Senior Manager, Engineer Technical Operations

Canadian National Railway Company•Homewood, IL

20h•CA$130,500 - CA$163,100•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Engineering Technical Operations is responsible for overseeing CN’s rail grinding and Rail Flaw Detection (RFD) daily operations. Moreover, the role oversees welding standards, training, and audits, and employing the latest wheel and rail interface science and best practices to extend the life of our rail. The incumbent ensures that both CN and regulatory safety standards are achieved through proper planning and risk mitigation. The position oversees significant contractor assets and spend associated with said service delivery. Additional tasks include the development and review of safety plans, procedures, and processes for the department, including contractor oversight.

Requirements

Minimum 7 years of previous railroad experience in Engineering
Minimum 4 years of supervisory experience
Minimum 2 years of experience directly responsible for engineering maintenance, construction, or production
Experience in safety compliance
Previous RFD, welding, rail grinding and lubrication experience
High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering
Professional Engineering (P.Eng) Designation
Valid Driver’s Licence
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Systems, Applications and Procedures (SAP), DataCity, Bentley, and Track Information System (TIS)
Ability to understand and create technical documents
Technical understanding of rail operations and ability to communicate with Senior Transportation Officers
Knowledge of Transportation and railroad safety regulatory requirements (Canada and the United States)
Fluently bilingual both written and verbal (English, French)

Nice To Haves

Any experience for these above would be considered an asset
Any designation for these above would be considered an asset
Any knowledge for any of the above would be considered as an asset

Responsibilities

Develop grinding and RFD test schedules utilizing a risk-based approach, with the latest technology and data
Handle daily RFD and rail grinding operations, ensuring safe and efficient execution by CN employees and vendors
Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and oversee processes to verify the quality of the work performed by CN’s RFD, Grinding, and welding operations
Handle employee and vendor safety performance
Collaborate with Transportation and Engineering leadership to ensure equipment productivity, and maintain RFD inspection and grinding frequencies as per the plan
Benchmark industry best practices and identify opportunities for improvement
Educate self and team continuously on the latest trends and technologies to improve the effectiveness of our operations
Participate in industry track standard review committees
Ensure that all employees are properly trained and adhere to safety protocols and regulations for welding
Contribute to developing and implementing company policies and procedures related to safety and environmental compliance
Conduct safety audits and inspections to identify and address safety hazards and risks
Collaborate with the Safety team to develop and implement safety initiatives and programs
Lead a safety process to track action items as well as supervisor and employee compliance
Perform field audits to determine and monitor compliance with established safety and regulatory standards
Monitor and ensure compliance with the Fire Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan
Maintain up to date with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Transport Canada (TC) safety standards
Coach, mentor, and guide team members to ensure they have the necessary tools and support to succeed
Carry out performance management including setting and monitoring KPIs
Participate in the selection and recruitment of new team members
Carry out disciplinary actions when necessary and be familiar with the applicable employee collective agreements
Communicate with union representatives, including handling issues related to grievances and investigations
Participate in succession planning and career development activities
Ensure team members receive appropriate training and are up to date on all training requirements
Lead and participate in regular staff meetings
Handle the operating and capital budgets for CN’s RFD and Grinding operations
Monitor spending to maintain the planned budget
Adjust working asset usage as needed based on available funds and performance
Monitor invoices regularly and ensure their timely and accurate processing
Ensure compliance with vendor contracts and communicate with vendors regularly
Ensure compliance with relevant accounting practices (e.g., staff travel expenses)