Manager, Operating Practices and Transportation Training (OPTT)

 Reference Number : 783 

Status : Permanent - Full-time  

Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : $92 534 - $114 307

Number of positions to be filled : 1 

Application Deadline : 04/20/2025

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The Manager, OPTT – East region will be responsible for the deployment and oversight of new and existing practices, maintenance of operating documentation and other host railway instructions, and the training, development, and qualification of all new students within the Locomotive Engineer Apprenticeship Program (LEAP) and other locomotive engineer trainees. As the regional representative, the Manager, OPTT will be responsible to ensure all directives from the OPTT team are consistently implemented and maintained across his/her region. This includes ongoing monitoring of safety compliance metrics (KPIs) and enforcement of compliance measures and other initiatives associated with VIA’s Safety Management System (SMS).

Reporting to the Specialist Director, OPTT, the Manager, OPTT will work closely with his/her respective regional operations team (which extends from Toronto up to Nova Scotia) through a dotted-line relationship. In collaboration with their regional team, the Manager, OPTT will be responsible for assisting the region to ensure proper understanding and application of operating rules and procedures, including consistent interpretations managed by the OPTT team and the issuance of pertinent operating notices and bulletins. They will also be responsible for influencing and developing the next generation of locomotive engineers in their region through their involvement in the recruitment, supervision, training, and qualification of all new locomotive engineer trainees, including those through VIA’s LEAP program.

Together with our regional operating teams, the Operating Practices and Transportation Training team will continue our unrelenting efforts to modernize and improve our operating procedures and training programs and reaffirm our commitment to safety as our number one priority.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor and supervise applicable railway operating practices and Transportation Training initiatives resulting in safer, more reliable, and more cost-effective passenger rail services for Canadians;
• Assist their respective regional operations teams in the successful execution of their Safety Management System (SMS) initiatives and targets;
• Provide subject matter expertise support to internal groups and projects for operational support and training needs;
• Work with internal partners to ensure operating procedures are updated to reflect best practices and ensure optimal safety and efficiency in our operations;
• Oversee and maintain of all regional operating documentation and manuals including the filtering and processing of pertinent host railway notices, bulletins, and other communiques;
• Deliver regulatory and safety training sessions, support the Transportation Training function, including the facilitation of classroom and simulator training sessions;
• Ensure, with the support of the Transportation Training team, the training materials are updated in line with any regulatory or internal procedural changes;
• With support from the regional operations teams, Supervise, coach, and oversee on-the-job training of all student locomotive engineers (including LEAP, SLE, and QLE) for your region, including all final qualification validations;
• Assist Transportation Training team with development and validation of training schedules in collaboration with respective regional operations team;
• Manage local Transportation Training initiatives in your respective region, in collaboration with the department Learning Advisors, Transportation Training;
• Ensure compliance with all pertinent regulatory requirements and host railway mandates, in collaboration with other internal stakeholders and their regional operations team, including audits of locomotive video and voice recordings (LVVR) in compliance with regulations;
• Assist in the analysis and development of new policies, procedures, and related training materials in a subject matter expert (SME) capacity;
• Respond to calls for escalation or rule interpretations from our regional operating teams during service disruptions to ensure a safe and efficient return to normal service;
• Facilitate local regulatory examinations (CROR, etc.) in collaboration with regional teams and Transportation Training coordinator and support the tracking of regulatory training records;
• Undertake the direction of the Specialist Director, OPTT, ensure alignment and consistency between their respective region and other operating regions while liaising with other stakeholders such as local host railway representatives, regulatory bodies, etc;
• Issue (and translate, when necessary) any pertinent informational notices or operating bulletins, while ensuring consistent application and language across all operating regions;
• Ensure proper communication and collaboration between the Operating Practices function and the Transportation Training group to ensure all training materials are always kept up to date and current;
• Act as an escalation point in the interpretation of all applicable operating rules and procedures by VIA’s operating employees, working with the Specialist Director to ensure consistent interpretations and applications across the system;
• Assist with the management of VIA’s LE Tablet program, including the maintenance of VIA operating manuals and operating bulletins, including those of all host railways.

Requirements:

• University Degree in Management or equivalent training and experience;
• Ten (10) years of experience in Railway Operations and Canadian Railway Operating Rules (CROR) qualified at the conductor or locomotive engineer level, with a minimum of 3 years of experience in managing or coaching of employees;
• Qualification as a Locomotive Engineer with operating experience in passenger service considered an asset. Qualification as a conductor with the ability to qualify as a locomotive engineer is required;
• Experience in delivering CROR training considered an asset;
• An above-average knowledge and understanding of technical subjects (CROR, PTI, etc.).

Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution, work ethic, and leadership skills;
• An above-average knowledge and understanding of technical subjects (CROR, PTI, etc.);
• Exhibit exemplary professionalism and exercise due diligence in all decisions;
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple complex files simultaneously without error;
• The ability to lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team comprised of both unionized and non-unionized employees;
• A working knowledge and understanding of technology and computer software (e.g. Microsoft Office, SharePoint, etc.);
• Impeccable ethics and personal integrity;
• Proven oral and written communication skills in both French and English;
• Ability to travel to support operational and/or training requirements in regions across Canada (~30%).

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.

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