SVP of Canada Operations

First Student; Old Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Vice President of Canadian Operations to lead and innovate within the transportation sector. This pivotal role involves driving operational efficiencies, managing financial performance, and fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders across Canada. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in the transportation industry, demonstrating exceptional leadership and strategic planning skills. With a commitment to safety and customer service, you will champion initiatives that enhance operational standards and employee engagement. Join a dynamic team dedicated to excellence and make a significant impact in the industry.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in passenger/student transportation with upward progression.
• Experience managing operations in Quebec and union negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Drive financial performance and operational efficiencies across Canada.
• Maintain customer service relationships and develop strategic objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Financial Analysis

Customer Service

Team Building

Labor Negotiation

Bilingual (French and English)

Operational Efficiency

Education

4-year degree or equivalent experience

Job description

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

The Senior Vice President of Canadian Operations (with the external business title of President Canadian Operations) is responsible for providing overall direction and leadership for all aspects of First Student’s Canadian operations and ensuring that the company achieves all financial, safety and customer objectives. The Senior Vice President over Canada drives optimal efficiency in execution across all Canadian locations and provides direction and guidance to the company’s regional Sr. Vice President(s) and/or Area General Managers for financial performance and execution to approved First Student standards.

Major Responsibilities

• Drives the “First Student Way,” minimizing the variability across areas, locations and all markets within Canada. Demonstrates a strong sense of mission in the development and execution of a strategic business plan. Motivates others by establishing clear vision as to the needs necessary to ensure success in profit performance, client relations, and business development. Demonstrates the First Student values in management actions.

• Delivers First Student initiatives within all Canadian operations. Champions new initiatives and support changes. Ensures region Sr. Vice President and AGMs are supporting the new initiatives.

• Drives budget activity within all markets across Canada in order to ensure maximum performance. Overall responsibility for financial performance for all Canadian operations. Drives operational efficiencies to optimize all costs within Canadian operations.

• Maintains excellent customer service relationships with customers. Develops strategic and tactical objectives within the region(s) which supports the company’s operating plan and customer initiatives. Builds and maintains productive relationships with key external partners throughout Canada including school board leaders, local school officials, parents and the community.

• Acts as liaison to governmental officials and regulatory agencies in Canada.

• Responsible to drive employee engagement, community engagement, culture and growth for First Student but more specifically to all locations within Canada.

• Oversees sales and contract renewal process throughout Canada.

• Responsible for the management of the region’s assets, and vehicle maintenance. Establishes effective business partnerships within internal stakeholders.

• Drives consistent performance of company operating processes and new initiatives throughout Canada.

• Secures resources to address out of tolerance trends in KPIs.

• Tracks and addresses regional threats from competitors, customers and regulators.

• Strategically allocates resources to areas of opportunity

• Ensures locations apply all First Student safety practices. Develops initiatives and programs focused on achieving the highest safety standards in the industry.

• Oversees the development, coaching and growth of staff, ensuring they are fully engaged and are developing effective leadership and Management skills.

• Leads by example. Drives and maintains a strong positive team through effective recruiting, on-boarding, training, coaching, team building and succession planning. Ensures required training has been completed by all region staff including their own individual completion.

• Establishes labor negotiation thresholds and contract thresholds across Canada. Engages in labor negotiations and contract negotiations.

• Provide local market knowledge and participant as a member of the leadership team for the $4.0B North American company.

• Other responsibilities as required or requested

Minimum Experience or Skills Required

• 4-year degree or equivalent experience

• 15+ years proven experience in passenger and/or student transportation or comparable service industry showing a consistent successful upward employment progression

• Must be a Canadian citizen

• Bi-lingual in French and English preferred

• Must have experience managing an operation in Quebec

• Proven track record building productive business relationships, ideally within the public and private school board network

• In depth understanding of the KPI’s (safety, financial, customer) required for the market leading school bus operations, strong business acumen with experience in financial, strategic and organizational analysis

• Experience working with unionized employees and negotiating labor contracts

• Experience building a team and developing strong, motivated subordinates

• Demonstrates Integrity - Interacts with others in an open, honest, respectful and fair manner

• Delivers Results - Proactively identifies opportunities to achieve challenging goals

• Strong commitment to delivering exceptional customer service

• Demonstrate Exceptional leadership, decision-making and team building skills

• Strong oral and written communications; effective interpersonal skills in dealing with customers

• Strong commitment to Safety Lifestyle

• Highly resourceful and collaborative

• Organized with an attention to detail

• Incumbent must be able to move about the office and between floors; utilize standard office equipment; access filing system/cabinets; and communicate effectively and efficiently in person or by telephone.

• Travel at least 50%