Assistant Superintendent

The Assistant Superintendent is a mid level management position which is responsible for the oversight of front-line supervisors (FLS) (FLS - Trainmasters and Assistant Trainmasters), and unionized conductors and locomotive engineers as it relates to day-to-day train operations of the territory or terminal in order to meet CN’s service commitments. The incumbent’s primary responsibility is to supervise the FLS in achieving the organization's targets, rules and regulation compliance, act as a point of escalation, intercede with other departments, coach and develop FLS to take on increased responsibility, and oversee the management of unionized employees. The role is critical to ensuring the FLS have the support structure in place to produce the on-time train performance, and thus, CN’s commitment to customers in a 24/7 work environment.

Main Responsibilities

Safety Orientation, Understanding, Compliance and Enforcement

·Coach and train both management and unionized employees on safe and productive work procedures

·Build safety compliance and improve safety results through regular safety observations; provide feedback (positive and constructive) to subordinate and take action on non-compliant behaviour

·Audit and validate the safety discussions held by front-line supervisors with unionized employees

·Validate and qualify conductor trainees prior to moving onto the spare board

·Respond to crossing incidents and accidents or site of injury to support employee reaction, work with police and manage the site until the track and service have been restored

·Responsible for submission of accident and injury investigation close out

·Respond and coordinate to a dangerous good incident or leak in a yard, liaise with Dangerous Goods Officer and ensure employee and public well-being is upheld

·Train, audit, and implement Standard Operating Procedures

·Ensure safe operation as measured by accidents, incidents and employee injuries

·Achieve weekly and monthly safety observations expectations and objectives in regards to the safety management plan

·Co-chair and participate in Health & Safety Committee meetings on a regular basis

·Interaction with local communities including presentations

Problem Solving and Decision Making

·Maintain teamwork and order amongst staff, contractors, and internal clients by acting with a sense of urgency to respond to issues as they may arise

·Ensure the decisions being made consider a larger perspective – consider the territory not just the terminal

·Use operational data in CN systems to identify opportunities to improve asset utilization and service reliability, take action for territory and make recommendations with CN’s network implication

·Oversee the management of crew utilization, track deadheads, recrews and unproductive labour cost as well as improve the operations and cost control

·Set recovery plans for service exceptions in conjunction with Rail Traffic Control (RTC) centre

·Oversee and support the front-line supervisors in accurate and timely reporting of delays and identifying ways to reduce delays, managing, monitoring and improving Initial Terminal Delay and Final Terminal Delay

Planning and Organizing Workload

·Support FLS in working with rail traffic control to manage train line ups and train meets and to predict estimated time of arrival and train crew needs

·Support FLS in managing crew productivity against switching standards, recommend improvements when appropriate

·Keep track of the yard status, service commitments, old dates, inbound arrivals, process traffic to reduce dwell, and ensure train connections and departures meet the service plan

·Establish best opportunity to move traffic against multiple demands

·Oversee cost control and asset utilization as it relates to the territory, ensure terminals are compliant with CN’s standards and expectations

·Oversee customers service plan and adjust when required

·Build network relationships to support the strategic initiatives and opportunities of territory and region

General Leadership and Supervision of both FLS and Union Workforce

·Communicate company goals and policies to create clear understanding of direction and expectations to both front-line supervisory team and unionized employees

·Oversee the investigation process as per collective agreement, and ensure timelines are met and actions progress

·Work with Occupational Health Services in returning employees to work

·Develop and sustain the right employee behaviours with feedback, recognition, reinforcement and coaching

·Participate in the interview process, facilitate training schedule

·Oversee the FLS with time off requests, leave of absences, and attendance management

Performance Management, Training and Onboarding

·Spearhead Trainmasters: evaluate employee performance and review performance expectations, actual performance, and overall performance ratings

·Work with FLS to create comprehensive development goals and support in the achievement of technical and leadership development, while providing opportunities for growth

·Conduct and validate 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 take action to build required behaviours

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

Working Conditions

The role has irregular hours (including nights, weekends, holidays). The incumbent will work in a combination of an office environment and the outdoors in various types of weather and environmental conditions. The role requires travel for company business without advance notice which may include responding to unexpected emergency or urgent situations.

Requirements

Experience

Trainmaster and Industrial Work

·Trainmaster work experience

·Industrial work experience that demonstrates progression of responsibility and complexity in a safety-compliant environment

oExperience working with heavy machinery

o4 years of supervisory experience of both management and unionized employees*

*Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset

Education/Certification/Designation

·High School Diploma

·Valid Driver’s Licence

·Qualified Conductor or Locomotive Engineer*

·Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Logistics*

*Any education for these above would be considered as an asset

Competencies

·Develops and empowers self and others to ensure CN’s success through continuous feedback and coaching

·Shows initiative and empowers others to raise our collective game

·Makes informed and timely decisions to succeed

·Tracks metrics to achieve ambitious targets and holds self accountable to meet performance expectations

·Inspires others with impactful communications, both orally and in written, and adapts well to its audience

·Addresses risks in a timely manner to eliminate them

·Collaborates with key internal stakeholders to enable higher productivity

·Continuously displays a customer centric attitude in order to improve the customer’s journey

·Time management and project management

Technical Skills/Knowledge

·Working knowledge of other operating functions (engineering, mechanical, operations centre)

·General Microsoft and computer skills; especially with Excel, Word, SRS, SAP, PAP and applications such as RTBI, DataCity and SmartYard

·Comprehensive knowledge of safe rail operating practices

· Fluently bilingual both written and verbal (English, French)