Vice President, Operations & Performance

Metrolinx; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent public transit agency in Toronto is seeking a Vice President to lead Operations & Performance. You will guide the delivery team to uphold safety and efficiency standards while managing contracts and resources in the context of transit expansion. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in public sector strategy and project management, preferably within transportation. This is an on-site role offering strategic leadership in a fast-growing environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of senior experience developing/managing corporate strategy.
• Familiarity with legislation related to public transportation.
• Project management principles with budget and schedule controls.

Responsibilities

• Guide the Operations Delivery team to uphold standards of safety and efficiency.
• Lead meetings and document decisions for departmental alignment.
• Oversee operations and maintenance contracts for rapid transit.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Negotiation

Financial management

Education

Degree in Business Administration or Engineering

Master's degree (asset)

Job description

Overview

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.

Our Rapid Transit – Operations Performance Office is hiring a Vice President, Operations & Performance. This strategic leadership role is pivotal in guiding the Operations Delivery team to uphold the highest standards of safety, efficiency, consistency, and compliance. It plays a key part in supporting Metrolinx’s commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience across the organization. The Vice President will also be responsible for the successful oversight of operations and maintenance contracts, working collaboratively within an integrated team to effectively manage resources and drive operational excellence. This on-site role will be based at 20 Bay and / or the LRT Maintenance Facilities.

Responsibilities

• Support downstream governance, to manage the multiple interface points, stakeholders and contracted entities delivering operations and maintenance services. Ensuring that best practice and lessons learned are being deployed, in accordance with divisionally led project controls direction and portfolio / program guidance and decisions are enacted in a timely manner.
• Organize and lead meetings, reviews, budgets, schedules, progress to date and ensures that all documentation is consistent for departmental purposes and access is made available to the relevant team members. Assist in monthly reviews of performance across the division.
• Direct and lead the Operations and Maintenance contract oversight including developing a Management Plan which clearly defines reporting relationships, roles and responsibilities and accountabilities. Provide the focused strategic leadership required to successfully manage a complex and high-profile division in the delivery of rapid transit objectives.
• Support the Operations & Performance team by providing divisional leadership in the development of consistent process and practice, approaches, and solutions to common issues, challenges, and to increase cooperation and knowledge sharing across the program organization.
• Support rapid transit delivery through commissioning and transfer to operations, leading senior level interface and collaborate with external stakeholders, to ensure coordination of program level areas and interfaces, responsible for the contract management, assurance and oversight with an objective to ensure projects across the portfolio are in compliance with organizational standards and adopting best practices from their recent predecessors.
• Act as a second line of governance and assurance, to compliment rapid transit delivery and provide a strategic tie in for all operations and maintenance management information to EVP level, including management of quality, performance and risk to ensure compliance. Operating in the best interest of service delivery, ensures all relevant internal and external stakeholders are acting in good faith, to best represent the interests of the overall rapid transit program.
• Leading, on behalf of the EVP, the program from a quality and risk management lens working with operators and maintainers, internal and external stakeholders and corporate functions, ensuring that risks are identified, reviewed, prioritized, and that mitigation plans are implemented according to risk management plans.
• Responsible for the operationalization of the corporation’s vision, values, mandate and business goals in the areas of accountability; including development of protocols, standards, levels of service, and principles of practice.
• Develop and nurture strong working relationships with partners and external stakeholders; negotiate cross-divisionally and externally, extending influence to ensure progress is made on the operations performance vision and plans and the overall delivery of the rapid transit activities.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and change and provides senior level sponsorship to direct reports and peers to implement those that support Metrolinx’s strategic plans and operational mandates.
• Provide active involvement and leadership regarding the health and safety of employees while building a positive safety culture ensuring programs comply with corporate health, safety and environment requirements, core values and strategic objectives.
• Establish benchmarks, goals, and objectives that reflect corporate strategy and direction, including appropriate metrics (Key Performance Indicators), monitoring systems, and reporting functionalities.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and policy requirements; provide input to audit activities; ensure regular risk reviews and contingency plans are in place.
• Through effective management support the financial health of the organization and stewardship of all financial and other resources.
• Support annual planning process including in year reviews and adjustments to budget and forecast. Participate in submissions to Change Control Boards & Investment Panels to support corporate fiscal management.
• As a member of the Operations Rapid Transit Senior Management Team, take personal responsibility for robust implementation of enterprise-wide people programs (e.g. Executive Succession Planning, 360 degree feedback, and employee satisfaction / engagement surveys and employee engagement strategy)
• Provide creative thought leadership with input from others to develop and deploy a strategic vision; connect and align projects with strategic corporate goals; develop methods to manage transition in changing policy, programs and services to align with the organization’s agenda.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with relevant legislation (e.g. Metrolinx Act, Places to Grow Act, Planning Act, Revised Statutes of Ontario (RSO), Municipal Act, and other applicable acts and policies) is an asset
• Knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements governing light rail, subway, bus and passenger rail services (e.g. Transport Canada (TC), Federal Railway Administration (FRA), American Association of Railways (AAR), American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) to meet provincial and municipal standards and best practices
• Knowledge of Human Resources legislation (e.g. Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, etc.) to monitor and manage employees and contractors, including experience in the application of collective agreement provisions
• Experience with supplier management to manage development and delivery of externally provided products and services, and monitor service delivery and performance against contract provisions
• Knowledge of budget development and management processes
• Project management principles and practices, including budget and schedule controls, to lead and direct cross functional teams and consultants engaged in simultaneous projects (i.e. development, project progress, related staff and project resources) and monitor project activities for adherence to timelines, budgets, and project performance objectives
• Minimum 10 years’ progressively senior experience developing / managing corporate strategy, preferably in the transportation and / or the public sector
• Completion of a degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related discipline – or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent; a Master’s or other graduate degree is an asset

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

We value the unique skills and experiences each person brings to Metrolinx and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment. We are committed to the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act so if you require accommodation during the hiring process, please let our Recruitment team know by contacting 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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