Specialist Director, LDRR Locomotive

 Reference Number : 897 

Status : Permanent - Full-time  

Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : $129,548 - $160,029

Number of positions to be filled : 1 

Application Deadline : 07/31/2025

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, LDRR Program, the Specialist Director, Project Management (Loco) is responsible for leading the locomotive acquisition program. He/she oversees all aspects of this project throughout the program's lifecycle to ensure they are completed in terms of scope, quality, schedule, and costs, and in accordance with corporate objectives. He/she ensures the accuracy of resource allocation throughout the project and develops the hiring plan. He leads multidisciplinary teams (direct or indirect links) to ensure that projects are successfully created and deployed.

Responsibilities: 

• Lead the design and construction project of the locomotives
• Collaborate with the locomotive manufacturer to successfully execute the project
• Create and execute project plans
• Prepare monthly progress reports presented in a dashboard
• Ensure continuous monitoring and control of the locomotive manufacturer's activities
• Compare progress against the plan and ensure compliance with scope, schedule, and costs while ensuring the completeness and quality of all deliverables
• Proactively manage change requests related to scope, schedule, or costs
• Identify key project issues and risks and act as a leader to address them
• Initiate the management of a contingency plan if required

• Engage and mobilize internal and external resources from various firms
• Provide coaching, mentoring, motivation, supervision, and evaluation of members from different groups, and influence them to take positive actions and assume responsibility for their assigned work
• Manage and lead a multidisciplinary team, including permanent employees (direct and indirect) and consultants

• Manage project budgets, financial forecasts, and cost control measures to ensure profitable project completion
• Identify factors and implement actions to optimize acquisition and ownership costs of the equipment

• Verify product compliance with all contract requirements, including applicable standards and laws
• Execute the quality assurance program to maintain high standards for project deliverables and manufacturing quality of the locomotives
• Ensure the quality of training deliverables

Requirements: 

• University degree in Engineering or a relevant field (a graduate degree is an asset)
• In-depth knowledge of PMI (Project Management Institute) processes
• PgMP certification or relevant experience
• At least 12 years of experience in project management, technical management, and team management with substantial experience in large-scale projects
• Proven experience and ability in implementing project management methodologies and techniques
• Bilingual in French and English

Competencies: 

• Analytical skills, strategy development, synthesis, and problem-solving
• Expertise in financial management, budgeting, estimation, procurement, and contract negotiation
• Ability to drive consensus towards the target solution while generating value for the company
• High qualification in project delivery and initiative management in a complex environment, with a results-oriented approach
• Leadership of multidisciplinary teams and proven experience in managing high-level professional personnel
• Ability to adapt to constantly changing priorities, demands, and schedules, thanks to problem-solving skills
• Act as a mentor in analyzing situations and making project management decisions
• High level of flexibility during periods of change and ability to respond to project adjustments and modifications quickly and effectively
• Understanding of communication styles of internal and external group members from a wide range of disciplines
• Proficiency in oral and written communications
• Strong interpersonal skills fostering a stimulating environment
• In-depth knowledge of Project Management Institute (PMI) processes

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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