Manager, Train Operations

VIA Rail Canada; Montreal; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

VIA Rail Canada is seeking a Manager Train Operations to supervise transportation staff and assets, ensuring safe, reliable, and on-time rail operations within the territory. The role reports to the Regional Senior Manager, Transportation.

You will lead safety initiatives, oversee investigations, coordinate with host railways, labour orgs, and internal departments, and ensure compliance with CROR and company policies. Strong bilingual communication and travel willingness are essential.

Qualifications

• University or College accreditation in management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Possess an intermediate level in written and verbal communications skills in both recognized official languages.
• Ten years' experience in railway operations and recognised knowledge of the CROR.
• Qualification as a locomotive engineer an asset and must be eligible for medical certification for safety critical positions.
• Working knowledge of collective agreements and experience in a unionized environment.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and SharePoint.
• Bilingual (French and English), both written and spoken.
• Willingness to travel frequently away from home.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with host railways, labour organizations, internal departments and regulatory bodies to ensure safe and timely services by VIA Rail to its customers.
• Manages Operational and Occupational safety for Transportation activities, identifying systemic issues and corrective actions to ensure a safe work environment.
• Responsible to ensure efficient use of staff and assets.
• Provides on the job training and qualifying of locomotive engineers and conducts compliance monitoring.
• Monitors on-time performance identifying systemic issues and solutions.
• Attends and conducts ad hoc investigations of derailments, accidents and other emergencies involving operations personnel or the performance or non-performance of duties where there has been a contravention of the CROR or organizational policies.
• Participate in meetings and in the production of reports on safety problems and incidents or accidents to ensure rapid accountability and immediate application of recommendations.
• Responsible to conduct investigations, disciplinary actions and final incident reports. Provide input and ensure locomotive engineer training and record keeping on specific training requirements, operational changes, operational rules and procedures and organizational policies and procedures in conjunction with the Transportation and Labour Relations groups.
• Issuing operating notices and preparing and issuing train operation and crew publications as required by VIA Rail collective agreements.

Skills

Bilingual communications

Written & verbal communications

Travel willingness

Safety compliance

Education

Management degree or equivalent education

Grade 12 or CÉGEP

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

SharePoint

Job description

Did you know that VIA Rail is carrying out ambitious projects to modernize its services and infrastructure? From our new ultramodern train fleet to ongoing improvement of our infrastructure, we’re building the future of transportation in Canada. Working for VIA Rail is being a part of a collective effort in sustainable mobility.

Reporting to the Regional Senior Manager, Transportation, the Manager Train Operations supervises and manages transportation staff and assets. VIA Rail locomotive engineers report directly to this position and it is the responsibility of the Manager Train Operations to ensure the safe, reliable and efficient rail operations within their territory.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with host railways, labour organizations, internal departments and regulatory bodies to ensure the provision of safe and timely services by VIA Rail to its customers;
• Manages Operational and Occupational safety for Transportation activities, identifying systemic issues and corrective actions to ensure a safe work environment including:
• Responsible to ensure efficient use of staff and assets;
• Provides on the job training and qualifying of locomotive engineers and conducts compliance monitoring;
• Monitors on-time performance identifying systemic issues and solutions.
• Attends and conducts ad hoc investigations of derailments, accidents and other emergencies involving operations personnel or the performance or non-performance of duties where there has been a contravention of the Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR) or organizational policies; or represents VIA Rail to host railways involved in investigations involving VIA Rail personnel for any of these reasons;
• Participate in meetings and in the production of reports on safety problems and incidents or accidents to ensure rapid accountability and immediate application of recommendations in order to avoid other similar cases;
• Responsible to conduct investigations, disciplinary actions and final incident reports. Provide input and ensure locomotive engineer training and record keeping on specific training requirements, operational changes, operational rules and procedures and organizational policies and procedures in conjunction with the Transportation and Labour Relations groups;
• Issuing operating notices and preparing and issuing train operation and crew publications as required by VIA Rail collective agreements. This includes assisting the Operations Control Centre and Crew Management Centre as required to ensure the reliability and on‑time performance of train operations, as well as issuing appropriate notices to locomotive engineers on a regular basis;

What We Are Looking For

• University or College accreditation in management or equivalent combination of education and experience; Minimum Grade 12 or CÉGEP;
• Possess an intermediate level in written and verbal communications skills in both recognized official languages;
• Ten years' experience in railway operations and recognised knowledge of the CROR;
• Qualification as a locomotive engineer an asset and must be eligibile for medical certification for safety critical positions;
• Working knowledge of collective agreements and experience in a unionized environment;
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Share point;
• Bilingual (French and English), both written and spoken;
• Willingness to travel frequently away from home.
• Must be available to work outside normal working hours, holidays and weekends and because you are part of a Transportation management team, providing on call coverage as required.

At VIA Rail, we are proud to be an employment-equity employer and we strive to form teams that reflect the diversity of Canadian society. We aim to remove barriers to employment accessibility and aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone is valued, regardless of their identity or differences, to enable them to reach their full potential.

To support our recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence and automated tools that support, but never replace, human judgment. All hiring decisions are made by our hiring managers, supported by experienced recruiters.

If you need assistance in making the recruitment process or the position you are applying for more accessible, please let us know. Alternate arrangements may be offered to individuals who request them at any stage of the recruitment process. All information received in relation to arrangements will be kept confidential.

Note that we will only contact those who are selected for an interview.

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