Railroad Foreman job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Railroad Foreman in details. A complete job description concludes Railroad Foreman key duties/responsibilities, Railroad Foreman 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 Railroad Foreman duties:

1.      Ensure the overall supervision of all onboard crew members. This includes job instructions, training, evaluations, accident investigations and discipline when necessary;

2.      Periodically ride regularly scheduled trains to determine employees' compliance with rules and special instructions and look for areas which may benefit from increased attention;

3.      Perform regular operational tests as required by 49 CFR 217.9 in conjunction with the Railroad Foreman of Engines (RFE);

4.      Coordinate any efficiency testing to be done on CSXT ROW with the appropriate CSXT personnel, who are required to be present during said testing;

5.      Maintain the Company's program of operational tests and inspections as well as records of performed tests, results of those tests and any associated required correspondence;

6.      Perform these duties as well as such other duties that may be prescribed by the Operations Superintendant from time to time.

II. List of Railroad Foreman qualifications

1.      A Bachelor's degree of Science in Transportation, Engineering or the equivalent;

2.      5 years of experience in a rail operations environment combined with a minimum of 2 years of experience in a leadership or management role;

3.      Experience working with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) requirements;

4.      A background in safety and knowledge of Federal Rail Road (FRA) regulations (asset);

5.      Excellent communication skills;

6.      Knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.

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.