Manager Crew Resources (Alaska Railroad)

About the Department

PURPOSE OF POSITION:   
Coordinate and efficiently manage train and engine crews to support the ARRC, specifically the Transportation, Crew Dispatch, and Timekeeping functions. This includes ensuring that required staffing is available to execute the business and operational plans through interdepartmental communication and coordination. Plan and manage staffing levels, assuring that they are budgeted accordingly, consistent with the requirements for a safe, efficient and profitable rail transportation system that is in compliance with the applicable laws, regulations and industry standards. Manage extra board staffing levels to maintain acceptable guarantee and penalty premium payments. Provide oversight and assist in the development and structuring of training, change management, hiring and scheduling of the crew management and timekeeping departments. Manage Train and Engine Service Transportation Support Technician (TST) daily terminal activities to guarantee the full range of transportation and customer related services are accomplished. Supervise, mentor and coach employees to hone and develop skills, and an understanding of how their role supports the overall ARRC vision. Work with and develop relationships to create positive solutions in the matters of change management, discipline, grievances, and other pertinent issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Support Transportation, Crew Dispatch, and Timekeeping staff in planning, coordinating, establishing and successfully executing ARRC business objectives, operating goals and corporate policies. Manage overall staffing needs including the extra boards ensuring that the crew requirements are met. Analyze business and operating situations, recommend and provide appropriate solutions and/or ideas to remedy deficiencies in service, operations or any other function of the organization. Direct the action to remedy the deficiencies when necessary. Manage and provide oversight for all crew dispatching activities including adequate T & E personnel coverage, leave time, project codes and pay rate information, hours of service, job bulletins, assignments and seasonal layoffs. Manage and provide oversight for TST employees, ensuring the logistical needs for both internal and external customers are being met courteously and efficiently. Ensure that the costs are being assessed, attributed to and attached appropriately for the service provided.

Supervise Crew Dispatch and Timekeeping employees in all activities which include but are not limited to train crew scheduling and customer service operations.  Manage the crew dispatch office to ensure daily staffing assignments of T&E employees are handled in compliance with existing union contractual parameters.     Implement changes in work processes and procedures to comply with changes in the labor agreement. Responsible for the implementation of computerized time-keeping/payroll and crew calling systems to facilitate crew calling and Hours of Service (HOS) rest periods and employee availability.Manage Transportation Department hiring and training programs to ensure required staffing levels are provided by highly skilled and qualified employees.

Provide support and direction in contractual grievance procedures and discipline assessments. Interface with the Human Resources Department in matters of discipline, grievances and arbitration matters for represented employees. Participate in and represent the ARRC in contract negotiations. Build and develop cooperative relationships with union leadership with a goal of finding mutually satisfactory resolutions to issues.

FACTOR 1:  Technical and Operational Knowledge

Must have extensive knowledge of a wide variety of railroad operations.   Must have a strong work ethic, solid business ethics, and strict compliance to ARRC Policies and Procedures. Must have knowledge of operating rules, regulations, standards and processes.  Must have knowledge of the principles, policies and procedures associated with capital and operating budget development and execution.   Must possess a working knowledge of contracts and management fundamentals.  Must have knowledge of principles, policies, and procedures in the areas of safety, and demonstrate adherence to safety requirements, setting an example to co-workers and subordinates. Must have the ability to lead and motivate people, even under adverse conditions.  Must have knowledge of collective bargaining agreements.  Must have a demonstrated ability to lead people and achieve results through others.  Must have the ability to organize and manage multiple priorities.  General knowledge of train operations, schedules and activities preferred.  Must have general knowledge of computerized information systems.   Previous experience working with OIS, TRMS and ARRC’s timekeeping system preferred.  General understanding of crew calling activities to ensure maximum and efficient utilization of extra board employees, daily calling of crews, accurate bidding and bumping activities, job bulletining, job reassignments and accurate records of employees in leave status preferred.

FACTOR 2:  Analytical Skills and Impact

Analyzes unit transportation operations, evaluating and assessing methods of maximizing both people and equipment resources to meet short-term and long-range planning operational goals. Conducts analysis in areas such as train efficiency, job cost and work schedule efficiency. Analyzes, recommends and manages automation enhancements and upgrades of technology used in the management of crew dispatch processes, computer based payroll, wireless reporting and downloading operational data from the field. Exercises good judgment and discretion in the interpretation and application of the collective bargaining agreement. Must be able to effectively deal with multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Must be able to analyze records of daily operations to maintain knowledge of organization’s operations. Review and analyze expenditures, financial and operations reports to identify opportunities to increase profits. Reviews and analyzes management studies, collecting and interpreting economic and statistical data to prepare budget estimates, determine workload, personnel and equipment requirements. Conducts investigations of personnel matters or safety violations; negotiates with union representatives; and prepares required reports, according to procedures. Uses strategic planning, scheduling and analytical skills to coordinate calling, scheduling and pay of personnel in strict adherence to the contractual requirements of union bargaining agreements. 

FACTOR 3:  Supervision and Control

Has direct responsibility for supervising Crew Dispatch and Timekeeping. Has dotted line authority to direct specific operations within Transportation Department. Serves in a leadership role and fills in for other managers and supervisors as required. Works closely with the Superintendent of Transportation.

