Quality Manager

Reports to: General Manager

Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000

Competitive Benefits Package: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Paid Leaves Program, and 401K Plan.

Summary
Purple Line Transit Operators (PLTO) is a member of a private consortium (Purple Line Transit Partners) which holds a Public-Private Partnership (P3) contract with the Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT/MTA) for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and financing of the Purple Line, a new 16 mile/21 station light rail transit line located in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, Maryland https://www.purplelinemd.com. PLTO’s role in the Project is for the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of the Purple Line for a 30-year O&M Period after the service opens to the public, currently scheduled for winter 2027. Prior to this opening, PLTO is responsible for participating in system design, testing, and service start-up activities; conducting certain facilities and equipment maintenance scopes; and building the organization which will perform the O&M Period activities.

PLTO is a joint venture of two companies: Alternate Concepts, Inc (ACI) and CAF USA, Inc. (CAF). ACI is an industry leader in mass transit operations and maintenance and is the O&M provider for the only two Design-Build-Operate-and-Maintain (DBOM)/Design-Build-Finance-Operate-and-Maintain (DBFOM) transit projects in the U.S: Tren Urbano in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Eagle P3 in Denver, Colorado. CAF USA, Inc. (a division of the international Spanish railway manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) designs, manufactures, maintains, and supplies equipment and components for railway systems and is a certified rail maintenance organization with a presence on five continents.

PLTO is conducting this recruitment for a Quality Manager which has been identified as a key position that is needed as PLTO builds the organizational capacity to perform its 30-year O&M scope. The Quality Manager will be responsible for oversight of PLTO’s comprehensive Quality Program to monitor performance across all departments. The Quality Manager will be responsible for implementing all quality programs, conducting audits, implementing corrective actions, and overseeing document and configuration control in the O&M Period. The position of Quality Manager will continue from the current pre-operational phase of the Purple Line project into the 30-year O&M Period and will be part of the permanent PLTO organization.

Responsibilities
During the pre-operational phase of the project, the Quality Manager, as part of the O&M Team, will work on various issues required to mobilize for the O&M Period, as well as establishing the quality and document control environments for the O&M Period. Likely responsibilities prior to the start of the O&M Period include:

• Oversight and/or development of PLTO contractually required document Submittals, including revisions.

• Coordination of PLTO review responses to Design-Builder Submittals.

• Development of O&M Period Quality programs and procedures.

• Development and implementation of O&M Period document control system and procedures.

• Oversight and/or development of O&M Period Reports as required by the contract and as needed by PLTO managers.

• Other activities as required to establish a high-functioning Quality team within the O&M Organization.

During the O&M Period, the Quality Manager will:

• Plan and direct activities concerned with the development, application, and maintenance of quality standards for service support functions, industrial processes, materials, and products, including oversight of the inspection and logging of incoming materials and tracking of all identified defects through to closure.

• Develop and initiate standards and methods for inspection, testing, and evaluation.

• Schedule and oversee inspections and assessments to audit, test, diagnose, identify, analyze, and recommend solutions to quality issues related to all phases of operational activities.

• Collect, organize, and review O&M data to identify trends and conditions affecting performance.

• Maintain accurate and current computer-based audit records with appropriate documentation. Prepare accurate and concise checklists and reports to include deficiencies and findings. Follow-up on correction of discrepancies. Provide audit tracking for performance analysis.

• Implement policies and procedures to improve organizational quality control. Review industry practices in quality control to advise the General Manager and assist other staff in implementing new practices to improve performance. Provide consultation or expertise to management, where necessary, regarding modifications to existing maintenance and operating procedures, equipment configurations, and work methods designed to improve the overall efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of operations.

• Enforce compliance with administrative, safety, and training policies, procedures, rules, and governmental regulations. Verify that emergency plans and emergency response procedures are in place. Serve on committees that oversee implementation of and changes to configuration control and standard/emergency operating procedures.

• Review subcontractors’ practices with respect to quality control and quality assurance and require improvements as needed.

• Recruit, select and train staff. Oversee staff by communicating job expectations, planning, monitoring, and appraising job results. Maintain a safe and secure work environment; develop personal growth opportunities for staff.
• Assess training needs with regard to quality control and recommend training programs and support their implementation.

• Oversee document control.

• Support report production across the organization.

• All other duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field preferred.

• Minimum of three years of experience with ISO auditing or coordinating root cause/corrective action preferably in the rail or transportation industry.

• Strong computer skills including expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, email, database tools, project management tools, and other computer based analytical tools.

• Ability to write clear and concise reports.

• Ability to organize, schedule, plan, and coordinate the quality assurance program by working with a variety of supervisors and their staff.

• A willingness to work during evening and weekend hours as needed.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, and sit for periods of time varying in length, walk up and down stairs, and lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Work Environment
Successful candidates will be expected to work in a hybrid workplace where frequent field visits, in-office presence, and some remote work may be combined. Some travel may be required to collaborate with partners.

While performing the duties of this job (while in the field), the employee must be aware of his/her surroundings and may be exposed to outside weather conditions, moving mechanical systems, and building components as well as varying noise levels both within the rail maintenance yards and inside the Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF). Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is always required while in the field and in construction zones.

Pre-Employment Qualifications
Successful candidates must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check; pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening test; be willing to comply with PLTO’s Drug and Alcohol Policy; and be eligible to work in the U.S.

PLTO reserves the right to revise this job description from time to time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees assigned to this job.

PLTO is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. We recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job classifications and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

How to Apply:
All interested parties should submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected].