Project Manager - IT Portfolio

 Reference Number : 1328 

Status : Permanent - Full-time  

Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : 86 000 - 102 000

Number of positions to be filled : 1 

Application Deadline : 06/05/2026

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. 

This position is to lead and manage projects within the IT portfolio.  The Project Manager will oversee and manage the projects’ design, development, implementation, and acceptance to ensure successful project delivery and transition to the operational teams. The role involves managing the projects’ schedules, budgets, and scopes as well as managing the VIA internal project teams, and the external suppliers to ensure timely completion of all activities and deliverables and remain aligned with the PMO ( Project Management Office targets.  

RESPONSIBILITIES  

Project Management :

• Work with team members to plan the projects and define the project’s scope of work, budget, and schedule;
• Develop detailed project plans and schedules and define the project’s critical path with the support of the master planner;
• Prepare and manage project budgets and ensure financial compliance;
• Prepare the Project Management Plan (PMP);
• Lead and oversee the project’s execution and day-to-day activities to ensure and maintain projects’ progress and on time delivery;
• Manage the project in collaboration with external suppliers;
• Ensure that the external suppliers’ associated scope, activities, and deliverables are completed according to the agreed upon targets and schedules;
• Manage and track the project scope, budget, financial forecasts, deadlines, and dependencies;
• Ensure the progress of the project phases with thorough monitoring and rigorous follow-ups of project delivery;
• Oversee the projects to ensure that the outcomes meet the agreed-upon requirements and stakeholder expectations;
• Engage and mobilize cross-functional teams of internal resources and external resources from various firms;
• Manage, coordinate, and assign tasks to the teams, and monitor the progress;
• Manage the workload of the project resources to ensure quality and timely project delivery; 
• Conduct stakeholder management through stakeholder analysis, engagement, and expectations alignment;
• Provide regular updates, prepare status and progress reports (weekly and monthly), and ensure transparency with stakeholders;
• Manage project risks by leading risk identification sessions with stakeholders and subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to identify, assess, and document project risks, and develop associated mitigation strategies;
• Ensure the risk mitigation strategies are in place and track and monitor the progress;
• Identify, track, and address project issues in collaboration with the project team;
• Define the project and milestones approval criteria;
• Manage the project’s quality assurance process;
• Ensure that a communication and organizational change management plan is in place;
• Maintain project documentation and plan;
• Prepare and participate in meetings and committees at multiples levels, including with suppliers;
• Facilitate project lessons learned sessions and ensure the lessons learned are properly documented;
• Collaborate in defining the gate criteria list to ensure successful handover to the operations and to obtain sign-off from the stakeholders;
• Ensure proper project closure and handover to IT Operations and/or business functions.

Project and Program Governance :

• Put in place the project governance framework (decision making and management committees) outlined in the project management plan (PMP);
• Organize, schedule, and lead monthly Steering Committee meetings, as well as prepare presentations, and provide executive summaries;
• Report on the project status and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to the project Steering Committee and PMO leadership
• Ensure that key decisions, change requests, and the use of contingency are well documented, brought before the Steering Committee, and that associated impacts are validated by all impacted stakeholders;
• Ensure the Steering Committee has the right level of information to make decisions.

PMO methodologies and the deliverables:

• Ensure appropriate project quality management processes are in place and are followed;
• Follow and ensure that the projects comply with the Corporate Project Management Office (CPMO) guidelines, standards, methodologies, deliverables, and gating process;
• Ensure compliance with governance in the processes and decisions affecting supplier selection and contractual agreements;
• Serve as a project management resource, providing guidance and best practices to team members; 
• Contribute to ongoing improvement by seeking ways of optimizing processes for delivering the project on budget and on time.

New initiatives and procurement process:

• Coordinate and assist in preparing business cases with a cross-functional team;
• Lead and prepare statements of work (SOW) with a cross-functional team; 
• Collaborate with the Procurement lead in managing the Procurement process covering the Request for Proposal-RFP, proposal evaluations, recommendations, negotiations, and contract agreement.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR 

• Bachelor’s degree in information systems management, business administration, computer science, engineering, or equivalent; 
• A minimum of 6 years of experience, including 5 years' experience in information technology (IT) project management;
• Fluent in English and French, both written and spoken;
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is an asset; 
• Experience in marketing and business projects is an asset
• Proven hands-on knowledge of project management activities, tools, and methodologies, and of IT system development;
• Exceptional organizational skills;
• Strong capabilities in planning, executing, monitoring, and successfully closing projects using best practices;
• Ability to effectively plan, prioritize, and manage tasks and resources;
• Experienced in leading, managing and coordinating projects involving multiple external suppliers and internal multifunctional teams;
• Experienced in managing technical and business projects;
• Experienced with major projects;
• Ability to deliver projects under tight deadlines and handle parallel activities for multiple projects;
• Ability to supervise, coordinate, and mobilize teams, demonstrate leadership, and influence team members trough attitude, behavior skills, and a high level of professionalism;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to actively listen and be open to others' points of view;
• Team player with the ability to work collaboratively across technical and operational teams;
• Strong stakeholder management skills;
• Demonstrates professionalism, rigor, and discipline;
• Committed to precision, consistency, and excellence in all deliverables;
• Resourceful in solving problems;
• Skilled in conflict resolution to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes;
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills;
• Proficient in financial analysis and cost estimation to support project budgeting and forecasting;
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix management environment;
• Familiar with corporate governance processes;
• Knowledge of tendering, vendor negotiation, and vendor relationship management processes;
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Project, EPM 2010, and Project Online, Microsoft Outlook (2010 & 365), Microsoft SharePoint (2010 & 365), Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office Suite (2010 & 365).

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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