation infrastructure projects.

• Knowledge of railroad operations, construction sequencing, and maintenance-of-traffic concepts.

• Familiarity with project scheduling platforms and construction management software.

   

Compensation and Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

Expected Salary: $37.46 - $45.82 per hour

WSP USA is providing the compensation range and general description of other compensation and benefits that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, or federal law.