Host Railroad Project Specialist - 90353184 - Philadelphia

Date:  Jan 22, 2026
Location: 

Philadelphia, PA, US, 19104

Company:  Amtrak

Your success is a train ride away!

As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

 

Are you ready to join our team?

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

 

Job Summary

The Host Railroad Project Specialist supports the development, implementation, and administration of host railroad agreements, operational projects and performance including focus on financial oversight and cost control. This role coordinates across internal teams and host railroads to improve service performance, maintain project schedules and artifacts, track issues/risks, and assist with routine contract updates and budget monitoring. The Specialist helps ensure compliance with Amtrak policies while contributing to initiatives that reduce delays and enhance on-time performance in a cost-effective manner.

Essential Functions

  • Coordinate with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and other stakeholders—as well as host railroads and vendors—to enable timely, cost-effective execution of tasks tied to agreements, issue resolution, and performance initiatives.
  • Assist in defining scopes, objectives, and deliverables for host-railroad-related projects; maintain project schedules and status updates; and support project governance and change control.
  • Support drafting, interpretation, and routine updates to host railroad agreements (e.g., amendments), working with Law and other departments to apply provisions consistently across operational scenarios.
  • Compile and analyze data on costs, delays, and ontime performance (OTP) to identify drivers of performance and to inform practical, collaborative solutions with host railroads.
  • Prepare materials (summaries, data packages, exhibits, budget forecasts) that support Amtrak positions in internal reviews or external proceedings; escalate complex issues to senior staff as appropriate.
  • Respond to routine information requests (e.g., FOIA/OIG or monthly contract relief inquiries) by gathering accurate contract and financial information in coordination with the Host Railroad team.
  • Foster relationships and facilitate meetings to build consensus on operational, financial, and contractual matters, maintaining a service-oriented reputation with internal customers and host railroads.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned, including, but not limited to using persuasion and leverage to achieve Amtrak objectives in conjunction with host railroads over which this position has no direct authority, within time and budget constraints.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience. 
  • Plus 3 years of relevant work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience.
  • Plus 5 years of relevant work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); ability to consolidate performance and financial data into clear communications for different audiences.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to interpret agreements and apply provisions uniformly across common operational and financial contexts.
  • Demonstrate collaboration, communication, and customer-service orientation; ability to manage multiple priorities under time constraints.
  • Responsive to requests of others to ensure a Host Railroad Group reputation for high quality service to internal and external Amtrak customers.
  • Ability to work effectively and supportively in a small group environment.
  • Exposure to project management and financial tracking tools (e.g., schedules, risk/issue logs, budget monitoring; familiarity with systems like EPPM, Ariba, or POA is a plus).
  • Experience supporting contract drafting/administration and cost-control initiatives is preferred. 
  • Expereince working with or for host railroads; familiarity with freight railroad operations and economics. 

The salary/hourly range is $78,600.00 – $101,844.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

 

Requisition ID:165916

Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered:No
Travel Requirements:Up to 25%

You power our progress through your performance.

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.


Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.


In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

 

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.


Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.


Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.