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NICTD, headquartered in Chesterton, Indiana, the State created transit district located in northwest Indiana responsible for the operation of the South Shore Line Commuter Railroad between South Bend and Chicago, is looking for an exceptional railroad/public transportation professional to lead the district in its next chapter.

Following $2B in capital investments over the past 5 years, that individual will build on the foundation of service expansion, reduction in time-to-market, improved reliability and enhanced safety that the incumbent, who is retiring in early 2026, has created, running the South Shore Line over the last 11 years. 

With 385 represented and 105 management employees, South Shore’s $84M annual budget supports 57 weekday/23 weekend trains, serving over 2M customers/yr. In early 2026 the Line expects to open a new line extension, the Monon Corridor, operating an additional 12 one-seat trips to/from Chicago. The 8-mile extension runs from a Gateway Station in North Hammond, IN to the Munster/Dyer border. 

NICTD invests $35M/yr in State of Good Repair (SOGR) capital improvements as well as over $300M in capital investments currently underway to keep 125 track miles, 13 stations, bridges, signals, catenary and 108 railcars in a SOGR and safety and service projects.  

The next President will also help create, generate support for, and execute NICTD’s next 20 Year Strategic Business Plan, currently being updated, which proposes over $1B to expand and maintain world-class service.    

Candidates must have exceptional interpersonal skills and a successful record of leadership in a similar environment, with an emphasis on project delivery, planning, advocacy, negotiation, and team-building. He/she will work closely with the NICTD Board and its Chair to conduct day-to-day railroad operations as well as oversee labor relations, finance & administration, planning, policy analysis, procurement, contract management, risk management, government relations, capital project implementation, marketing, customer service, legal, technology and safety. Commuter and/or freight rail experience a plus.  

He/she will be particularly adept at handling relations with federal, state and local stakeholders, funding & regulatory partners, FTA, FRA, USDOT, DHS, Metra, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, CSX, and Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, the operator of the exclusive freight franchise using NICTD’s ROW.

NICTD offers competitive benefits and salary.  Potential candidates should submit cover letter, resume and salary history in confidence to Christopher Boylan, Harris Rand Lusk Executive Search.