Locomotive Superintendent job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Locomotive Superintendent  in details. A complete job description concludes Locomotive Superintendent  key duties/responsibilities, Locomotive Superintendent  job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Locomotive Superintendent  duties:

1.      Assess all train performance reports and interface regularly with host railways rail traffic control centers as well as railway operating officers to ensure coordination and daily performance of train operations and to immediately respond and correct deviations to the operating plan;

2.      Ensure that a training/refresher program is developed and in place to upgrade and/or maintain a high level of competence for Locomotive operators;

3.      Performs operational audits on the train service and the operating crews;

4.      Ensures that all crew related incidents are properly reported and investigated with appropriate action taken to prevent a recurrence with full report to the General Manager;

5.      Organize and prepare daily operational reports for the customer; and will also maintain computer systems to retain historical records of ontime performance and delays.

II. List of Locomotive Superintendent  qualifications

1.      A Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline is preferred; relevant experience combined with a Secondary School Diploma will also be considered.

2.      58 years of Management experience in a Maintenance environment within the rail/transit industry is required;

3.      A technical background in mechanical/electrical will be preferred;

4.      Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

5.      Experience in the maintenance of rolling stock and crew Management is required;

6.      Proficiency in English, written and spoken is a must.

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.