Role Description

Incident Rail Commander

Cluster Transport for NSW

Agency Sydney Trains
Division/Branch/Unit Operations Delivery
Location Central
Role Grade or Band RC7
Senior Executive Work Level Standards Not Applicable

Kind of Employment Permanent Full Time

50057596, 50057596, 50057598, 51013327, 51013328, 51013329,

Role Number 51013330, 51013331, 51013332, 51013333, 51013334,51013335,
51013336
ANZSCO Code 599517
PCAT Code 1119192
Job Code 81000424
Health Assessment Category - Safety Category 2

Vision Normal

Hearing Noise

Date of Approval 31 August 2018

Agency Website www.sydneytrains.info

Agency overview
Sydney Trains provides train services throughout the Sydney metropolitan area and was established in July 2013. Its
vision is to keep Sydney moving by putting the customer at the centre of everything it does and delivering safe, reliable
and clean rail services to the people of Sydney. The organisation is focused on providing sustainable, efficient and cost
effective services.

Primary purpose of the role

The incident rail commander provides onsite incident management for rail incidents within the Sydney Trains and NSW
Trains networks. The role ensures the effective and timely resolution of operational problems, and oversees that adequate
site safety requirements are in place.

Key accountabilities
 Respond to and manage all incidents on the rail network in line with the Incident Management Framework (IMF)
including post incident follow up and reporting.
 Assist in the management of significant and major incidents, emergencies or disruptions under the direction of the
appointed rail commander.
 Identify and address issues that have a direct impact on the rail network from a safety perspective or have the
potential to/will impact on train services.
 Conduct regular rail corridor and possession inspections; engage in proactive safety engagements with work
teams.
 Undertake supervision of frontline staff from across the Sydney Trains/NSW Trains network as directed to ensure
ongoing business continuity and train service delivery.

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  Carry out protection officer duties as directed.
 Cut in local control panels as required.
 Provide familiarisation and instruction including rail corridor site visits to internal and external stakeholders
regarding rail corridor familiarisation/dealing with emergencies in the rail corridor including the identification and
use of related equipment.
 Perform audits and/or inspections as directed to ensure compliance with all safety and business requirements.
 Investigate rail corridor safety incidents as directed.
 Lead the post incident recovery process and conduct hot debriefing sessions with all on site stakeholders.
 Participate as directed in debriefing sessions with internal and external agencies following major operational
incidents.
 Assist the development of local and network wide emergency preparedness and incident plans within Operations
Directorate to ensure consistent and coordinated responses.
 Lead and deliver rail incident and emergency exercises.
 Conduct and oversee drug and alcohol testing in accordance with the Rail Safety National (Law) – 2012.
 Represent Sydney Trains and NSW Trains at Government Co-ordination Centres, Police Operations Centres,
Emergency Operations Centres, Local Emergency Management Committees and other special events as
required.
 Subject matter expert for any rail corridor familiarisations e.g. responding to faulty points, signal/infrastructure
failures, gaining access into the rail corridor.
 Prepare and submit a variety of reports as directed e.g. Network incident notices, drug/alcohol reports, emergency
exercise reports, incident debriefs.
 Carry out operational visits to all signalling and control locations, conduct regular out of hours visits.
 Live the NSW Public Sector and organisational values to achieve outstanding outcomes for the organisation and
customers.
 Execute safety responsibilities, authorities and accountabilities consistent with Sydney Trains safety management
system requirements which are defined in SMS document number SMS-02-RG-3058.

Incident Rail Commanders are operational / shift workers and are required to work a 76 hour fortnight, 19 day month. Shift
and weekend work. 24/7 rosters are a requirement of the role and you may be required to work extended shifts at short
notice. This position has an on call requirement.

Key challenges
Provide onsite management of rail incidents across the rail network given the need to ensure timely resolution of
operational issues whilst also minimising the impact on network services. The role involves attending and managing the
rail response at critical incident sites.

Key relationships

Who Why
Internal
Manager Service Delivery Response  For information, performance reporting, advice and setting priorities
Rail Commander  For major and significant incidents and emergencies
Network Incident Manager/Incident
Controller  For operational incidents and emergencies
Signal Box Operations, Stations,
Train Crew, Infrastructure Response
Staff  For operational incidents and emergencies
Emergency Officers  For operational incidents and emergencies
External
Emergency Services  For emergencies on or that affect the rail network
LEMC/POC/SCC  Working as the rail liaison officer during the activation of an
EOC/POC/SCC during emergencies or special events
ONRSR/ITSRR, ATSB, TfNSW and
other government organisations  For incident investigations, site visits or as directed
Private Train Operators and/or  For incident investigations/management, safety interventions or

Role Description Incident Rail Commander

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 Who Why
contractors inspections
Australian Rail Track  For boundary interface incidents and emergencies and subsequent
Coorporation(ARTC) , John Holland investigations

Role dimensions
Decision Making:
The position is fully accountable for the formulation of advice and coordination across all operational objectives.

Independent decision making requirements of the position include:

 Incident Response and Management (As delegated under the IMF)

Collaborative decision making requirements of the position include:

 Rail Commander (where appointed)
 Network Incident Manager/Incident Controller
 All responding rail disciplines
 Emergency Services
 EOC/POC/SCC

Reporting line:
Manager Service Delivery Response

Direct Reports:
Nil

Note: Under the Incident Management Framework (IMF) during a rail incident/emergency where a rail commander is
appointed all responding on site rail disciplines will report to the rail commander.

