Regional Vice President, Operations

About the Company

Our client is a large, privately held freight rail operator with a multi-state network of short-line and regional railroads serving industrial, agricultural, and commercial customers across the U.S. Following a company-wide reorganization into regional operating structures, the company is building out regional leadership to own performance closer to the ground.

The Opportunity

The Regional Vice President of Operations will own safety, service reliability, and financial performance across a defined cluster of railroads within a designated region. This role is central to the company’s newly reorganized operating model, replacing a more centralized structure with regional leaders who carry full accountability for their territory.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety Leadership: Own safety performance and FRA compliance across all properties within the region.
• Service Reliability: Ensure consistent, reliable rail service for customers across the region’s rail lines.
• P&L Ownership: Manage regional budget, cost discipline, and financial performance against corporate targets.
• Team Leadership: Lead general managers and operating teams across multiple rail properties within the region.
• Customer Relationships: Serve as the senior operational point of contact for major regional customers and shippers.
• Labor Relations: Manage both union and non-union labor relationships across the region’s workforce.
• Capital Planning: Partner with corporate on regional capital investment priorities, including track, equipment, and infrastructure.
• Cross-Regional Coordination: Work with corporate leadership and peer regional VPs to ensure consistency in safety and operating standards network-wide.

Job Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in freight rail, with multi-site or multi-property responsibility
• Strong working knowledge of FRA regulations and rail safety compliance
• Demonstrated P&L ownership at a regional or divisional level
• Experience managing both union and non-union labor forces
• Track record of leading through organizational change or restructuring

Key Attributes

• Safety-First Operator: Leads with safety as the non-negotiable foundation of everything else
• Hands-On Leader: Comfortable being close to the operation, not just managing from a distance
• Change-Ready: Operates effectively inside a newly reorganized structure with evolving reporting lines
• Calm Under Pressure: Manages complex, multi-site operations without losing composure