Lead/ Contracts Manager- Host Railroad Development

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

The Contract Manager -Host Railroad (Lead/Principal Host Railroad) participates in, and often leads, negotiations with Amtrak’s host railroads nationwide to implement new and improved services and other modifications to the business and operating relationships with host railroads. This position formulates negotiating positions and supports them using statutory provisions, knowledge of railroad operations, and quantitative arguments. This position seeks and develops opportunities for strategic cooperation with host railroads. Where state partners are involved, this position helps coordinate among states, host railroads, and Amtrak to ensure that investment and operating agreements comply with FRA or other funding guidelines, are satisfactory to Amtrak, and will deliver new or improved services that meet Amtrak and state partner objectives. This position collaborates with multiple Amtrak departments and functions including Business Lines, Law, Government Affairs, Engineering, Real Estate, and Finance.

This is a hybrid role based in the Philadelphia, PA or Washington, DC. a minimum of 3 days/week. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Negotiate agreements with host railroads nationwide for new, improved, and/or modified; (i) train services, (ii) track, signal and station projects, rate adjustments, and (iii) contract terms and conditions or procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise good judgement in internal and external communications.
• Participate as a team member for the Host Railroad Group, supporting external Amtrak teams including Finance, Grants, and Law among others.
• Help coordinate negotiations among host railroads, states, and Amtrak for new and improved services and route or service modifications on host railroads.
• Write contract language and provisions, in consultation with Office of General Counsel.
• Resolve agreement disputes with host railroads.
• Ability to use persuasion and leverage to achieve Amtrak objectives in conjunction with host railroads over which this position has no direct authority, within time and budget constraints.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including, but not limited to, resolving emergency Amtrak operational issues with hosts, participating in Amtrak Office of Inspector General audit settlements, and assisting in cost analyses of Amtrak train operations on host railroads.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree required OR equivalent combination of training, education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Ability to travel up to 15%
• Familiarity with computer software and applications, including Microsoft Office 365 suite of applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint).
• Proven ability to develop, plan, and successfully execute negotiations to achieve objectives while preserving relationships.
• Ability to read and interpret contracts, apply their provisions uniformly in a variety of circumstances, and resolve disputes.
• Strong advocacy skills, including the ability to articulate complex transportation issues and build consensus.
• Ability to use persuasion and leverage to achieve Amtrak objectives in conjunction with host railroads over which this position has no direct authority, within time and budget constraints.
• Strong business sense.
• Familiarity or experience with host railroad operations and economics.
• Responsive to requests of others to ensure a Host Railroad Group reputation for high quality service to internal and external Amtrak customers.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively and supportively in a small group environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 6-10 years of relevant experience preferred
• Strong oral and written communication skills to gather information and cooperation necessary to negotiate and administer host railroad operating agreements.
• Experience working with or for host railroads.
• Familiarity or experience with host railroad operations and economics.
• Skilled in use of PC and mainframe computer software and applications.
• Experience in contract and agreement negotiation, writing and administration.
• Master’s Degree

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Must have excellent written and oral communication skills.