Infrastructure & Capital Projects - Senior Manager, Rail Access Planning & Control, COM

Comtech; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transportation company in Toronto is looking for a Senior Manager of Rail Access Planning. This role involves providing leadership to the Integrated Delivery Planning Centre and managing rail access activities. The ideal candidate will have at least 18 years of project management experience in transportation, strong communication, and leadership skills. This full-time position offers a chance to develop and implement safety leadership programs while optimizing rail access for all customer networks.

Qualifications

• Minimum 18 years of experience in Project Management; 10+ years in transportation or related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in leading and developing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IDPC/IPDC and short-term rail access planning teams.
• Oversee production safety during construction activities.
• Coordinate with senior management to ensure alignment with plans.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Leadership

Risk Assessment

Negotiation

Education

Technical degree in Transportation or related discipline

MBA

PMI PMP certification

Tools

Network Access Planning Tool (NAPT)

Vault

Job description

Overview

The Senior Manager of Rail Access Planning will provide senior leadership to a rapidly growing team responsible for the Integrated Delivery Planning Centre (IDPC) OR Integrated Delivery Planning Centre (IPDC) OR Integrated Planning and Delivery Centre (IPDC) and short-term rail access planning teams to align with our EAS standards, calendar, and commercial requirements for all client rail networks.

Maintains a focus on safety, productivity, and project-to-project access management, coordinating with Capital Projects Group (CPG) and other rail operations groups to optimize corridor access activities in real time.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IDPC/IPDC and short-term rail access planning teams; resolve access conflicts and prioritization for corridor deployment; coordinate with senior management and other CPG areas to ensure alignment with long-term contractual plans (Engineering Access Statement, EAS).
• Oversee a team of Production specialists monitoring production productivity, safety, and deficiencies during construction activities on or near the rail corridor; support IPDC with real-time decision-making and coordination with NOC.
• Provide guidance on permission, approval, and oversight of non-rail movement and rail access activities; ensure corporate knowledge of interventions across client-owned corridors.
• Prioritize pre-filtered access requests for construction, optimize rail corridor access to minimize customer impact while enabling GO Expansion and Regional Express Rail programs.
• Oversee long-term planning to design access events around pre-filtered requests, coordinating with similarly-timed requests to minimize network disruption; address project-to-project conflicts.
• Commercial Contracts: review and support rail corridor access portions of agreements; develop access opportunities required to perform works; develop access regimes for contracts network-wide.
• Long Term Planning: design operational rail access around pre-filtered corridor requests to maximize productivity and minimize disruption; identify and address cross-project conflicts.
• OnCorr: ensure contract language aligns with Network access and long-term plans; mitigate risks during transitions and conflicts.
• Flagging: plan long-term resources to support all programs and protect works for maximum productivity and safety.
• Work Plans & Work Block Design: review upcoming events against schedules to minimize impact and maximize productivity; plan and coordinate access events with other requests.
• Work Block Production Field Supervision: monitor field activities for compliance with work block design and CROR safety practices to maximize safe productivity.
• NOC Rail Corridor Access Control Centre Coordination: act as 24/7 point of contact for progress of work blocks; respond to real-time challenges and coordinate with train service management to protect revenue service.
• Support achievement of strategic objectives for the Delivery Integration Department; provide regular KPI updates for RCACCPG.
• Implement safety leadership programs and improve safety across RCAC activities; lead the IDPC team in creating and implementing new ways of working to increase productivity and decision-making capabilities.
• Lead liaison with other rail operations groups (fleet maintenance facilities, bus operations, tracks and signals, service design) to adapt planning and performance to organizational needs; work with integrated rail corridor access teams (CPG).
• Understand priorities of Rail Corridor Access activities to optimize corridor access in real-time; assist in updating and coordinating IDPC workstreams and interline liaison.
• Lead safe Form Y, DOB, GBO best practices or Locally Controlled Interlocking practices within USRC (as applicable); lead contract management and vendor performance, including Train Movement Vendors.
• Develop and implement business continuity planning for RCAC to maximize safety and minimize delays; manage procurement strategies and respond to vendor performance concerns; ensure safety management system compliance.
• Communicate and promote Safety Management System and safety culture within RCAC activities; manage customer stakeholder readiness and external communications on plans and studies when appropriate.
• Build collaborative relationships with senior leadership and stakeholders; develop resources, drive results, manage conflicts, and represent customer and stakeholder needs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 18 years of experience in Project Management; 10+ years in transportation or related field.
• Proficient with Network Access Planning Tool (NAPT) and Vault; capable of facilitating training for Delivery teams to develop Engineering Access Statement (EAS).
• Education: Technical degree in Transportation or related discipline; MBA is an asset.
• PMI PMP certification is preferred; environmental safety or regulatory courses are assets.
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal skills, and ability to present to senior management and external audiences; ability to manage multi-disciplinary projects with safety considerations.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies, risk assessment, budgeting, procurement, and vendor management; ability to guide policy, procedures, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leadership: proven ability to lead and develop teams, manage performance, and align projects with corporate goals; ability to influence, negotiate, and maintain relationships with partners and customers.
• Technical and regulatory knowledge: safety, health, and building codes as applicable; knowledge of CO guidance for rail access programs.
• Ability to work in operational environments, travel within client territory, and occasionally outside regular hours as needed.

Employment Details

• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Experience: Senior Manager
• Vacancy: 1