Senior Advisor, Safety Risk Management
About The Position
VIA Rail is undertaking ambitious projects to modernize its services and infrastructure, including a new train fleet and ongoing infrastructure improvements. The Senior Advisor, Safety Risk Management, is responsible for leading the development, implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of the railway operational risk assessment framework. This role ensures hazards, threats, and credible scenarios are systematically identified, risks are analyzed and quantified, and effective mitigation measures are implemented across all railway operations. As a senior technical expert, this role leads complex, cross-functional risk assessments in live operational environments, integrating safety, security, health & safety, environmental, and operational risks to enable informed decision-making and achieve the highest level of safety performance.
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, risk management, safety, or related field
- Strong verbal and written communication skill in both official languages
- 8-10 years of relevant experience in safety, environmental or risk systems (Railway Operations or Rules Compliance knowledge a plus)
- Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and ISO standards
- Ability to present to large groups at various levels of the organization or to external partners; at a Senior Management and/or Executive Level
- Quick learner and Collaborative
- Focus on continuous improvement
- Engaged with a strong work ethic
- Analytical, critical and governance mindset
- Stakeholder engagement
- Capacity to develop plans and effect rigorous follow up
- Established skill in writing policies and procedures
- Fluent in MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Nice To Haves
- Railway Operations or Rules Compliance knowledge
- Expertise in MS Power BI, Teams, SharePoint, Flow
- Risk Assessment Qualifications
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the operational risk assessment framework ensuring compliance with SMS, passenger rail security, H&S, and environmental regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
- Oversee hazard and threat identification, credible worst-case scenarios, and loss-of-control events across railway operations.
- Direct the application of qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methodologies to evaluate and prioritize risks.
- Ensure integration of risk assessments into operational decision-making, change management, and project governance.
- Provide expert guidance to ensure consistency and maturity of risk practices across all business units.
- Lead and facilitate complex, cross-functional risk assessments across railway operations, encompassing railway safety, health and safety, security, environmental, and other operational risks, including incidents, occurrences, safety concerns, and operational changes.
- Conduct multidisciplinary workshops in operational environments ensuring rigorous analysis and control validation.
- Develop and recommend mitigation strategies, barriers, and recovery measures.
- Influence stakeholders to ensure accountability and effective implementation of risk treatments.
- Integrate safety and security risks within the enterprise risk management framework.
- Incorporate railway safety, security, health & safety, environmental, and operational risks into risk assessments using consistent methodologies.
- Advise on risk tolerance, acceptance, and escalation while promoting a strong risk culture and governance practices.
- Lead the development and use of data analytics tools to support risk-based decision-making.
- Analyze incidents, trends, and operational data to identify emerging, systemic risks and areas requiring attention across railway operations.
- Develop risk indicators, tracking and reporting mechanisms, and predictive models.
- Ensure integrity and governance of data used in risk analysis and reporting.
- Translate analytical outputs into actionable insights for leadership.
- Act as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor to operational and corporate stakeholders.
- Develop and deliver training programs on risk assessment methodologies.
- Mentor teams and promote best practices across the organization.
Benefits
- Permanent - Full-time
- Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : $91,506 - $107,654
- Employment-equity employer
- Inclusive and equitable work environment
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
