Job Summary
The incumbent 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) to meet CN's service commitments. The incumbent's primary responsibility is to ensure network fluidity, optimal crew utilization and transportation plan implementation. The incumbent 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.
Main Responsibilities
Safety Orientation, Understanding, Compliance and Coordinating
- 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 about the safety management plan
Problem Solving and Decision Making
- 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
Planning and Organizing Workload
- 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
- Manage crew allocation by territory requirements as per CBA
General Leadership of Union Workforce
- 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
Performance Management, Training and Onboarding
- 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 to create transparency and clear understanding of CN's direction and expectations
Working Conditions
The role has irregular hours (including nights, weekends, holidays). The incumbent has an overall commitment to safety, while working in conjunction with collective agreement.
Experience
Industrial Work
- 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*
- Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered
*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
Education/Certification/Designation
- High School Diploma
- Bachelor's Degree in Business or Logistics*
- Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered
*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory)
Competencies
- We Care About Each Other
- We Strive for Excellence
- We Succeed Together
- We Lead Responsibly
- Vision and strategic thinking
- Impactful and inclusive leadership
- Performance and value delivery
- Empowerment and talent development
- Strategic communication and influence
- Managerial courage and decisiveness
- Customer service
- High
- Planning
- Coordination
- Prioritization
Technical Skills/Knowledge
- 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