Operational Readiness Manager (New York)

Operational Readiness Manager, CBTC / Rail Transit Modernization

Location: New York City, NY

Engagement: Full-Time, Long-Term Consulting

Duration: Up to 5 Years, approximately 8,000 hours

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, with occasional weekend support

Start: ASAP

Client: Confidential, Major Urban Transit Organization

Position Overview

MGT is seeking an experienced Operational Readiness Manager to support a major, multi-year rail modernization initiative in New York City.

The Operational Readiness Manager will lead the organizational and operational transformation required to transition a large urban subway system from conventional, hardware-driven signaling to a Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) operating environment.

This is primarily an operational readiness, transformation, and change leadership role supported by strong CBTC knowledge. It is not a hands-on CBTC engineering position.

The successful candidate will help determine and implement how the organization must evolve its people, operating model, maintenance practices, processes, governance, workflows, training, and resources to successfully operate and maintain a CBTC-based subway system.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive CBTC operational readiness and transformation plan.
• Define organizational changes required to support centralized CBTC operations and maintenance.
• Assess current operations and identify workforce, skills, process, procedure, and resource gaps.
• Develop practical strategies and implementation plans to address identified readiness gaps.
• Lead execution of the transformation plan and monitor key milestones and readiness objectives.
• Establish and implement new operating workflows, processes, procedures, and governance practices.
• Coordinate across Operations, Maintenance, Signals & Train Control, Safety, IT, Finance, Procurement, Training, Workforce Development, and Capital Programs.
• Partner with senior leadership to identify required resources, organizational support, and funding.
• Translate CBTC technology changes into practical operational and organizational impacts for leadership and frontline personnel.
• Lead stakeholder workshops, working sessions, training, and change-readiness activities.
• Integrate operational readiness activities into overall program governance and reporting.
• Monitor progress, identify risks and dependencies, and adjust readiness strategies as required.
• Capture lessons learned and continuously improve readiness strategies throughout the modernization program.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Transportation Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in transit operations and maintenance, preferably within a large urban rail, subway, metro, or heavy-rail system.
• Strong understanding of CBTC systems and how CBTC impacts rail operations and maintenance.
• Demonstrated experience leading operational readiness, organizational transformation, or major change initiatives.
• Experience developing or implementing new operating models, workflows, processes, procedures, and organizational structures.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively across large, complex, multi-layered organizations.
• Strong executive-level communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to effectively engage both senior leadership and frontline operations and maintenance personnel.
• Experience with operational strategy, organizational development, governance, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Highly Preferred Experience

• Direct experience supporting CBTC implementation, migration, deployment, or operational readiness.
• Experience transitioning a transit organization from legacy signaling toward CBTC or another modern rail-control environment.
• Experience within a major subway or heavy-rail Operations & Maintenance organization.
• Development of operational readiness strategies for major rail modernization programs.
• Workforce readiness, organizational change, and training associated with technology modernization.
• Experience working with Signals & Train Control organizations.
• Coordination across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Safety, Technology, Training, and Capital Programs.
• Experience operating within regulated and safety-critical transportation environments.
• Experience presenting transformation strategies, risks, and readiness status to senior leadership.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate brings a combination of:

• Large Urban Rail/Subway Operations + CBTC + Operations & Maintenance + Operational Readiness + Organizational Transformation + Executive Stakeholder Management
• We are particularly interested in candidates who have helped a major transit organization determine how its people, organization, processes, governance, training, maintenance practices, and operating model must change to successfully adopt CBTC or another major rail-control modernization.

Work Environment

• The position is based in New York City and is expected to operate on a full-time schedule, generally Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Occasional weekend work may be required based on program needs. This is a long-term engagement with an anticipated duration of up to five years.

Application Requirements

• Qualified applicants should submit a current resume that clearly identifies:
• Rail/transit agencies and systems supported
• Transit operations and maintenance experience
• Specific CBTC programs or modernization initiatives
• Role and responsibilities during CBTC implementation or transition
• Operational readiness and transformation experience
• Organizational and change-management leadership
• Experience working across Operations, Maintenance, Signals, Safety, Training, and other stakeholder groups
• Executive stakeholder engagement experience
• Current location and ability to work in New York City
• Availability/start date
• 3 Managerial References - MUST ( Will not be contacted until position is confirmed)

About MGT

MGT provides technology workforce and professional services solutions to public-sector and education organizations nationwide. We connect experienced professionals with complex, high-impact technology and transformation initiatives. MGT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination consistent with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.