Vice President, Network Operations

Metrolinx; Oakville; On-site; CAD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Metrolinx, an Ontario government agency, seeks an accomplished executive to lead our Network Operations, overseeing GO Transit rail and bus services with a focus on safety, reliability, and performance. The role directs real-time operations, service recovery, and incident response while coordinating with internal and external partners.

The successful candidate will drive strategic priorities, manage budgets, and champion a culture of continuous improvement across a complex transit network in the

Qualifications

• University degree in Engineering, Rail Systems, Business, or related field.
• 15+ years in progressively senior project leadership roles in transportation/public sector in Canada an asset.
• Knowledge of HR legislation (e.g., Employment Standards Act, OHSA).
• Senior leadership to manage multi-team unit.
• Project management across cross-functional teams and consultants.
• Knowledge of CROR and railway operating experience (minimum 3 years).
• Strategic thinker with transformation experience and execution capability.
• Ability to engage stakeholders and drive change.
• Ontario G-class Driver's license required; Driver's Abstract may be requested.
• Ability to mentor and develop talent.

Responsibilities

• Provides executive leadership and accountability for day-to-day safe, reliable operation of the GO Transit network (rail and bus).
• Sets strategic priorities for Network Operations aligned to safety, service plans and performance targets.
• Advises executives on network performance, risks, and service recovery actions.
• Leads contracting strategy to balance operations with infrastructure delivery.
• Supports GO Expansion mandate and ensures proper resourcing for deadlines.
• Oversees incident response for major disruptions, safety incidents, and weather events.
• Manages budgets, operating plans, contracts, and resources within Network Operations.
• Champions safety, discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication

Education

University degree or advanced degree

Job description

Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto's subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President, Network Operations provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational accountability for the safe, reliable, efficient, and customer-focused day-to-day operation of the GO Transit network, including rail and bus operations. The role is accountable for leading real-time network operations, operational service delivery, service recovery, performance management, operational readiness, and critical incident response across the network.

What Will I Be Doing?

• Provides executive leadership and accountability for the day-to-day safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the GO Transit network, with oversight of rail and bus operations, real-time service management, Network Operations Control, service recovery, and operations performance.
• Sets strategic and tactical priorities for Network Operations, aligned to corporate objectives, safety obligations, customer commitments, service plans, and operational performance targets, with a particular focus on on-time performance, service reliability, safety performance, and efficient use of operating resources
• Provides strategic advice and operational updates to the Executive, senior management, and other governance forums on network performance, critical service issues, operational risks, safety matters, service recovery trends, and actions required to improve on-time performance and service reliability.
• Providing leadership to ensure a successful contracting strategy is developed with a coherent approach to the delivery of operations balanced with the need to provide additional infrastructure to meet the increasing capacity demands as required
• Support the delivery of GO Expansion mandate. Actively drives enterprise-wide collaboration and synergy and ensures proper levels of resourcing is onboard to meet deadlines and commitments.
• Provides executive leadership for critical incident response affecting real-time operations, including major service disruptions, safety incidents, infrastructure failures, fleet availability constraints, severe weather events, security events, emergency response events, and other network conditions that may affect safe and reliable service delivery.
• Provides executive leadership for critical incident response affecting real-time operations, including major service disruptions, safety incidents, infrastructure failures, fleet availability constraints, severe weather events, security events, emergency response events, and other network conditions that may affect safe and reliable service delivery.
• Ensures that critical incidents are managed through clear command, control, coordination, escalation, and communication protocols, with appropriate involvement from safety, security, maintenance, customer communications, rail and bus operations, infrastructure partners, emergency responders, municipal partners, and other internal or external stakeholders.
• Provides executive leadership oversight of Network Operations Control systems, processes, tools, data, and reporting used to support real-time rail and bus operations, service recovery, performance monitoring, and executive decision-making.
• Serves as the accountable Operations executive overseeing the coordination and interaction with internal stakeholders, emergency responders, regulatory bodies, municipal and regional partners, contractors, infrastructure partners, freight or corridor partners where applicable, and other stakeholders involved in service delivery, service recovery, and critical incident response.
• Provides senior leadership oversight for budgets, operating plans, contracts, service delivery resources, and financial controls within the Network Operations portfolio, ensuring that resources are aligned to safe, reliable, efficient, and customer-focused service delivery.
• Champions a culture of operational discipline, safety leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring that leaders and teams understand the standards required to operate a complex rail and bus network safely and reliably.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• University Graduate or advanced degree in Engineering, Rail Systems, Business, or a related discipline – or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent; Graduate degree is an asset
• Minimum 15 years' experience in progressively senior project leadership roles, experience leading large complex construction projects from conception to build; experience in the transportation industry and public sector in Canada an asset
• Knowledge of Human Resources legislation (e.g. Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, etc.), to monitor and manage employees and contractors
• Senior leadership skills to provide senior technical and administrative leadership to an operating or functional unit with multiple teams
• Project management principles and practices to lead and direct cross functional teams and consultants engaged in simultaneous projects (i.e. development, project progress, related staff and project resources) to monitor project activities for adherence to timelines and project performance objectives
• Interpersonal and oral/written/presentation skills to formulate policies and programs for the provision of the Division's services, and develop and maintain an environment of positive collaboration
• Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian Railway Operating Rules (CROR) and their application and minimum 3 years of operating experience in a railway environment
• Strategic and innovative thinker with the ability to establish a transformation vision, translate it into a clear roadmap, and drive effective execution on an ongoing basis
• Proven experience leading and influencing business transformation initiatives across various functions
• Ability to quickly gain deep cross-functional knowledge of transportation industry to effectively identify program risks
• Superior communication and collaboration skills - an ability to communicate effectively and influence both key internal and external stakeholders
• Requires outside-in perspective to bring in trends and best practices from the external environment and implement them to drive change at Metrolinx
• Focus on operational efficiency and speed of execution for key projects.
• Deep expertise in driving large scale capital projectswiththe ability to translate knowledge into effective advice for leaders across Metrolinx on their transformation initiatives / needs
• A valid Ontario "G" class driver's license is required. A Driver's Abstract (within last 3 Years) will be required at any time of hire.
• Ability to attract, develop, and mentor top talent.

Don’t Meet Every Requirement?

If you're excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn't quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation:

Metrolinx is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are also committed to offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants in accordance with applicable legislation. If you require assistance or an accommodation at any point during the hiring process, please contact us at: 416-202-5601 or email [e-mail].

Application Process:

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time-sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate.

Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.

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