STV is seeking a Director of Rail Operations & Maintenance to join our Systems department. Rail Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Practice manages STV’s team of consultants and is a practitioner in the practice which provides strategic and technical advisory services across the lifecycle of rail systems, from planning and operational readiness through commissioning and long-term asset performance. This position will:
Play a critical role identifying consulting opportunities through client engagement, market analyses and collaboration with other STV cohorts,
Provide leadership and contributions in the development of proposals,
Plan, lead organize and oversee work performed by the practice.
This role supports transit agencies, operators, and infrastructure owners in improving service reliability, optimizing maintenance strategies, and ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant rail operations across passenger and freight programs.
Lead development of operational concepts, service plans, and scheduling strategies
Assess and enhance operational readiness for new or expanded rail services
Develop and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ESOPS relative to O&M and Con-Ops
Analyze performance metrics (on-time performance, reliability, capacity, safety) and identify improvement opportunities
Support incident management planning and operational risk mitigation
Develop and assist clients implement process improvements aimed at improving client key performance indicators
Assist development of operations and maintenance contract documents including scope of services, performance metrics and specialized contract provisions
Advise on maintenance strategies across rolling stock, track, systems, and facilities
Implement preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance programs
Support asset lifecycle planning, capital renewal strategies, and whole-life cost optimization
Establish asset management frameworks aligned with ISO 55000 principles
Provide O&M advisory through design, procurement, testing, and commissioning phases
Support operator mobilization and transition to revenue service
Coordinate system integration and interface management across disciplines
Review technical specifications, performance requirements, and contract deliverables
Conduct operational and maintenance audits
Support Safety Management System (SMS) implementation and continuous improvement
Conduct risk assessments, hazard analyses, and safety certification support
Ensure compliance with applicable rail safety regulations and industry standards
Collaborate with agencies, operators, maintainers, and delivery partners
Facilitate workshops, simulations, and operational readiness exercises
Deliver clear, executive-level reporting and technical presentations
Balance resource utilization to ensure that staff are appropriately utilized and workloads balanced across the practice
Work with other project teams to provide appropriate support
Work with staff on development goals
Identify resource needs and support processes to address needs
Provide leadership to help STV execute its strategic plans
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Transportation, Rail Systems, or related field
8-12+ years of experience in rail operations, maintenance, or rail systems consulting
3-5 + years managing professionals
Demonstrated experience across passenger or freight rail environments
Strong understanding of operational performance and maintenance practices
Experience supporting rail project delivery, commissioning, and operational readiness programs
Professional Engineer (P.E.) or equivalent
Experience with CMMS / digital asset management systems
Familiarity with international rail standards and best practices
Experience with PPP, concessions, or operator mobilization
Knowledge of RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety)
Rail systems and operations expertise
Data-driven decision making
Asset lifecycle management
Safety leadership and risk management
Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement
Executive communication and technical reporting
Measurable improvements in service reliability and availability
Optimization of maintenance cost and asset performance
Successful operational readiness and system commissioning milestones
Safety compliance and audit outcomes
Client satisfaction and delivery excellence
Hybrid work environment (office, field, and client site)
Travel to rail facilities and project locations required
Flexibility for commissioning, testing, and operational support activities
Compensation Range:
$149,671.54 - $171,053.19STV offers the following benefits • Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account • Dental insurance • Vision insurance • Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable) • Disability insurance • Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment • 401(k) Plan • Retirement Counseling • Employee Assistance Program • Paid Time Off (starting at 16 days) • Paid Holidays (9 days) • Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year) • Parental Leave (up to 80 hours) • Continuing Education Program • Professional Licensure and Society Memberships
STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.
Not sure this role is the perfect match? We encourage you to apply if STV’s work and values resonate with you. We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do. At STV, we believe strong talent comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and your skills and experience may align with this or another opportunity as we continue to grow.