General Manager - Redwood Route Trail ("Trail Boss")

Mendocino Railway is the owner/operator of freight and passenger railroads including the California Western Railroad (CWR) / Skunk Train and the River Fox Train . The world-famous Skunk Train is a standard gauge passenger railroad that was founded in 1885, and operates 40 miles between Fort Bragg and Willits, in Mendocino County, California. The General Manager for the Redwood Route Trail “Trail Boss” is the senior executive responsible for the vision, development, construction, operation, maintenance, and growth of the California Western Railroad (CWR) / Skunk Train’s Maintenance of Way trail system. This position has authority to establish the trail organization and hire the employees, managers, craftspeople, consultants, and contractors needed to plan, build, operate, and improve the trails and their attractions. The Trail Boss will turn broad ideas into completed projects and ensure that each project can be operated safely, maintained effectively, and supported financially. The Trail Boss will initially lead development of the Redwood Route Trail, which will span more than 30 miles when completed. The position will also oversee future trail projects and trail-related offerings throughout the company. The Trail Boss works closely with railroad operating leadership wherever trail construction or operations interact with tracks, trains, employees, or guests. ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to) Executive Leadership Establish the long-term vision and business plan for the CWR/Skunk Train’s trail system. Set annual priorities, budgets, staffing plans, project schedules, and performance goals. Advise the President on trail investments, operating needs, risks, and growth opportunities. Build an organization capable of developing and operating multiple projects at different stages. Establish clear responsibility, accountability, and decision-making authority within the trail organization. Organization and Staffing Determine the employees, contractors, and professional services required for each project and for ongoing operations. Recruit, hire, direct, and evaluate trail personnel. Select and manage qualified contractors, fabricators, consultants, and technical specialists. Develop managers and team members who can assume responsibility for projects, operations, maintenance, and guest service. Establish work plans, schedules, training requirements, and quality standards. Trail Development Identify and evaluate new trail routes, attractions, recreation opportunities, interpretive features, events, and other uses of company property. Turn approved concepts into practical scopes of work, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, and operating plans. Direct site assessment, planning, permitting, engineering, procurement, construction, installation, testing, and opening. Ensure that new projects account for accessibility, maintenance, staffing, safety, environmental conditions, and long-term operating costs. Create a continuing pipeline of projects rather than treating trail development as a single construction effort. Construction and Project Delivery Direct construction and improvement projects from initial planning through completion. Establish project budgets, schedules, milestones, and acceptance standards. Oversee contractors and internal crews working on trail projects. Monitor cost, schedule, workmanship, safety, and environmental compliance. Resolve field problems and make timely decisions needed to keep projects moving. Confirm that completed projects are safe, maintainable, and ready for public use. Trail Operations and Maintenance Oversee daily and seasonal operation of the trail system. Maintain trail surfaces, drainage, vegetation, bridges, culverts, trailheads, kiosks, gates, fencing, rest areas, signage, wayfinding, and other trail assets. Establish inspection schedules and preventive-maintenance programs. Plan major repairs, replacements, and capital improvements. Manage closures, …

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