Program Manager, Trains And Systems

Requisition ID: 8103 

Department: Transit Services Department

Service: Transit Engineering Services 

Branch: Rail Systems Administration Branch

Employment Type: 1 Full-time Permanent 

Work Hours: 35.00 /hours per week

Affiliation: MPE 

Salary Information: $105,581.84 - $133,531.58  annually (2022 rates of pay)

Location: 1500 St.Laurent  

City: Ottawa, ON

Job Category: Management 

Application Close: 10/05/2023

Job Summary

The Program Manager, Trains & Systems is responsible for managing safety equipment and systems, system performance, and overall state of good repair for trains, systems, fixed facilities, and civil assets for the O-Train (Trillium Line and Confederation Line). The incumbent will be responsible for recruiting, training, developing, and leading a team of technical staff to ensure that safety management standards, performance targets (availability & reliability) and maintenance standards for the O-Train are achieved.

The incumbent will be engaged in the following key activities:

• Monitor compliance with the safety management system requirements and ensure compliance with all railway regulatory issues by OC Transpo staff; and,
• Provide technical input into the development of training materials, operating bulletins, safety notices, analysis of technical issues, interpretation of failure events, and feedback on vehicle and system issues in order to support the operations staff in delivering a safe and reliable service;
• Oversees the implementation of maintenance strategies and the operations of the work unit, and manages financial and human resources for the department. The Program Manager is accountable for hiring and dismissal in their department, performance management and discipline of their staff as necessary, and acts as spokesperson for the employer at grievance hearings, and arbitrations, when required.
• Provide technical input into the development of long term plans for the City’s rail networks including with design reviews, commissioning plans, and future system and service level expansions;
• Lead the oversight of safety related inspections, technical performance, maintenance standard compliance, key performance metric compliance, and service quality factor compliance for the O-Train trains, systems, fixed facilities, and civil assets;
• Complete lifecycle and capital planning, condition assessments, reliability improvement planning, failure investigations, and root cause analyses to maximize the performance of the systems on the O-Train Trillium Line and Confederation Line;
• Plan and manage maintenance issues with other City departments or subcontractors to ensure that interfaces between rail and other groups are fully coordinated and seamless, e.g. snow removal, landscape maintenance, garbage removal, tree removals, bridge inspections, and multiuse pathway maintenance;
• Assist the Contract Management unit with monitoring and measurement of the performance of the subcontractors with train, system, and facility maintenance.
• The incumbent maintains contact with other branches within the city, provincial and national representatives, outside agencies and companies, and contractors for the city; responds to questions from the general public, customers, media including senior staff; and represents the city at public meetings.

Education And Experience

Completion of a Four (4) year University Degree in transportation or engineering, maintenance, or another related technical field.

A minimum of seven (7) years of related and progressively responsible experience in a transit environment, managing a changing and dynamic system, including technical (design, maintenance, or commissioning) experience in at least two of the following areas:

• Train Signaling Systems (traditional fixed block signals and/or CBTC signal systems)
• Experience should also include years of responsible experience in:
• Civil Infrastructure (track systems, overhead catenary systems, drainage design, bridge and structure inspections, wheel-rail interface principles, noise & vibration management)
• Light Rail Vehicle Systems (HVAC, brake systems, onboard controls, DC traction)
• Communications & Security Systems (CCTV, public address, radio, passenger information, telephone systems, communication networks, fiber networks, and SCADA systems)
• Managing human resources in a unionized work environment
• Managing contracts and contractor performance in a public sector organization
• Working with budgets/financial processes
• Building Management Systems (fire alarm systems, HVAC systems, access controls, lighting system controls, elevators, escalators, building electrical and mechanical systems, and tunnel ventilation)

P.Eng. would be an asset.

KNOWLEDGE

• Legislation, policies, regulations, guidelines and operational procedures relevant to rail operations including knowledge of rail regulatory requirements at federal, provincial and municipal, where required
• Knowledge of the maintenance of light rail transit systems and the principles behind asset management including configuration management, planned maintenance and corrective maintenance strategies, condition assessments, reliability tracking and trending, overhaul programs, and predictive maintenance techniques
• Protocols for developing submissions, briefings, major reports
• Must possess the training, experience and knowledge to organize the work and its performance – previous experience on electric light rail systems would be an asset.
• Methods used to deal with the media in a professional manner
• Business software and information systems (SAP, MS Office, Outlook)
• Must be familiar with all applicable health and safety legislation, have knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the work place, and have knowledge of appropriate actions to be taken in order to ensure the health and safety of staff in accordance with applicable legislation and City policies and procedures.
• Supervisory experience and motivational techniques. Working knowledge of corporate human resource policies, practices and collective agreements related to managing in a unionized environment, including hiring, dismissal, performance management and the grievance procedure

Competencies, Skills And Abilities

Leadership Competencies

The key competencies that describe the skills and behaviours expected to be demonstrated by managers and supervisors at the City of Ottawa are available on Ozone. The seven Leadership Competencies, which align with Servant Leadership, are:

• Builds Collaborative Relationships - Proactively communicates, builds and utilizes professional relationships and partnerships with all internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrates Business Sense – Understands the impact of decisions on the business and the ability to strive to improve business performance; requires an awareness of business issues, processes and outcomes as they impact the community, the City’s reputation and strategic direction
• Fosters Innovation and Change - Develops an environment that embraces innovation and efficiently integrates change into the organization
• Strategic Leadership - Sets/implements the strategic direction, understands internal and external trends, the political sensitivities of the organization and applies this knowledge to support the long-term vision and success of the City
• Delivers Results - Creates effective plans and performance measures, holds themselves and others accountable for measurable, high quality, timely and cost-effective results
• Client-centric Focus - Serves the client interest through focusing individual, team and organization effort on identifying and meeting key and diverse client needs (the term “client” includes both internal and external clients)  
• Engages Employees - Leads, coaches, mentors and develops an engaged, diverse workforce of individuals and teams, where work is performed in a safe, respectful environment and successes are recognized and celebrated regularly

What You Need To Know

• Language Requirement: English oral, reading, writing
• Experience and formal training combined with demonstrated performance and ability may substitute for stipulated academic requirements.
• Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The City of Ottawa promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and non-binary persons, persons of all ethnic origins, religions, sexual orientations, classes, gender identities and expressions.

Candidates are encouraged to self-identify as a member of one or more designated employment equity groups in the self-identification questionnaire.

The City of Ottawa provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Please contact the HR Service Centre (email: [email protected]) at 613-580-2424, extension 47411 HR Service Centre at 613-580-2424, extension 47411.