Senior Manager, Planning & Cost Control - PMO Office - #196745

Did you know that VIA Rail is carrying out ambitious projects to modernize its services and infrastructure? From our new ultramodern train fleet to ongoing improvement of our infrastructure, we’re building the future of transportation in Canada. Working for VIA Rail is being a part of a collective effort in sustainable mobility.

As Senior Manager, Planning & Cost Control - PMO Office you will report to the Director of Project Controls and lead a team of planners and Project Control Officers (PCOs) supporting the new Long Distance Regional and Remote (LDRR) program. In this role, you will coordinate and integrate your team’s activities to provide critical planning support and actionable insights into project progress, enabling timely feedback and proactive mitigation of deviations from the original plan. Additionally, you will serve as a key advisor to program and project managers, contributing to the development, enhancement, application, and auditing of management standards and methodologies to drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead and manage a team of Project Control Officers (PCOs) and planners, overseeing all HR-related matters including performance management, coaching, workload assessment and balancing, task assignment, and priority setting. Drive recruitment and retention efforts, support onboarding and integration of new team members, and continuously evaluate and recommend enhancements to PCO tools and work methods. Proactively intervene to resolve issues affecting project deliverables.
  
  

Project Controls Integration & Reporting

• Coordinate and consolidate inputs from your team for monthly project reviews. Collaborate with PCOs and the Senior Master Planner to develop integrated cost and schedule reports that provide executives and project managers with clear visibility into project performance. Identify deviations from baseline plans and support stakeholders with actionable insights and mitigation strategies.
  
  

Program-Level Alignment & Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as the key liaison between the Senior Program Manager and the Director of Project Controls to ensure alignment on program needs, priorities, and methodologies. Translate strategic direction into actionable plans for your team and oversee the delivery of control elements needed for comprehensive program-level reporting and oversight.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Corporate Finance to ensure alignment with financial reporting standards and to support the organization’s broader reporting requirements.
• Coordinate with the Corporate Risk Director to apply the appropriate risk management framework at the program level, ensuring consistent risk identification, assessment, and mitigation practices.
  
  

Governance & Budget Support

• Provide essential support to the project execution team in adhering to PMO governance frameworks. Guide teams through the approval processes necessary to secure funding by ensuring the clear definition of project scope, deliverables, and expected business benefits. Facilitate engagement with external parties and justify early-stage expenditures in alignment with forecasted value realization and approved budgets.
  
  

Process Improvement & Methodology Standardization

• Lead the standardization of project controls methodologies and champion a culture of continuous improvement. Recommend and implement enhancements to work processes, tools, and best practices that strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the PCO function.
  
  

Scope Change Management & Program Integration

• Act as the champion for scope change management across the program. Provide leadership and visibility into the evolution and trends of individual project scopes and budgets, ensuring accurate tracking and reporting. Assess and manage the cumulative impacts of scope changes at the program level, accounting for project interfaces, interdependencies, and the strategic application of contingencies and risk allowances. Serve as a key advisor in maintaining alignment between evolving project realities and overall program objectives.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in administration, management or engineering with fifteen (15) years of combined experience in Project Controls, Project Planning, Cost Controls or project management and coordination;
• Experience as a leader in a project control role for major projects > $500M;
• Experience in a design and build project environment is an asset;
• Master’s degree or MBA is an asset;
• Team management experience;
• PMI certification (PMP) is an asset;
• Knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite (MS Project, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Vision) as well as ERP systems such as Oracle, SAP, etc);
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and French.
  
  

Competencies

• Leadership and tactful communication;
• Managing Employees;
• Strong ability to influence;
• Planning and prioritization;
• Problem-solving skills;
• Able to adapt to change;
• Organizational skills, precision and structure;
• Autonomy;
• Able to work with tight deadlines.
  
  

At VIA Rail, we are proud to be an employment-equity employer and we strive to form teams that reflect the diversity of Canadian society. We aim to remove barriers to employment accessibility and aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone is valued, regardless of their identity or differences, to enable them to reach their full potential.

If you need assistance in making the recruitment process or the position you are applying for more accessible, please let us know. Alternate arrangements may be offered to individuals who request them at any stage of the recruitment process. All information received in relation to arrangements will be kept confidential.

Note that we will only contact those who are selected for an interview.

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