Chief Dispatcher

Canadian National Railway Company•Homewood, IL

23h•CA$132,000 - CA$141,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Dispatcher is a front-line supervisor position responsible for the management of day-to-day train operations of the territory and unionized Rail Traffic Control Dispatchers (RTC) in order to meet CN’s service commitments. The incumbent’s primary responsibility is to ensure network fluidity, optimal crew utilization and transportation plan implementation. The Chief Dispatcher oversees the dispatching of trains by providing direction to the RTC based on regional goals and initiatives. Spearheading the day-to-day operations of a 24/7 function, the role is critical to ensuring the on-time performance of trains, and thus, CN’s commitment to customers.

Requirements

Industrial work experience that demonstrates progression of responsibility and complexity in a safety-compliant environment
Minimum 4 years of supervisory experience of unionized employees
2 years of experience as a Rail Traffic Control Dispatcher
High School Diploma
Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Logistics
Tracks metrics to achieve ambitious targets and holds self accountable to meet performance expectations
Inspires others with impactful communications and adapts well to its audience
Makes informed and timely decisions to succeed
Collaborates with key internal stakeholders to enable higher productivity
Continuously displays a customer centric attitude in order to improve the customer’s journey
Addresses risks in a timely manner to eliminate them
Time management
Project management
Knowledge of operating rules, procedures and policies
General Microsoft and computer skills; especially with Excel, Word, SRS, SAP, PAP, Applications such as RTBI and DataCity

Nice To Haves

Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset
Any designation education for these above would be considered as an asset

Responsibilities

Coach and train unionized employees on safe operating procedures for train movement
Build safety compliance and improve safety results through regular safety observations; provide feedback (positive and constructive) to subordinates and act on non-compliant behaviour
Train, audit, and implement standard operating procedures
Ensure safe operation as measured by accidents and incidents and employee injuries
Achieve weekly and monthly safety observation expectations and objectives in regards to the safety management plan
Maintain teamwork and order among staff, contractors, and internal clients by acting with a sense of urgency to respond to issues as they may arise
Use operational data in CN systems to identify opportunities to improve asset utilization and service reliability
Lead crew utilization, track deadheads, recrews and labour cost and act to improve the operations and cost control
Prepare daily meet plans
Monitor the oversight of track maintenance, track repairs, and upgrades while overseeing the operation of train movement
Set recover plans for service exceptions in conjunction with field
Lead train line ups and train meets and to predict estimated time of arrival and train crew needs
Align train crews and schedule
Determine best opportunity to move trains against multiple demands
Give recommendations to cost control and asset utilization when planning workflow and implementing decisions
Communicate company goals and policies to create clear understanding of direction and expectations
Conduct investigations per collective agreement and issue discipline in collaboration with the leadership team
Develop and sustain the right employee behaviours with feedback, recognition, reinforcement and coaching
Evaluate employee performance and review performance expectations, actual performance, and overall performance ratings
Conduct onboarding conversations to ensure employees are adopting proper work practices, and have the knowledge, tools and understanding to perform their job safely and efficiently
Identify and coach performance deficiencies, and act to build required behaviour
Share best practices, information and operational concerns in order to create transparency and clear understanding of CN’s direction and expectations