Rail Safety Manager

Overview

Anticipated Starting Salary Range: $101,500 -$120,000

Starting Salary Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

The State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) Utility and Railroad Safety Division seeks a public service-focused Rail Safety Manager to provide strategic leadership and manage the Railroad Safety Section, ensuring compliance with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations across multiple disciplines. This section of ten rail safety inspectors is responsible for conducting inspections of railroad facilities to help ensure safe operation of jurisdictional railroads within Virginia.

The staff in the section conduct inspections across various disciplines, including track, motive power and equipment, operations, signal and grade crossing, and hazmat.

• Managing, coaching, developing, training, and evaluating Rail Safety Inspectors.
• Serving as a railroad safety subject matter expert in the review of proposed legislation and general concerns impacting the Rail Safety Section.
• Managing the operations of the Railroad Safety Section to ensure inspectors and the program meet Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements for training, inspections and investigations.
• Conducting highly complex rail safety inspections and investigations and preparing subsequent FRA reports.
• Receiving, reviewing and distributing National Response Center notifications, emergency calls and blocked crossing complaints to Rail Safety Inspectors for investigation.
• Managing administrative duties such as updating procedures, on-call schedule, equipment inventory and other related tasks.
• Working with Railroad Safety Inspectors to ensure FRA reporting is completed within the FRA requirements.
• Collaborating with other state agencies and industry partners to meet the requirements of Virginia’s Rail Safety Action Plan.
• Analyzing and reviewing safety-related and inspection data to guide the program’s inspections and process improvements.
• Serving as a liaison with the FRA to assist with grant filings, audits and Commission concerns.
• Performing related work as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred qualifications for this position include 8 or more years of professional experience in railroad operations, construction, inspection, and/or maintenance; and experience managing staff. A bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required. Applicants must hold a current FRA certification in at least one discipline. Thorough knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to rail safety, including proper inspection and accident investigation procedures, is essential.

Candidates must have strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to develop and maintain effective, professional working relationships with SCC staff, the FRA, industry personnel, and the general public. Ideal candidates will have the ability to: lead, manage, develop, coach, train, and evaluate staff; manage a remote workforce effectively; focus on continuous improvement; and make sound decisions that comply with established policies and procedures.

Candidates must be willing and able to traverse rough terrain to conduct visual inspections of rail track and/or equipment.

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply by February 19, 2026
.

Qualified internal and external candidates are encouraged to apply. If you are an external candidate, apply by clicking the Apply Now button on this page. If you are an internal candidate, apply using eSCC (Oracle) - iRecruitment Employee Candidate.