FACTOR 4:   Communication

Communicates and coordinates with ARRC employees and management personnel in regard to optimum use of equipment, facilities and personnel. Enforces compliance of operating personnel with administrative policies, procedures, safety rules and governmental regulations. Contacts include government officials, regulatory agencies and the general public to present ARRC’s position. Contacts also include ARRC managers, T&E employees, crew dispatchers, TSTs, yard personnel and timekeepers. The purpose of contacts is to plan and coordinate work efforts, notify crews of job assignments, solve problems and train staff.

FACTOR 5:   Working Conditions

This position is a combination of office and field activity. Must be able to work a flexible schedule. Most of the work is performed in a corporate office environment, although there may be minimal travel required to other rail belt locations. There may also be time required in the field on trains, in the shops, yards, with MOW personnel and at incident/accident sites along the rail belt. Field work includes exposure to railroad tracks, yards and shops where there is noise, dust, grease, moving cars and machinery. May be exposed to a variety of weather conditions and other environmental discomforts. Expected to wear required personal protective equipment.

Position Duties

High school or GED equivalent is required. Five (5) years of railroad operating experience, three (3) of which were at a management level, is required. Railroad experience may substitute for management requirement on a year-for-year basis.  A Bachelor’s or Associates degree in Business Administration, Logistics or related field is preferred.  A combination of education and related experience is preferred.  A minimum of two (2) years ARRC operations experience and three (3) years of supervisory experience is preferred. Must have a valid driver’s license.

Minimum Qualifications

Prior to the closing date of this bulletin, all applicants MUST submit a copy of a current drivers record that reflects the last three (3) years of driving history.

The driving record must be dated within four months of the closing date of the job bulletin. Applicants may either attach a copy of their driving record to the application or fax it to the Alaska Railroad Human Resources Department, 907-265-2542.

PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE ANY REQUIRED AND DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS IN YOUR APPLICANT PROFILE AND COVER LETTER. If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment and whether full- or part-time. Your application will be closely reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant will not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

Other Qualifications

Alaska Railroad Human Resources Department 
E-Mail: [email protected]
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 107500, Anchorage, AK 99510-7500
Street Address: 327 West Ship Creek, Anchorage, AK
Fax Number: (907) 265-2542

Benefits

Alaska Railroad Corporation Benefits
The following briefly describes the main benefits available to regular employees of the Alaska Railroad Corporation. Actual benefits differ by bargaining unit.
 
Retirement Plans
ARRC Pension Plan – Participation is mandatory. You are automatically enrolled in the Plan when you meet the eligibility requirement of your bargaining unit. Employees contribute 9% of their Earnings on a pre-tax basis. The Railroad is exempt from participation in Social Security; however, Medicare Tax is withheld. Participants vest with 5 years of eligible Vesting Service which entitles one to receive a pension benefit at retirement age.


Tier 2 Description (Employees hired after July 1, 2015)
Normal Retirement Age is age 65, however, the plan allows one to retire as early as age 60.  The formula for a monthly Normal Retirement Benefits is 2% x Final Average Earnings x all Credited Service.

Early retirement, survivor and disability benefits are available for vested participants.

401(k) Tax Deferred Savings Plan – Participation is optional. You may enroll once you meet the eligibility requirement of your bargaining unit. Depending on the bargaining unit, there may be an employer match.
 
457 Deferred Compensation Plan – Participation is optional for non-represented employees.
 
 
Insurance and Flexible Spending Plans  
All plans are optional except the RR Dental Plan for bargaining unit employees.
 
Health Insurance Plan
A comprehensive health insurance plan, self-insured by the ARRC and administered by Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska. Coverage is also available for the employee’s spouse and dependent children. ARRC and the participant share the premium cost. Bargaining unit employees are Eligibility after 90 days, and non-represented employees are eligible as of the date of hire.

The Railroad offers a Prefered Provider Organization plan (PPO Blue Essentials) and a Consumer Directed Healthcare Plan with a Health Saving Account (Gold Essentials). The Plans have the following features.

The Railroad also offers two dental plans.
The Railroad National Dental for represented employees.
The Alaska Railroad Optional Dental Plan for both represented and non-represented employees.
 
 
Paid Leave & Holidays
 
Vacation Leave –accrual per bi-weekly pay period:
 
Represented Employees
0-3 Years of Service               = 4 Hours
>3-15 Years of Service           = 6 Hours
>15 Years of Service              = 8 Hours
 
Non-Represented Employees
0-3 Years of Service               =  6 Hours
>3-15 Years of Service           =  8 Hours
>15 Years of Service              = 10 Hours
  
Sick Leave: accrues at 4 hours (Represented) or 2 hours (Non-Represented) per pay period.
 
11 Paid holidays
 
For additional information regarding these benefits, please go to www.alaskarailroad.com
 

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerState of AlaskaAddress PO Box 110201

Juneau, Alaska, 99811 Phone(800) 587-0430 (Statewide toll-free number)
(907) 465-4095 (Juneau and out-of-state callers)Website http://workplace.alaska.gov/