Senior Advisor, Commercial Activity

 Reference Number : 849 

Status : Permanent - Full-time  

Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : $ 91 506 - $ 113 037

Number of positions to be filled : 1 

Application Deadline : 06/13/2025

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. 

Reporting to the Director of Strategy Service Planning for the New Long-Distance Fleet Program, Regional and Remote Regions, the Senior Advisor, Commercial Activity is responsible for ensuring the project's alignment with the constraints and expectations of the business units while respecting the terms of the contract with the supplier for the LDRR fleet renewal project. 

They will assume the direction of resources and the responsibility for the execution and validation of the mandates assigned to them. They act as an expert in Commercial Strategy and Customer Journey for everything related to the definition of the customer experience, passenger journey, and the choices of Design and Strategic Alignment of the new fleet. They direct and controls projects or changes of very high complexity and/or risk and resolves unique and complex problems that have a significant impact on the program's direction.

Responsibilities: 

Procurement Phase

• Support the negotiation team before (development of terms and conditions and commercial evaluation) and during the negotiation phase with the supplier;
• Validate and communicate the orientations recommended by VIA Rail to the supplier and external consultants assigned to professional services related to the project;
• Be the main point of contact for internal stakeholders specialized in various required disciplines called upon to support the project on an ad-hoc basis for VIA Business. 

Execution Phase Interaction within the Program

• Actively participate in the implementation of solutions within the LDRR program team while respecting the program's Cost, Schedule, and Quality constraints;
• Validate that the fleet supplier proposes a design that ensures the satisfaction of strategic requirements and constraints to consider in terms of:

1. • Defining passenger service and customer experience requirements;
   • Participating in Product reviews (FAI, Mock-ups) with the supplier;
   • Participating in design reviews with the Program's Technical and Design & Build team.

Stream Responsibility

• Responsible for commercial activity for each project phase: Define the Customer Journey, the importance of each touchpoint and elaborate a service plan, define the customer experience on board, onboard service offering, including service classes, branding, sustainability, accessibility;
• Responsible for the commercial and service design input into the Entry into Service of the new fleet, including during the transition phase;
• Establish a team that can support the program from the Notice To Proceed (NTP) until the end of the warranty;
• Manage this team in a matrix environment.

Requirements:

• University degree in Marketing/Business with a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience;
• An equivalent combination of relevant experience and education will be considered.
• Bilingualism (English-French) is essential - Strong verbal and written communication in both official languages

Competencies:

• Excellent negotiation skills with external partners and stakeholders;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meticulously, and to prioritize in order to meet commercial, operational, and deadline requirements;
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, as well as the ability to establish and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external partners and stakeholders. Proven ability in producing reference documents and follow-ups;
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, in both French and English, including to the executive committee and the board of directors;
• Results-oriented approach and excellent problem-solving skills. High level of autonomy and efficiency required;
• Excellent ability to manage stress and tight deadlines;
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work and achieve results in a constantly evolving dynamic environment.

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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