Program Manager, Transit and Passenger Rail

Employment Status: Regular

Time Type: Full time

At the heart of CSA Group is a vision: making the world a better, safer, more sustainable place. It's been part of our mission for nearly one hundred years: from the first engineering standard for railway bridges developed in 1919, to more than 3,500 standards, codes & related products today.

Headquartered in Canada, with a global footprint of more than 30 labs and offices across Europe, Asia and North America, CSA Group tests, inspects and certifies a wide range of products - from everyday household items to leading-edge technology - to meet exacting requirements for safety, performance and environmental impact.

Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We're looking for people like you to help make it happen.

Job Summary:

CSA Group Standards Division has an opportunity for a Program Manager, Transit and Passenger Rail, reporting to the Director, Strategic and Cross-Sector Programs. This permanent, full-time role involves leading the development of standards-based solutions, managing a team of Project Managers, and building strategic relationships across industry and government. The ideal candidate will possess strong critical thinking, decision-making, communication, and organizational skills, with a focus on meeting financial targets and ensuring project objectives are achieved. The position requires a detail-oriented, customer-driven leader committed to CSA's mission of enhancing safety and sustainability.

The location for this position may be at the CSA office in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton or Montreal. The Program Manager (PGM) is responsible for providing strategic and execution leadership in the development of standards-based solutions for the Transit and Passenger Rail sector; addressing the needs of industry, government and the public, primarily through the management of a team of Project Managers.

A leader, motivator, and builder, you thrive on developing and executing plans and strategies for expanding CSA’s presence in safety standards. An outstanding relationship builder, you have a track record of developing and maintaining strategic relationships with senior leaders within industry, government and academia.

Facilitative and customer-driven, you have a knack for developing the solutions that pragmatically address CSA clients’ needs. You also understand the importance of effective people and process management, utilizing CSA’s recently introduced metrics to augment your team’s decision-making.

You have proven, well-developed decision-making and communication skills, along with exceptional organizational and people development abilities. You show initiative, ensuring that all financial targets are met (revenue, cost and margin), as well as being someone who is motivated, resilient and flexible. Detail and process orientation is important, as is the ability to work well with people at all levels and with divergent interests.

Responsibilities:

• Meets regularly with staff to ensure standards projects are achieving their objectives (e.g. timelines), within prescribed budgets, planning and executing corrective actions as required, while meeting policy and procedures from Standards Council of Canada and ANSI.
• Hires, continually assesses, trains and develops Project Managers, to ensure program objectives are achieved.
• Develops annual business plan for the program, including the execution plan, strategic plan and budget.
• Works with the Director and Strategic Initiatives Manager to drive business development opportunities within the scope of the program, to ensure continual growth of the full portfolio of products and services, interfacing with other groups as required (e.g. other Standards Sectors, Commercial, Marketing, Government Relations, and TIC division).
• Interfaces with external parties to advance the work of the program, facilitates knowledge transfer, and manages program specific stakeholder issues. This includes working with organizations such as industry associations, strategic partners, government agencies, etc.
• Committee management, as applicable (e.g., Strategic Steering Committees), including establishing the scope of work to be completed, preparation of meeting agendas/minutes/documents, managing required resources, maintaining current and balanced membership, and providing ongoing project management and strategic leadership in conjunction with the Chair and Vice-Chair.
• Manages key program funding contracts, as applicable, and relationships with key funders and related stakeholders.
• Works collaboratively with the Strategic Initiatives Manager in developing social media strategy, membership models, participation, funding, and communication with members.
• Responsible to continuously improve Customer Loyalty and employee engagement in the program area.

Decision making:

• Overall project plans submitted by Project Managers, including timelines and budgets.
• Assignment of responsibility for new projects and product initiatives.
• Portfolio mix (e.g. standards areas to be withdrawn, new subject areas to be added).
• Personnel training and development plans for direct reports.
• Performance assessment and development planning for personnel.
• All business travel requests, including attendance of staff at conferences.

Recommendations:

• Annual strategic and business plans, including budgets, operational execution plans, headcount, etc.
• Contracting of outside parties (e.g. training organizations, business partners).
• Disciplinary actions contemplated dealing with committee members, Chairs or Vice-Chairs.

Education and Experience:

• An undergraduate degree in Engineering, Science or Applied Science. A post graduate degree is a definite asset.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in strategic planning, operational management, and Program or Project management in the Transit and Passenger Rail area, coupled with a solid knowledge of related sector issues and trends (e.g. railway electrification, zero emission bus fleets, asset management, accessibility, climate resilience, safety management systems, transit rail design and construction).
• Experience with managing people, knowledge of standards development processes and, dealing with teams of high profile experts would also be definite assets.

Skills:

• Knowledge of national and international standards industry.
• Knowledge of the standards industry, government policy, regulations, industry landscape, and funding programs/models.
• Research and analytical skills.
• High degree of self-motivation.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Strong oral and written communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Competency with major Microsoft and Project Management software.
• Applicants with proficiency in French will be given special consideration.

Travel:

25% domestic travel is required.

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