Manager, Rapid Transit Engineering

theregio03 • Kitchener, ON

5d • CA$126,763 - CA$158,449 • Hybrid

About The Position

Manages and coordinates various aspects of Waterloo Region’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) extension project, applying technical and engineering knowledge in the planning, design, procurement, construction, financing, and operations and maintenance stages. Manages programs, policies, and procedures to integrate rapid transit with conventional transit.

Requirements

• University degree in Civil Engineering
• Progressively responsible related experience
• Must be licensed and in good standing as a Professional Engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario
• Knowledge and skills in rapid transit engineering, transportation engineering and planning, project management, official plans, analytical modelling, and research techniques and methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale public sector projects, including experience with major delivery models, procurement strategy/bid evaluation, and commercial leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in light rail transit design and construction.
• Strong understanding of integrated systems (e.g., civil, rail, operations).
• Experience in critical risk analysis including active ownership of risks and integration into decision-making and practices.
• Knowledge of contract administration and claims management practices.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, collective agreements, Official Plans, Regional Transportation Master Plan, utility agreements, contract law, and related legislation (e.g., Ontario Traffic Manuals, Planning Act, Public Vehicles Act, Highway Traffic Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Municipal Act, Construction Lien Act, health and safety).
• Analytical, project management, problem-solving, and continuous improvement skills to plan and develop objectives and determine goals, including administrative, technical, operational, and financial matters; organize and coordinate simultaneous projects; select and assign staff to achieve goals and objectives; and analyze claims and reports with contractor(s).
• Leadership, human relations, negotiation, and public relations skills.
• Ability to manage, develop, motivate, train, and support staff and project teams.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to advance priorities and balance objectives in a political environment, resolve issues with area municipalities and the public, negotiate with developers, area municipalities, utilities, special interest groups, property owners, and government agencies; administer contracts with contractors and consultants, conduct public meetings; prepare and conduct presentations for public and committee meetings, Council, and the media, and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to interpret detailed documents and correspondence.
• Ability to write clear, concise, detailed policy and procedure manuals, design specifications, agreements, reports, contracts, memos, and other correspondence.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, GIS, database management tools, and transportation demand forecasting models (e.g., TransCAD).
• Ability to alter working hours to include evenings and weekends for open houses and public meetings.
• Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

Responsibilities

• Leads the procurement, evaluation, selection, and management of engineering consultants, technical advisors, and delivery partners, ensuring project solutions are practical, constructible, commercially sound, and aligned with approved cost, schedule, risk, and performance objectives.
• Provides delivery leadership and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
• Manages the development and continuous refinement of business cases, ensuring recommendations remain aligned with project scope, affordability, constructability, risk exposure, and delivery timelines. Prepares and presents recommendations to Committees and Council.
• Manages project delivery strategies, governance and decision-making frameworks, performance measures, standards, procedures, and best practices that strengthen accountability, improve execution, and support successful project outcomes. Initiates operational and procedural changes as required to improve project performance and manage delivery risks.
• Manages engineering, planning, design, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning of rapid transit projects from concept to commissioning. Manages infrastructure and integration with systems, including civil works, rail infrastructure, utilities, traffic systems, and operational interfaces. Ensures delivery solutions are technically sound, constructible, safe, commercially viable, and aligned with approved project objectives.
• Participates in procurement strategy development, delivery model evaluation, contract packaging, bid evaluation, and commercial decision-making. Collaborates on procurement and delivery options to optimize project outcomes, allocate risk appropriately, and improve schedule and cost certainty.
• Manages project risk activities, including identification, analysis, mitigation, ownership, and monitoring of technical, commercial, operational, interface, and construction risks. Evaluates and recommends that risk considerations are actively integrated into project planning, design development, procurement strategies, cost estimates, scheduling, and prepares necessary justification for senior decision-making.
• Represents the Region as the senior technical and project delivery authority in regulatory, environmental, and quasi-judicial proceedings. Defends project recommendations and provides expert testimony before tribunals, boards, and regulatory agencies as required.
• Manages project adherence with environmental assessment processes, regulatory compliance, and project approvals. Ensures environmental, operational, constructability, stakeholder, and delivery considerations are effectively monitored throughout project development and implementation.
• Collaborates with regional departments, area municipalities, transit operators, utility companies, developers, and external stakeholders to ensure rapid transit investments are integrated with broader transportation, operational, urban development, and infrastructure objectives. Provides technical and delivery advice for leadership related to adjacent development applications, transit-oriented development, station area planning, and infrastructure interfaces.
• Serves as a visible manager in project safety, promoting a culture of accountability, hazard identification, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement throughout planning, design, construction, testing, and commissioning activities. Ensures safety considerations remain fundamental to all project decisions and delivery strategies.
• Supports public engagement activities, open houses, stakeholder meetings, and Council presentations by communicating technical, delivery, risk, schedule, and cost considerations. Responds to complex public, political, and stakeholder concerns and supports media communications related to project delivery.
• Participates in the development and administration of long-term capital plans, delivery programs, operating policies, resource strategies, budgets, expenditure forecasts, and implementation schedules.
• Collaborates with internal and external resources to achieve project objectives while managing adherence to scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and risk performance.
• Assumes professional responsibility for managing the integrity of the rapid transit system design and construction through the application of professional engineering judgment, seal, and signature. Manages within approved engineering standards, technical requirements, quality assurance programs, maintenance criteria, and performance standards governing project delivery.
• Manages the development and delivery of engineering designs, contract documents, technical specifications, procurement packages, construction contracts, and construction administration activities. Ensures all project elements meet technical, operational, safety, financial, commercial, and schedule requirements while supporting the successful integration of related capital projects.
• Performs related duties as required.

Benefits

• The Region of Waterloo is committed to building a workforce through fair, equitable, and accessible hiring practices that allow us to hire qualified staff who reflect the diversity of the community we serve and to promote a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager