Manager, Transportation

VIA Rail Canada; Thompson; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Excellent pension plan & bonus program

Generous vacation & parental leave

Hybrid work options (role-dependent)

Telemedicine access

Health & wellness coverage

Travel privileges for staff

Career development & training

Commitment to equity, diversity & IN

Employee resource groups

Job summary

VIA Rail Canada is seeking a Transportation Manager to supervise and manage transportation staff and assets, ensuring safe, reliable rail operations within the Western region. Based in Thompson, the role requires coordinating with host railways, regulators, and internal teams to uphold safety and performance standards.

The candidate should have extensive railway operations experience, CROR knowledge, and the ability to work irregular hours with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum Grade 12 or college degree in related field.
• Ten years' experience in railway operations and knowledge of CROR.
• Eligible for medical certification for safety-critical positions.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work outside normal hours.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with host railways, labour organizations, internal departments and regulatory bodies to ensure safe, timely VIA Rail services.
• Oversee safety for Transportation activities and identify systemic issues with corrective actions.
• Ensure efficient use of staff and assets.
• Provide on-the-job training and qualification for locomotive engineers; conduct monitoring.
• Monitor on-time performance and identify systemic issues and solutions.
• Investigate derailments, accidents, or emergencies and participate in reporting and accountability.

Skills

Staff supervision

Safety compliance

Operational planning

CROR knowledge

Written & verbal communications

Microsoft Office

Education

Grade 12 or college degree

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.

Why VIA Rail?

We’re Proud To Offer a Workplace That Reflects The Diversity And Inclusivity Of Canadian Society. At VIA Rail, You’ll Enjoy

• Competitive Compensation & Benefits
• Excellent Pension Plan & Bonus Program
• Generous Vacation, Parental, and Personal Leave
• Hybrid Work Options (role-dependent)
• Unlimited Access to Telemedicine Services
• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Coverage
• Train Travel Privileges for You and Your Family
• Career Development & Training Opportunities
• Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Participation in Social Initiatives & Employee Resource Groups

POSITION

Reporting to the Western Regional Senior Manager, Transportation, this person 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.

Please be advised that the successful candidate must be based in Thompson (or the very near surrounding area) or be willing to relocate there.

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 to avoid other similar cases;
• Responsible for conducting 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

• Minimum Grade 12 or a College degree; (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 is a strong asset:
• Ten years' experience in railway operations and recognized knowledge of the CROR;
• Qualification as a locomotive engineer an asset and the person 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 Share point;
• Willingness and capacity to travel frequently away from home.
• Must be available to work outside normal working hours, holidays and weekends and because this person will be 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.

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.

Join our 3,000 other employees in helping provide Canadians with a safe, accessible, environmentally sustainable way to travel!