Operations Manager

The Operations Manager leads a specialized team in planning, organizing, and managing operations, ensuring chemical loading, warehouse activities, and related processes are performed in a safe, environmentally responsible, and efficient manner. If you enjoy working outdoors, physical activity, problem solving, and a working at a company that promotes a strong safety culture, this opportunity is for you!

Cando Rail & Terminals is a leader in specialized rail services across Canada, offering industrial switching, terminal/transload services, short line operations, and more. With over 50 operations, we manage the third-largest locomotive fleet in Canada.

Cando Advantages

• Work Life Balance
• Cando's Technical and Leadership Training Programs
• Award Winning Safety Culture
• Group Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Long-Term Disability Insurances
• Health & Dental Benefits including voluntary options
• Expanding in the US and we welcome you to come grow with us!

The Operations Manager is responsible for providing a safe, customer oriented, cost effective response to our customers' industrial switching needs. The Operations Manager coordinates the safety initiatives, workflow processes and procedures, people management, and daily operational needs on the site.

Role & Responsibilities

Safety

• Perform Safety Management System activities such as Employee Efficiency Testing, Loss Prevention Observations, Incident Reporting.
• Implement changes as a result of site and employee performance audits in a timely manner and follow-up to ensure effectiveness of changes.
• Respond to incidents, lead and implement and recommend solutions / corrective actions as a result of incidents.
• Works with employees on a daily basis to ensure that all Cando's safety policies are strictly adhered to with a focus on operational practices, identifying potential hurdles, targeting inconsistencies and aligning the services of the operations to meet customer needs.
• Design/implement work systems and procedures for operational effectiveness.
• Be a leader in safe work practices; responsible for the mentoring of employees in all aspects of safe railway operations.

Management, Administration & Planning

• Ensure service aligns with vision, mission, goals and the needs of the customer.
• Implement plans for managing growth and delivering on goals and objectives.
• Supervises contractors on site and ensure they have the understanding, skills, training, and resources to achieve objectives.
• Lead activities related to division initiatives; deliver initiatives around company programs and policies.
• Identify new business leads; implement start up plans for new business.
• Assists with invoicing and purchasing for sites and ensure accurate tracking of key consumables.
• Monitor locomotive and equipment procurement and maintenance programs.

Leadership & Employee Development

• Work with site supervisors to improve operational practices, identify hurdles, target inconsistencies and align services.
• Promotes harmonious employee relations while guiding and coaching supervisors; build and maintain healthy customer relationships at the site level.
• Prepares and implements employee development plans; ensures all employees have adequate training to contribute fully to the project.
• Supervises site staffing including participating in interviews, onboarding new employees, managing schedules and absenteeism, performing payroll activities, coordinating training, and conducting performance evaluations.
• Work with local Class 1 providers to resolve day to day issues.

Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities

• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing with people of all backgrounds, levels of comprehension including managers, employees, customers, and the public.
• Demonstrates initiative to work with others to foster a respectful workplace; creates a work environment that is open to maintaining positive relationships.
• Considerable knowledge of modern principles, practices, and techniques in motivating employees and building successful working teams.
• Ability to measure and report financial metrics and align with department budgets.
• General understanding of the principles of efficient service delivery.
• Demonstrates innovation and responsibility in the decision making process.
• Ability to implement best practices in skill development, training, and service delivery which will be sustainable.
• Proficient in a Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook with the skill to adapt easily to other software systems.
• Ability to perform rail switching as a ground person and/or locomotive operator if necessary.

Education & Experience

• Experience managing railway personnel in a customer focused environment.
• Experience in managing for efficiency and effectiveness to bring about change in a fast-paced environment.
• Minimum two (2) years in a leadership position preferably in the rail switching and/or industrial environment.
• One (1) year experience working with Safety Management Systems in an industrial environment.
• One (1) year experience developing and managing capital and operating budgets.
• Experience in SAP operating & accounting software is very desirable.

Note: This description is not intended to limit the assignment of work or be construed as a complete list of the many duties to be performed by the incumbent. The qualifications are provided so interested candidates understand of the level of expertise required in this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.