Role Summary:

Accountable for safe, reliable, and cost-effective - track operations- across the allocated division/route. Leads planning and execution of inspections, maintenance, tamping, renewals, and incident response to achieve availability, speed potential, and safety KPIs. Partners cross-functionally (signaling, rolling stock, electrification, projects) to minimize TSRs, improve ride quality, and enable capacity enhancement.

Key Responsibilities:

1) Safety & Compliance

- Enforce zero-harm culture and track protection protocols during blocks and possessions.

- Ensure compliance with applicable standards and manuals (e.g., P-Way rules, track tolerances, inspection periodicity, welding/USFD procedures).

- Lead safety audits, incident investigations, and Corrective/Preventive Actions (CAPA).

2) Track Maintenance & Renewals

- Own annual and monthly - Track Maintenance Plans- (predictive, preventive, and condition-based).

Plan and supervise:

- Ultrasonic rail flaw detection (USFD), rail grinding, rail/weld renewals

- Tamping & stabilization, ballast cleaning, mechanized maintenance

- Turnout maintenance, level crossings, bridges' track components

- Prioritize defect elimination (squats, corrugation, wheel burns, dipped joints, hogged crossings) to remove TSRs.

3) Inspection & Monitoring

Ensure execution and closure of:

- Footplate inspections, trolley inspections, patrolling (hot/cold weather)

- Track geometry monitoring (TGI, alignment, gauge, cross-level, twist), ride index

- Data-led decisions from track recording cars, geometry cars, and portable measurement tools

- Establish dashboards and early warning triggers for high-risk assets and locations.

4) Block Management & Operations Interface

- Secure track blocks/possessions with traffic control; minimize traffic disruption.

- Coordinate with Operations, Signaling & OHE for integrated maintenance windows.

- Enable line speed upgrades by achieving and sustaining geometry/serviceability standards.

5) People Leadership & Vendor Management

- Lead and upskill a multi-location team of inspectors, supervisors, and gang staff.

- Manage on-roll and outsourced workforce; ensure competency and certification.

- Oversee contractors for mechanized maintenance, tamping, and renewals; assure quality and productivity.

6) Budgeting & Asset Lifecycle

- Own the section's - O\&M budget- , spares, tools, and plant utilization (tampers, DTS, ballast regulators, rail cutters, welders).

- Apply life-cycle costing for rails, sleepers, fastenings, and turnouts; maintain accurate asset registers and maintenance history.

7) Reliability, Analytics & Continuous Improvement

- Drive reduction in - TSRs, derailment risk, rail breaks, buckling, and geometry defects- .

- Implement reliability engineering, root cause analysis, and digital work management (CMMS/EAM).

- Sponsor pilot initiatives: condition-based maintenance, predictive analytics, IoT sensors, remote monitoring.

Candidate Profile

Education & Certifications

- Diploma/Bachelor's in Civil Engineering (preferred).

- Desirable: Certifications in P-Way/track maintenance, NDT/USFD; safety certifications.

Experience

- 15+ years- in railway - track operations/maintenance- , including mechanized maintenance and renewals.

- Hands-on with tamping/liner machines, ballast cleaning, track geometry correction, USFD, AT welding/FB welding, and turnout maintenance.

- Proven leadership of multi-location O\&M teams and contractors.

- Exposure to high-speed/heavy-haul/metro corridors is an advantage.

Technical Skills

- Strong knowledge of track structure: rails, sleepers, ballast, fastenings, turnouts, LWR/CWR management.

- Competence in - track measurement and analytics- (geometry, ride quality, defect trending).

- Familiarity with - work management systems- (CMMS/EAM), digital inspection tools, and maintenance planning.

- Understanding of interfaces with Signaling, OHE, Bridges, and Rolling Stock.

Behavioral Competencies:

- Safety-first mindset, decisive under pressure, strong situational awareness.

- Planning & prioritization, stakeholder management, and vendor governance.

- Team coaching, field presence, and high accountability for outcomes.

- Data-driven problem solving and continuous improvement orientation.

Tools & Systems (Preferred Exposure):

- Track recording/geometry measurement systems; tampers & DTS; USFD kits.

- CMMS/EAM (e.g., Maximo/SAP PM/Infor), digital checklists, and analytics dashboards.

- Incident investigation, RCA frameworks, and risk registers.