Job Description

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The Chief Dispatcher, reports directly to Manager, Rail Dispatch. The Chief Dispatcher, serves as the tactical authority for CapMetro's rail dispatching function. This position is accountable for establishing and maintaining consistent operating rules, dispatcher qualification and certification standards, training requirements, and operational testing practices across all dispatch shifts, and for ensuring the Supervisors, Rail Dispatch apply those standards. The Chief Dispatcher is the subject-matter authority on dispatching rules, procedures, and FRA compliance requirements, translating Manager, Rail Dispatch direction and regulatory requirements into the operating rules, timetables, special instructions, and training standards that govern daily dispatch work. This role provides management oversight of the rail dispatch operation across all shifts by establishing and monitoring operational standards, ensuring regulatory and procedural compliance, promoting consistency in service delivery, and resolving complex operational issues. Serves as the escalation authority beyond the Supervisor level and represents the Manager, Rail Dispatch, on dispatch-related matters as delegated.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Note: The duties and primary responsibilities below are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this job and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. 

Dispatch Standards, Training, and FRA Compliance

• Establish, maintain, and enforce dispatching operating rules, procedures, and standards — coordinating with the Manager, Rail OCC, field supervision, Safety, and Training on the implementation of rule changes and temporary operating procedures — ensuring consistency across all three shifts and alignment with CapMetro operating plans, contractual obligations, and applicable FRA, TxDOT, and internal safety requirements.
• Serve as the primary FRA-focused compliance lead for dispatcher certification, qualification, recertification, training curriculum, knowledge testing, operational testing coordination, and required regulatory recordkeeping.
• Direct the development, review, and maintenance of dispatching documentation, including Books of Rules, Standard Operating Procedures, timetables, bulletins, and special instructions, routing these for Manager, Rail Dispatch approval prior to publication.
• Monitor dispatching activity, safety trends, and rule compliance concerns across all three shift teams — including review of shift-level dispatch reports compiled by the Supervisors, Rail Dispatch — to identify recurring issues, patterns, staffing concerns, or compliance trends requiring standardized, cross-shift resolution, and coordinate with Safety, Training, and the Supervisors, Rail Dispatch to develop preventive and corrective actions.
• Coordinate dispatcher training, qualification, certification, and recertification schedules across shifts, ensuring the Supervisors, Rail Dispatch have the tools and standards needed to track completion and identify gaps at the shift level.
• Support audit readiness by maintaining organized, standardized dispatch training, qualification, certification, and operational testing records across the full dispatch team.
• Serve as the escalation point for Supervisors, Rail Dispatch on rule interpretation questions, cross-shift staffing conflicts, and operational issues beyond shift-level authority.
• Deputize for the Manager, Rail Dispatch, Rail on dispatching matters during absences and provide tactical, cross-shift direction during major service disruptions.

Rail Operations

• Oversee dispatch floor operations at the standards level, ensuring the operating rules and procedures applied across all shifts support safe and efficient movement of passenger, freight, and excursion rail service.
• Review shift-level dispatch reports compiled by the Supervisors, Rail Dispatch to identify recurring operational issues, staffing concerns, or compliance trends requiring standardized, cross-shift resolution.
• Support incident response and after-action review by consolidating dispatch information across shifts, identifying rule compliance issues, and tracking corrective actions to completion.
• Maintain regular coordination with the Manager, Rail Dispatch regarding dispatch staffing, cross-shift performance trends, training needs, and FRA compliance matters.
• Model professional conduct, calm decision-making, and safety leadership as the standard-setting authority for the dispatch function.
• Oversee dispatcher staffing, scheduling, work assignments, and work/rest compliance to ensure adherence to Hours-of-Service requirements and take appropriate action to prevent or address excess service conditions.

CapMetro SMS Support & Other Duties Assigned

• Support Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Safety Management Systems (SMS) process by ensuring staff follows safety and security policies, considers safety in every action, and ensures safety and security concerns are reported.
• Perform other rail-related duties as assigned.

RESPONSIBILITIES - SUPERVISORY AND/OR LEADERSHIP EXERCISED:

Direct and manage department personnel by planning, scheduling, delegating, and overseeing employee work assignments, authorizing, coordinating, and scheduling work with vendors and consultants, conducting personnel actions, including hiring, and interviewing, and overseeing hiring, training, work assignments, and performance evaluations. 

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor's degree in Transportation, Business Administration, or a closely related field preferred; equivalent combination of directly related education, training, and experience may be considered.
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in rail, transit, or railroad dispatching operations, including direct train dispatching experience.
• Two (2) years of lead, supervisory, or standards-development experience, including experience developing or enforcing operating rules, training standards, or certification programs across multiple shift teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of railroad operating rules, procedures, and industry practices, including signaling, dispatching, track, and bridge operations, sufficient to serve as the subject-matter authority for dispatching standards.
• Strong knowledge of rail safety principles, Safety Management System practices, and applicable FRA regulations related to dispatcher certification, training and qualification records, operational testing, hours of service, and regulatory documentation.
• Ability to coach and hold Supervisors, Rail Dispatch accountable for consistent application of standards, without performing their day-to-day shift supervision duties directly.
• Ability to recognize and respond to safety risks, rule deviations, communication breakdowns, or compliance gaps that affect the dispatch function across shifts.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally across a politically, economically, and culturally diverse workforce.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate regulatory and policy direction into clear operating rules and training standards for Supervisors and Dispatchers.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills, with the ability to assess cross-shift operational issues and develop standardized solutions.
• Proficiency in standard business and operational software applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, scheduling, and training/records management tools.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is primarily performed in an office, Operations Control Center (OCC), or rail dispatching environment with responsibility for safety-sensitive coordination, FRA-focused compliance oversight, and time-critical decision-making. The position involves managing multiple concurrent priorities, overseeing dispatcher staffing and schedule compliance, and holding Supervisors, Rail Dispatch accountable for standards, in work where safety, accuracy, communication, regulatory compliance, documentation, and audit readiness are essential.

The incumbent must be able to sit and stand frequently throughout an eight-hour workday; reach vertically and horizontally; and effectively use telephone, radio, or headset equipment. The role requires the ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 20 pounds, perform sustained work at a computer workstation for up to six to eight hours per day and operate effectively in an environment with frequent interruptions and competing priorities. The incumbent in this role serves as an on-call escalation point and may be required to respond to emergencies, major service disruptions, or other critical operational incidents outside of normal operating hours. Regular and predictable attendance at assigned work location is an essential function.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Mobility Status:

As an Onsite position, the incumbent’s primary workplace is a CapMetro facility or field location. Expected to work in the office or field location 4+ days a week. Mobility status is subject to change at any time based on business needs or organizational decisions.

COMMITMENT TO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CapMetro is an equal employment opportunity employer and committed to creating a welcoming environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, pregnancy, age, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. CapMetro makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and organization needs at the time.

SECURITY SENSITIVE POSITION

This position has been identified as a “Security Sensitive” position. CapMetro will conduct annual background checks on incumbents in this position. A position is “Security Sensitive” if it's incumbent handles currency, has access to sensitive, computerized databases, has access to master keys, or works in an area of the CapMetro that has been designated as a security-sensitive area.