Director, Office of Rail Economic Development and Safety (Program Manager Senior III)

Open Recruitment

Executive Service Position

(This position serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority).

If you have ever taken a flight from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport; renewed your Maryland driver's license; traveled to an Orioles game on the Light Rail; embarked on a cruise from the Port of Baltimore; received roadside assistance from CHART Emergency Patrol; reduced your commute time by using one of Maryland's toll roads then you have experienced some of the superb services provided by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT).

MDOT has various careers for people of all experiences, backgrounds, and abilities who come together to contribute to one mission-connecting our customers to life's opportunities. Join us in serving our Maryland residents, visitors, and businesses!

The Maryland Department of Transportation, Secretary's Office (MDOT TSO), is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Director, Office of Rail Economic Development and Safety (Program Manager Senior III) within the Office of Planning, Programming, & Project Delivery (OPPPD) - Rail and Intermodal Freight (RIF) section. The OPPPD develops rail safety and economic development policy, manages MDOT owned freight rail assets, coordinates rail safety activities, and implements rail-focused economic developments.

The Director, Office of Rail Economic Development and Safety, serves to provide the vision, strategy and office direction for advancing rail-oriented economic development, competitiveness and market share, and ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and policy. The incumbent will manage the office's staff, direct the MDOT Freight Rail Grant Program, and develop plans and programs that develop rail and freight economic impacts.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Directing and managing personnel, missions and operations.
• Increasing competitiveness of rail goods movement by identifying and seeking federal and state investments.
• Creating policies, sharing information, and working with shippers, local governments, state agencies, and rail operators.
• Eliminating conflicts between local development and rail operations, including safety and operational conflicts.
• Ensuring preservation of economic development opportunities by protecting MDOT assets against encroachment.
• Working closely with MDOT MTA and MDOT SHA to communicate and coordinate the office's programs, investments, policies, and vision with related activities within those modes.
• Establishing and implementing an overall economic development plan for goods movement in the state increasing the proportion of goods shipped by rail.
• Representing the agency before federal, state and local officials, legislative committees and senior managers and executives of other agencies concerning program activities.

The current vacancy exists at MDOT TSO, in the Office of Planning, Programming & Project Delivery (OPPPD), which is located in Hanover, MD (Anne Arundel County).

This position may allow a hybrid work schedule, including telework and required on-site work hours.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience:

Six (6) years of experience in professional work.

Two (2) years of this experience must have involved one or more of the following: The supervision of other employees, overseeing and coordinating the general operations of a unit, applying rules and regulations, or exercising responsibility for the development of policies or procedures.

Three (3) years of this experience must have included managing and developing rail, transportation, or environmental planning, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Master's degree in transportation engineering, business administration, public administration, urban planning, or related field
• Project management certification
• Knowledge of transit or freight rail policy, safety, planning, and engineering principles
• Experience in managing capital programs or project grants, budgets, and schedules, solving technical problems, and working with railroad operators
• Experience managing agreements and contracts
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently
• Ability to handle sensitive issues with tact and integrity
• Excellent internal/external customer service abilities and interpersonal skills including public outreach
• Ability to handle multiple projects and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work under pressure and resolve situations in a timely manner
• Good written and oral communication skills

Consideration for employment may be based solely on the contents of your application; therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information. Please include all relevant experience on your application. This includes, but is not limited to, full or part time, volunteer, military, acting capacity, or any other experience that is relevant to the position for which you are applying.

If you have held more than one position at the same employer, please list each position that you held and the length of time that you held each position.

None.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Eligible applicants may be subject to a background investigation under federal or state laws and regulations. A conviction is not an automatic disqualification to employment. Erroneous, misleading or fraudulent information on an application is sufficient grounds for rejection from the hiring process, removal from the list of eligibles, withdrawal of an offer for employment or immediate discharge.

TO APPLY: You must complete an MDOT employment application (DTS-1) online to be considered for this recruitment. RESUMES CANNOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE MDOT EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION. No paper applications will be accepted.

The application must be complete at the time of submission and must clearly describe the required work experience. Dates (month and year) must be stated. Vague descriptions of experience will not be considered. Please include all relevant experience on your application. Description of duties that state, "see resume" will negatively impact consideration for this position. Applicants will not be contacted for additional information. Only applicants considered for this position will be contacted.

Selected candidates may be subject to background and reference checks.

You may apply online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mdotmd. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on 8/31/2026.

Appropriate auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request. Please notify in advance. MD Relay Service Number (711). Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

The Maryland Department of Transportation is not sponsoring new employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B at this time due to budgetary constraints. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Federal regulations prohibit H-1B Visa candidates from paying sponsorship fees; all sponsorship fees must be assumed by the potential employer.

Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. will be required to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).

The incumbent in this position may be a member of a covered bargaining unit.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. MDOT does not discriminate based on age, ancestry, color, creed, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, belief or opinion, sex, or sexual orientation.