Specialist Director, LDRR Project CARS

Reference Number : 1334 

Status : Permanent - Full-time  

Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : $129,548.00-$152,409.00 

Number of positions to be filled : 1 

Application Deadline : 06/21/2026

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. 

Reporting to the LDRR Program Director, the Project Management Director is responsible for leading the railcar acquisition program. He oversees all aspects of the project throughout its lifecycle to ensure delivery in line with scope, quality, schedule, and cost objectives, and aligned with corporate goals. He ensures proper resource allocation and develops staffing plans. He leads multidisciplinary teams (directly or indirectly) to ensure successful project design and delivery.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall Project Leadership

• Structure the project (schedule, milestones, governance);

• Lead the design and construction of railcars in compliance with contract requirements;

• Collaborate with the manufacturer to ensure successful execution;

• Develop and execute project plans;

• Prepare monthly progress reports presented in dashboards;

• Oversee and control manufacturer activities continuously;

• Track actual progress against the plan and ensure alignment with scope, schedule, and costs, while maintaining deliverable quality and completeness;

• Proactively manage change requests;

• Identify key risks and issues and act as a leader in resolving them;

• Initiate mitigation plans when required;

• Ensure alignment with VIA Rail’s strategic, commercial, and operational objectives.

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, engage, and mobilize multidisciplinary internal and external teams;

• Provide coaching, mentoring, motivation, supervision, and performance evaluation;

• Manage stakeholders across various domains and program streams;

• Align team priorities with program objectives;

• Ensure stakeholder and internal client satisfaction.

Financial Management (P&L ownership)

• Manage budgets, forecasts, and cost control measures (CAPEX & OPEX);

• Identify opportunities to optimize acquisition and lifecycle costs.

Compliance Management

• Ensure product compliance with contractual, regulatory, and legal requirements;

• Implement quality assurance programs;

• Ensure deliverable and manufacturing quality standards.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• University degree in Engineering or related field (Master’s an asset);

• Strong PMI knowledge;

• PgMP certification or equivalent experience;

• Minimum 10 years’ experience managing large-scale projects.

• Proven project management expertise;

• Bilingual (French & English);

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;

• Financial management, budgeting, procurement, and negotiation skills;

• Mastery of cost–quality–schedule balance;

• Ability to build consensus and drive value;

• Experience delivering results in complex environments;

• Strong leadership of multidisciplinary teams;

• Adaptability to changing priorities;

• Mentorship capability;

• High flexibility and responsiveness;

• Excellent communication skills;

• Strong interpersonal skills;

• Deep knowledge of 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.

Join our 3,000 other employees in helping provide Canadians with a safe, accessible, environmentally sustainable way to travel!