Dispatcher

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department
Salary: $25.00 - $31.86 Commensurate with Experience
Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.
This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.
Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.
The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.
SUMMARY
The Rail Dispatcher is responsible for the administrative coordination, scheduling, dispatching support, and oversight of daily rail transportation operations. The position provides administrative supervision, leadership, instruction, and guidance to Rail Operators to support safe, efficient, reliable, and compliant rail service.
The Rail Dispatcher monitors employee compliance with operating rules and safety standards, conducts Fitness for Duty checks, supports incident and accident investigations, prepares reports, coordinates employee-related administrative matters, and maintains accurate, complete, and confidential personnel and operational records. The position also supports emergency response and service recovery activities through communication, documentation, scheduling adjustments, and coordination with authorized personnel.
This position requires sound judgment, strong organizational and communication skills, attention to detail, discretion, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a time-sensitive transportation environment. The Rail Dispatcher performs administrative, supervisory, scheduling, communication, documentation, and dispatching coordination functions. The position does not include operating trains or light rail vehicles or performing field-based operational duties.
Hourly Pay Range: $31.31–$39.13 per hour
Major Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are standard for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the classification.
Rail Operations Coordination and Dispatching Administration
Coordinate and support daily rail transportation operations to promote safe, efficient, reliable, and on-schedule service.
Prepare, maintain, and distribute rail run assignments, operator schedules, extra-board assignments, seniority bids, vacation bids, and related scheduling documents.
Coordinate staffing requirements based on operator availability, scheduled service, anticipated ridership, special events, planned service changes, and other operational needs.
Communicate with the ROCC regarding operator availability, staffing requirements, service disruptions, delays, schedule changes, and other operational concerns.
Monitor operator assignments and scheduling practices to support compliance with applicable Hours of Service (HOS) requirements and established work and rest limitations.
Coordinate workforce coverage for special events, increased passenger demand, planned service changes, unexpected staffing shortages, and other service requirements.
Support operational planning, service recovery, delay management, and administrative coordination during service disruptions, emergencies, and other events affecting rail service.
Review operational reports and information received from authorized personnel regarding radio transmissions, station platforms, structures, vehicles, equipment, and other rail-related concerns.
Communicate reported safety concerns, equipment deficiencies, and service issues to the appropriate departments for review and resolution.
Maintain accurate records of rail assignments, staffing activities, operational communications, service impacts, and other required dispatching information.
Relay operating instructions, notices, bulletins, schedule updates, and other authorized information to Rail Operators and appropriate personnel.
Support continuity of information through accurate documentation, timely communication, and effective pass downs
Perform dispatching coordination and administrative support functions without operating trains or light rail vehicles.
Employee Supervision and Performance Management
Provide administrative supervision, leadership, instruction, and guidance to Rail Operators and other assigned personnel within delegated authority.
Communicate and reinforce applicable operating rules, safety requirements, agency policies, procedures, and performance expectations.
Monitor employee attendance, performance, conduct, and compliance with established operational and workplace standards.
Conduct periodic reviews of operator knowledge of operating rules, safety procedures, and other applicable requirements.
Complete annual Performance Review and Development (PRD) evaluations and provide ongoing performance feedback.
Prepare and maintain documentation related to employee performance, coaching, counseling, training, and corrective action.
Administer or recommend corrective action consistent with agency policies, established procedures, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and delegated authority, as applicable.
Mentor and motivate employees to meet or exceed Rail Operations performance, service, and safety standards.
Coordinate with the Training Department to schedule required training, refresher instruction, operating compliance activities, and other qualification requirements.
Assist in resolving employee concerns and workplace conflicts professionally, consistently, and in coordination with Human Resources when appropriate.
Maintain appropriate documentation of employee performance, training compliance, attendance, and other supervisory activities.
Refer significant employee relations matters and issues outside delegated authority to the Assistant Manager of Rail Transportation or the appropriate department.
Fitness for Duty and Safety Compliance
Conduct and document Fitness for Duty checks for Rail Operators and other designated personnel in accordance with established agency policies and procedures.
Identify and document potential Fitness for Duty concerns and coordinate appropriate follow-up with authorized management, Human Resources, Safety, or other designated personnel.
Reinforce compliance with applicable CATS, City of Charlotte, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and other relevant operating and safety requirements.
Support implementation and compliance with applicable NCDOT State Safety Oversight Program Standards (SSOPS), FTA regulations, the CATS Safety Management System (SMS), and the Agency Safety Plan (ASP).
Support compliance with applicable federal safety training requirements, including 49 CFR Parts 672 and 673, as relevant to assigned responsibilities.
Promote adherence to operating rules, safety policies, procedures, and established reporting requirements.
Encourage employees to identify and report hazards, unsafe conditions, near misses, incidents, and other safety concerns through established CATS reporting channels.
Communicate reported hazards and safety concerns to the appropriate departments for review, investigation, and corrective action.
Support safety initiatives, administrative reviews, audits, and compliance activities as assigned.
Maintain accurate documentation of safety-related administrative activities and required follow-up actions.
Promote employee accountability and a proactive safety culture throughout Rail Operations.
Incident, Accident, and Customer Concern Administration
Coordinate the administrative response to incidents, accidents, employee injuries, passenger injuries, service disruptions, and other events involving rail operations.
Obtain, review, and document incident information from Rail Operators, the ROCC, supervisors, witnesses, and other appropr