Senior Manager, Work Equipment - Canadian National Railway Company

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Work Equipment is responsible for ensuring the reliable operation and maintenance of specialized equipment used by Engineering personnel to maintain CN’s track and bridge infrastructure. The role stabilizes costs through standard practices and procedures, implements system wide best practices and communicates common strategy across the system and drives consistency in work equipment operations.

Main Responsibilities

Safety

·       Implement consistent policies, procedures, and training methods to foster a safe workplace

·       Establish and enforce equipment-specific safety protocols, including lockout and tagout procedures as per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Federal Railway Association (FRA) guidelines, and Transport Canada standards to ensure safe equipment operation

·       Follow CN’s established rules and procedures to maintain operational safety and compliance

·       Deliver targeted training on new equipment and ensure all team members meet required qualifications

·       Engage with union representatives to integrate machine-related provisions outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

·       Organize and facilitate training sessions with external vendors to enhance skills and knowledge

·       Oversee contracting processes for outsourced training services to ensure effective and specialized instruction

People Management

·       Lead, coach and develop a team of managers and guide the strategic direction of the team 

·       Evaluate employee performance and review performance expectations, actual performance, and overall performance ratings 

·       Establish comprehensive development goals and support to achieve technical and leadership development while providing opportunities for growth 

·       Share best practices, company information, and operational concerns to create transparency and understanding of CN direction and expectations 

·       Participate in employee selection, onboarding, training, development, and evaluation 

·       Execute disciplinary actions and control conflicts  

·       Identify areas of improvement within current processes or create new processes that will further enhance the effectiveness of the team 

Maintenance Programs

·       Ensure the fleet's reliability through rigorous and consistent maintenance and repair practices

·       Follow Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance schedules with traceable documentation to ensure optimal equipment performance

·       Regularly update the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) with new and leased equipment

·       Review the CMMS weekly to confirm alignment with field conditions and evolving requirements

·       Update Systems, Applications, and Products (SAP) with detailed information on rebuilds, engine changes, machine updates, and warranty items to ensure comprehensive tracking and management

·       Complete maintenance tasks as scheduled to minimize costs and enhance equipment longevity

Scheduling

·       Guarantee that equipment is accessible to end users to meet program schedules and monitor maintenance needs effectively

·       Assess available equipment to minimize the need for leases during emergencies and ensure efficient resource allocation

·       Anticipate changes in field processes by identifying required equipment and implementing necessary adjustments system-wide

·       Maintain an optimal amount of equipment for production schedules

·       Escalate leasing requirements for cost evaluation and adjust schedules to minimize leasing expenses

·       Regularly audit equipment conditions to schedule repairs at shop locations before major failures occur, ensuring continued operational efficiency

·       Assess the fleet for potential capital rebuilds to avoid high costs and delays, addressing major repairs before they escalate

Budget Management

·       Implement unit cost analysis for each equipment type to manage and stabilize overall repair and maintenance expenses

·       Regularly review budget and expenditures to ensure all regions adhere to their allocated budgets

·       Create a capital program based on unit costs, tracking monthly to ensure compliance with budgetary requirements for labor, materials, and other charges

·       Conduct monthly reviews of inventory to ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) regulations and identify opportunities to reduce excess or unnecessary stock

·       Regularly assess inventory to confirm that CN is not holding surplus stock

·       Identify the most expensive equipment and ensure that costs are fairly distributed across all equipment types

Fleet Planning and Systems

·       Create and sustain systems to track equipment usage and condition effectively

·       Formulate and implement both short-term and long-term strategies for fleet management, including equipment acquisitions, overhauls, and leases

·       Keep the CMMS up to date to ensure accurate data and efficient operations

·       Consistently review the telematics dashboard for accuracy and identify opportunities for enhancements to improve its functionality

Working Conditions

The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday. The roles work schedule varies based on major program work or outages and can include weekends and long periods away from home. The role requires extensive travel (75%) system-wide throughout Canada and the United States (U.S.). The incumbent is required to be on-call 24/7 to respond to critical incidents and may be required to travel with minimal notice. Due to the nature of the role, the incumbent must be able to meet tight deadlines, handle pressure, and stress.

Requirements

Experience

Management and Cost Control

·       Minimum 5 years of management

·       Minimum 3 years of experience in cost control and budget management

o   Experience teaching, training and coaching others

o   Experience leading a team of unionized and non-unionized staff

Education/Certification/Designation

·       High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED)

Competencies

·       Demonstrates agility and drives change

·       Collaborates with others and shares information

·       Develops self and others

·       Sets direction and inspires others

·       Communicates with impact

·       Leads by example for the safety and security of all

·       Applies critical thinking

·       Identifies potential safety and security risks

Technical Skills/Knowledge

·       Knowledge of mechanical engineered equipment-capacity, reliability, and safety

·       Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Work, Teams)

·       Knowledge of SAP and CMMS

·       Strong financial acumen and knowledge of budgetary best practices