Manager, Rail Car Appearance

Front line management ensuring cleanliness of CTA’s fleet of rail cars. Plans and coordinates the implementation of Rail Car Appearance programs and activities to ensure service levels and quality results are achieved. Maintains quality standards of cleanliness for our customers in the areas of terminal platforms, rail yards, terminal routes and campaign activities.

Qualifications

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepares analyses and summary reports to provide management information regarding service forecast/actual levels, quality and individual staff accountability of rail car appearance programs.
• Conducts site audits to determine if section quality and production are within standards. Visually surveys rail cars in yard and line of road to determine if vehicle should be pulled for immediate service or meets appropriate standards to remain in scheduled cleaning cycle. Adjusts cleaning schedule as appropriate. Investigates and responds to complaints from internal and external customers.
• Evaluates and recommends improvements in work procedures and methods related to department programs. Conducts disciplinary interviews and investigations regarding attendance and work performance. Maintains ongoing dialogue with labor representatives on topics of joint concern.
• Forecasts material and personnel needs and interfaces with responsible CTA departments such as Engineering, Personnel, Purchasing and Training to ensure that staffing, material and training requirements are met in a timely manner. Recommends educational/technical training for management staff.
• Participates in planning sessions with transportation and maintenance to determine if competing interests are being served.
• Actively participates in planning the design, development and enhancement of rail car appearance systems, equipment and facilities. Contributes to the development of programs, policies, goals and objectives. Represents the department and company and participates in the development of programs at various company and industry wide forums, competitions and events.
• Hires, trains, develops, monitors, and evaluates performance of staff. Reviews and recommends personnel actions for approval.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to this position are the following jobs:

Job Title

• Coordinators, Rail Car Appearance
• Car Servicers and other staff

CHALLENGES

• Anticipating potential problems and develop plans for immediate resolution.
• Implementing data collection and automation ideas.
• Recommending innovative programs to increase quality without increase in manpower.
• Maintaining quality service within tight budget constraints compounded by high employee turnover and day-to-day absenteeism.
• Maintaining a clean fleet of assigned rail cars under harsh environmental conditions and high public usage.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma required, continued secondary education a plus. Experience as a Car Servicer, other applicable vehicle or facility maintenance experience, or janitorial related experience preferred.
• Experience supervising large workforce, particularly in a union environment preferred.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Required to pass current Rail Safety Training certification.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• When in the field - extensive traversing, positioning self and moving. Moves, transports and maneuvers materials or equipment weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Must possess the physical strength and agility to negotiate track, ballast and footwalk conditions in a rail yard and on the right of way.
• Must have the stamina to work excessive hours during emergency situations with duration up to two weeks.
• Exposed to solvents and solutions used in cleaning, waxing, stripping and graffiti removal.
• Requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time and constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Service Area Requirement: Exempt (Non-Union) employees must live within the boundaries of the CTA Statutory Service Area either at the time of employment or within 6 months of beginning employment at CTA.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Working knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and union contract provisions governing Car servicers, a plus.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Strong Microsoft Word and Excel, PowerPoint skills preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to be a team player, reliable, dependable, able to multi-task and work under pressure and meet deadlines.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Subject to adverse weather conditions related to outside work on CTA platforms, terminals and rail yards.
• Subject to being on-call 24/7 and must be available for emergency calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Splits time working in rail yards, terminal platforms and office environment.
• Works in close proximity to moving vehicles and energized third rail. Required to walk in yard areas where footing may be uncertain.
• Works various hours and shifts subject to change weekly.
• Vacation and other time off requests are limited in periods of special events and seasonal weather alerts.

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED

• Standard office equipment.
• Expected to direct operation of automated tools and equipment including but not limited to car washers, pumps, floor scrubbers/strippers, electric steamers and buffers. Expected to operate office equipment, 8 channel radio and company/personal vehicle.
• Required to carry and respond to a pager and company issued cellphone at all times.
• Required to carry and respond to radio calls while on duty.

Additional Details Employees and/or union members will be given priority consideration in the hiring process, per the applicable labor contracts.


Final salary will be determined in part by the qualifications of the selected candidate and may be higher or lower than target.


Applicants, if hired,must comply with CTA's residency ordinance.


CTA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER


No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, unfavorable military discharge, disability or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws; except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for our workforce and supporting the communities we serve. CTA will make reasonable accommodations for the known disabilities of otherwise qualified applicants for employment as well as its employees, unless undue hardship would result. If you require an accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact [email protected] prior to the submission of your application or upon notification of your actual test date. CTA will work with you to determine if an accommodation can be provided.


During the hiring process, CTA's Human Resources department will contact candidates with next steps . Failure to respond to these correspondences in a timely fashion may result in your application being closed out for non-responsiveness.


Please click link below to review the benefits offered at the CTA.

Primary Location : USA-Illinois-Rosemont

Job : Rail Maintenance

Job Posting : Mar 20, 2026, 2:09:16 PM

Position Type : Full-time Permanent (FTP)