Manager, Rail Services Business Unit

Job Title: Manager, Rail Services Business Unit

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Fleet Operations

Reports to: AVP, Global Fleet

GENERAL DESCRIPTION / PURPOSE:

The Manager, (Friction Management or Ballast Services Business Unit) has full accountability for the performance of a defined business unit, with responsibility for customer service delivery, aftermarket parts sales, technical service agreement management, and overall financial results. This role translates enterprise strategy into executable operating plans and owns day-to-day business execution to ensure safe, reliable, and profitable outcomes.

The position leads and develops a team of approximately 30 technicians, supported by Assistant Managers, and is accountable for service quality, workforce capability, training and certification compliance, and customer satisfaction. The Manager sets performance expectations, monitors results through defined KPIs, and drives operational excellence across safety, reliability, productivity, and cost while ensuring adequate spare parts availability to meet service commitments.

This role owns all financial aspects of the business unit, including budget and forecast development, cost control, and performance reporting. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Manager evaluates business results, identifies improvement opportunities, and implements corrective actions to achieve operational, financial, and customer objectives while supporting long-term growth and continuous improvement.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of large team of technicians, Assistant Managers, and Superintendents to build a high-performance, safety-focused culture.
• Own talent management, performance reviews, succession planning, and workforce capability for the business unit, including monitoring and reinforcing compliance with training, certification, and development programs.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and drive continuous improvement in employee engagement, skill development, and retention.

Safety, Reliability & Operational Excellence

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture and ensure full compliance with all operating, safety, regulatory, and environmental standards across the assigned Business Unit.
• Drive service reliability and availability through proactive oversight of preventive maintenance, repair/replace decisions, spare parts inventory, and root-cause analysis of incidents or performance gaps.
• Monitor key operational KPIs (safety, reliability, productivity, cost, customer satisfaction) and lead corrective actions, process improvements, and capital justification to achieve operational excellence and meet service commitments.

Financial & Business Management

• Own full P&L accountability for the business unit, including development and management of annual budgets, forecasts, cost control, and variance analysis.
• Analyze financial performance (profit/loss statements, margin trends, cost drivers), identify improvement opportunities, and implement initiatives to deliver profitable growth.
• Prepare and present accurate monthly/quarterly performance reports to senior leadership and stakeholders, while collaborating with peers on inventory planning and resource allocation.

Customer & Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key customer contacts to manage expectations, maximize track access/production, resolve issues proactively, and drive customer satisfaction and contract performance.
• Translate corporate strategy and messages into actionable operating plans; communicate clearly with the team, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Represent the company professionally in customer interactions, incident reporting, dispute resolution, and continuous improvement discussions.
• Monitor and guide talent plans on assigned staff
• Responsible for talent and performance management for all field leaders on assigned machines
• Monitor compliance to the training programs and reinforce training concepts for Assistant Managers and staff

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated ability to develop budgets, forecasts, and analyze performance metrics.
• Deep understanding of preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, workforce training/certification, and spare parts/inventory management.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence and negotiate at all levels (technicians, customers, senior leadership).
• Proficiency in data analysis, reporting tools, and KPI monitoring; familiarity with ERP or maintenance management systems a plus.
• Ability to travel as needed (up to 50%)