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Lead Operator — ATL Automated Transit Network (ATN) Pilot
Role Summary
The Lead Operator is the on-site local lead for the ATL ATN Pilot Project, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operational delivery of the pilot revenue service. This role supports project delivery and operations — coordinating with the general contractor and subcontractors during construction for operational requirements, monitoring field commissioning and testing activities, and establishing the ATL operations organization for pilot launch. The ideal candidate is an outgoing, people-forward leader comfortable with building the operational team and the culture that will carry the project into service.
This role will directly support the onsite Project Director (ATL ATN) and serves as the local extension of the Project Delivery team on the Atlanta site.
Key Responsibilities
- Establish the ATL operations organization using roles defined in the O&M and Operational Readiness plans — Central Control Operator (CCO), Field Ambassadors, Safety Attendants.
- Own day-to-day OCC execution and OR governance with the Project Director and Strategic Execution team.
- Transition from a Project Delivery-embedded site lead role to full Operations Manager ownership as the project moves into pilot and revenue service.
- Recruit, hire (in coordination with HR), oversee, and manage Station Ambassadors and Safety Attendants — typically part-time college students sourced from local Atlanta-area technical schools and universities.
- Serve as the direct supervisor and daily manager for Ambassador and Safety Attendant staff; set expectations, assign coverage responsibilities, conduct check-ins, and maintain scheduling.
- Build a welcoming, guest-forward Ambassador culture that supports a positive rider experience from Day 1 of pilot operations.
- Develop pocket guides, job aids, and light training materials to equip Ambassadors and Safety Attendants for station-level passenger interaction.
- Maintain alignment with the Project Director on operational priorities, readiness milestones, and performance-critical decisions.
- Lead planning and execution of operational workstreams, including requirements review, system specifications, and operational documentation.
- Support development and maintenance of Service Operations Procedures, Passenger Operations Procedures, Incident & Emergency Management Procedures, and the O&M Takeover and Commissioning Plan.
- Contribute to safety analyses, hazard assessments, and safety case documentation.
- Define, track, and own key performance indicators for the ATL ATN system — including system availability, vehicle availability, wait times, trip-time predictability, and overall customer experience.
- Analyze operational data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement actions.
- Report KPI status and operational progress clearly and regularly to the Project Director and stakeholders.
- Support development of operating procedures, recovery strategies, and reliability improvement plans that optimize system uptime.
- During construction, testing and commissioning and system start-up support on-site operational requirements related to guideway, station, MSF/OCC, and utility installation.
- Support day-to-day activities with the General Contractor, subcontractors, utilities, airport/city stakeholders, and AACIDS as it relates to operational readiness.
- Attend and facilitate construction meetings, track action items, and escalate constructability or OR-impact issues to the Project Director.
- Act as site Operations Manager for all MSF bring-up and integrated testing runs, partnering with the T&C Manager.
Reporting Structure
- Reports for daily operational requirements to: Project Director, ATL ATN
- Coordinates closely with: T&C Manager, OCC Lead, Systems Lead, Safety Manager, Design & Interface Manager, and the Project Coordinator
- Manages directly: Field Ambassadors and Safety Attendants (part-time, contracted local staff)
- Interfaces externally: General Contractor, AACIDS, MARTA, airport/city officials, Atlanta Workforce Development (for Ambassador sourcing)
Qualifications
- Strong background in field operations, construction management, or transit operations — rail, BRT, airport operations, or complex transportation systems preferred.
- Previous experience as a control room operator or supervisor, desirable
- Local Atlanta-area candidate; must be available on-site throughout construction, testing, and pilot phases.
- Demonstrated ability to own and manage operational KPIs; data-driven approach to performance tracking and reporting.
- Experience managing hourly, part-time, or intern-level staff; comfortable building and leading early-stage teams.
- Outgoing, engaging, and people-forward personality — able to represent the project positively with riders, stakeholders, and community members at public-facing events and pilot launch.
- Hands-on experience in commissioning, field integration, and system troubleshooting preferred.
- Familiarity with system safety, reliability engineering, operational testing practices, and incident management.
- Demonstrated success working across diverse internal technical teams and external contractors.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting to leadership and stakeholders.
- PE or PMP certification is highly desired.
- Experience with the Atlanta transit market or similar operating environments is a plus.
Certifications
- This position will be required to meet qualifications and be certified as a Central Control Operator (CCO) in order to operate the ATL ATN system as well as be accountable for the management and oversite of directly reporting CCO(s).
- In order to obtain certification, Lead Operator may be required to travel and attend training at other project sites in the USA or internationally.
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