Budget/Expenditure:
Nil

Essential Requirements
 Qualified in all systems of safe working (including shunting) with a thorough knowledge of emergency procedures.*
 Qualified to Protection Officer Level 1-4.*
 Ability to apply the Rail Safety National Law, Network rules and procedures in demanding situations to achieve the
desired outcome within constrained timeframes.
 Extensive leadership experience in a rail operations and/or emergency service environment.
 Proven ability to undertake investigations into potential safe working incidents in a systematic, methodical and
objective manner.
 Thorough understanding of the Incident Management Framework including the roles and responsibilities contained
within.
 NSW Driver’s License Class ‘C’ or above.

*Training may be provided for suitable applicants

Capabilities for the role

The NSW Public Sector Capability Framework applies to all NSW public sector employees. The Capability Framework is
available at www.psc.nsw.gov.au/capabilityframework

Role Description Incident Rail Commander

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Capability summary
Below is the full list of capabilities and the level required for this role. The capabilities in bold are the focus capabilities for
this role. Refer to the next section for further information about the focus capabilities.

NSW Public Sector Capability Framework

Capability Group Capability Name Levels
Display Resilience and Courage Advanced
Act with Integrity Advanced
Manage Self Adept
Value Diversity Adept

Communicate Effectively Advanced

Commit to Customer Service Advanced
Work Collaboratively Advanced
Influence and Negotiate Advanced

Deliver Results Adept

Plan and Prioritise Adept
Think and Solve Problems Advanced
Demonstrate Accountability Advanced

Finance Adept
Technology Adept
Procurement and Contract Management Adept
Project Management Adept

Focus capabilities
The focus capabilities for the role are the capabilities in which occupants must demonstrate immediate competence. The
behavioral indicators provide examples of the types of behaviours that would be expected at that level and should be
reviewed in conjunction with the role’s key accountabilities.

NSW Public Sector Capability Framework

Group and Capability Level
Personal Attributes
Display Resilience and
Courage
Behavioural Indicators
Advanced
 Stay calm and act constructively when working
in high pressure and unpredictable
environments over prolonged periods
 Give frank, honest advice in the face of strong
contrary views
 Accept criticism of own ideas and respond in a
thoughtful and considered way
 Welcome new challenges and persist in
raising and working through novel and difficult
issues.
 Develop effectrive strategies and show
decisiveness in dealing with difficult and
challenging situations

Role Description Incident Rail Commander

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Personal Attributes
Act with Integrity
Relationships
Communicate Effectively
Relationships
Commit to Customer
Service
Role Description Incident Rail Commander
Advanced
 Model the highest standards of ethical
behaviour and reinforce them in others
 Represent the organisation in an honest,
ethical and professional way and set an
example for others to follow
 Ensure that others have a working
understanding of the legislation and policy
framework within which they operate
 Promote a culture of integrity and
professionalism within the organisation and in
dealings external to government
 Act on reported breaches of rules, policies and
guidelines
Advanced
 Present information in a clear accurate and
concise manner
 Negotiate desired outcomes through effective
well developed communication and
interpersonal skills
 Engage with varied stakeholders and test
levels of understanding
 Translate technical and complex information
concisely for diverse audiences
 Create opportunities for others to contribute to
the discussion making process
 Actively listen and encourage others to
contribute inputs
 Adjust style and approach to optimise
outcomes
Advanced
 Take responsibility for delivering high quality
customer focused solutions
 Provide high level customer service outcomes
 Initiate and develop partnerships with key
stakeholders to define and evaluate service
performance outcomes
 Promote and manage alliances within the
organisation and across the public, private and
community sectors
 Liaise with senior stakeholders on key issues
and provide expert and influential advice to
improve the customer experience
 Identify and incorporate the interests and
needs of customers in decision making
processes
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Relationships
Work Collaboratively
Results
Think and solve problems
Results
Demonstrate Accountability
Role Description Incident Rail Commander
Advanced
 Encourage a culture of recognising the value
of collaboration
 Support a culture of respect and
understanding across the organisation
 Recognise outcomes which resulted from
effective collaboration between teams
 Liaise, coordinate and manage internal and
external response agencies and personnel in
the effective management of incidents
 Build co-operation and overcome barriers to
information sharing and communication and
collaboration across the organisation and
cross government
 Facilitate and support a lessons learnt based
approach to incident evaluation and
continuous improvement
 Facilitate opportunities to engage and
collaborate with external stakeholders to
improve incident response capability
Advanced
 Participate in and contribute to initiatives that
resolve common issues or barriers to effective
incident response
 Work through issues, weigh up alternatives
and identify the most effective solutions
 Take account of the wider network impact
when considering options to resolve issues
 Explore a range of possibilities and
alternatives to contribute to systems, process
and business improvements
 Implement frameworks and processes that
underpin the organisations responsibilities in
incident management
 Undertake critical analysis and problem
solving in an analytical, methodical and
objective manner to handle frequently
changing priorities
Advanced
 Maintain extensive knowledge and
understanding of relevant legislation, the
associated Network Rules, procedures and
OSP’s along with other supporting
documentation
 Demonstrate the ability to apply the above in a
practical environment
 Ensure that actions of self and others are
focused on achieving organisational outcomes
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 and identify and share learnings to improve
future results
 Exercise delegations responsibly
 Ensure the correct application of the rules,
procedures is strictly adhered to
 Identify and implement safe work practices,
taking a systematic risk management
approach to ensure health and safety of self
and others
 Identify risks to successful achievement of
goals, and take appropriate steps to mitigate
those risks

Business Enablers Adept

Technology  Maintain proficiency with the use of technology
that supports the ability to manage incident
outcomes
 Utilise all available technology that will support
the dissemination of information across the
business.
 Support the business with the introduction of
new technologies that will allow for a better
customer outcome
 Share information and findings that will
optimize the use of technology within the team

Role Description Incident Rail Commander

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