Rail Field Operations Supervisor

Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.

This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.

Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.

The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

SUMMARY

The Rail Field Supervisor provides mobile, on-scene supervision of daily rail service to support safe operations, rule compliance, service reliability, and positive customer experience in the field. Reporting to the Assistant Manager of Rail Operations, this role monitors frontline service conditions, observes operator performance, responds to incidents and service issues, and helps ensure that rail transportation service is carried out in accordance with established rules, procedures, and operating expectations.

This position serves as a key field presence within the rail transportation function and is responsible for identifying operational issues, supporting service continuity, reinforcing operator accountability, and communicating field conditions to dispatch, control center personnel, and transportation leadership. The Rail Field Supervisor helps bridge system conditions in the field with real-time operational response and supports timely action when safety, service, or customer concerns arise.

The role also conducts ride checks, field observations, inspections, incident follow-up, and operator support activities and helps document and communicate issues requiring management attention. This position requires good judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to remain calm, visible, and effective in a fast-paced, safety-sensitive operating environment.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Field Service Oversight

• Monitor rail service in the field to support safe, reliable, and efficient daily operations.
• Observe mainline, station, yard, and other operating conditions to help identify issues affecting service delivery, safety, or customer experience.
• Maintain active field presence across assigned areas to support transportation priorities and timely operational awareness.
• Help verify that frontline rail service is being carried out in accordance with established expectations and current operating conditions.
• Communicate important field conditions, service impacts, and emerging issues to the appropriate operational staff.

Operator Oversight and Rule Compliance

• Observe rail operators in the field and help ensure compliance with operating rules, procedures, bulletins, safety requirements, and professional standards.
• Conduct ride checks, field checks, fitness-for-duty observations, and other frontline oversight activities as assigned.
• Reinforce operator accountability through real-time coaching, direction, and follow-up in the field.
• Identify and document issues related to operating behavior, service execution, customer interaction, or procedural compliance.
• Support implementation of temporary operating instructions, bulletins, and updated procedures affecting frontline service.

Incident Response and Service Recovery

• Respond to incidents, delays, customer issues, emergencies, abnormal operating conditions, and other field events affecting rail service.
• Provide on-scene operational support and initial field coordination until additional supervisory, management, or emergency response resources are engaged as needed.
• Coordinate with dispatch, control center personnel, rail operations leadership, maintenance, safety, security, and emergency responders during service disruptions.
• Help support safe and timely service recovery while minimizing customer impact and maintaining field awareness.
• Escalate significant service, safety, or customer issues promptly and appropriately.

Investigations, Reporting, and Follow-Up

• Investigate service issues, incidents, operator concerns, and other events requiring field review or documentation.
• Prepare reports, observations, statements, and other records related to incidents, field conditions, operator performance, and follow-up actions.
• Document observations accurately and in a timely manner for management review, operational follow-up, or other organizational needs.
• Support investigations, audits, and reviews related to transportation service, operator conduct, or rule compliance.
• Help identify recurring issues, trends, or concerns that may require additional follow-up or corrective action.

Training Support and Customer-Focused Operations

• Support training reinforcement, qualification activities, and practical field coaching for operators and other frontline staff as assigned.
• Provide feedback to transportation leadership regarding operator readiness, recurring issues, and improvement needs observed in the field.
• Help support a customer-focused service environment by responding professionally to passenger issues, service questions, and visible operational concerns.
• Promote professionalism, safety, and accountability in all field interactions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in transportation, operations, public administration, criminal justice, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three (3) years of experience in rail operations, transit operations, rail transportation, or another closely related operating environment.
• Experience as a rail operator, field support employee, supervisor, trainer, or other frontline role involving direct support of service delivery or rule compliance.
• Experience observing operational performance, responding to field issues, or preparing incident or operational reports.
• Ability to work varying shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, and emergencies as operational needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in rail field supervision or another frontline rail transportation oversight role.
• Experience supporting incident response, investigations, or emergency coordination in an active service environment.
• Experience conducting ride checks, audits, operator observations, or field-based training support.

Working Environment and Physical Demands

• Works primarily in the field across stations, platforms, trains, yards, and other rail operating environments, with regular movement throughout the system during the shift.
• Works in a safety-sensitive environment requiring strong situational awareness, sound judgment, and timely communication during both routine operations and service disruptions.
• May be required to work varying shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, or emergency assignments in support of 24/7 rail transportation operations.
• Involves extended periods of standing, walking, climbing stairs, riding trains, using radios and mobile devices, and preparing reports, observations, and related documentation.
• May be exposed to varying weather conditions, noise levels, passenger interactions, and active rail operating environments while performing field supervision duties.