Assistant Chief, Engineering

Job Summary

The Assistant Chief, Engineering is responsible for leading a team accountable for maintaining safe and efficient railway operations by overseeing the maintenance, repair, and restoration of track infrastructure. The role involves coordinating resources, including people, equipment, and assets, to ensure continuous network operations. The incumbent ensures effective planning and execution of territory-wide track inspections, maintenance activities, and capital projects, while guaranteeing compliance with CN and regulatory standards through field inspections and data reviews. Working closely with other departments, the position identifies and resolves track issues, prioritizes project execution, and contributes to regional and system planning efforts.

Main Responsibilities

Operational Leadership
• Provide direct leadership to a team of Leaders to ensure safe and efficient daily operation of the territory
• Act conclusively and independently to identify and solve issues impacting CN's safety, service, and efficiency
• Identify and address issues within their organization as well as the ones that cross organizational boundaries collaboratively with other senior leaders

Safety

• Set and ensure the regional Safety vision is tailored to their Territory based on the Engineering Safety Action Plan
• Reduce or eliminate injuries, track unit collisions, and Main Track Authority Violations (MTAV)
• Ensure territory compliance with CN standards, rules, and appropriate Federal, Provincial, and State regulations

Budget Management

• Oversee the daily operation of their Territory (e.g., Capital Expenses (CapEx) and Operational Expenses (OpEx))
• Plan and execute against the yearly operating and capital budgets
• Ensure organizational accountability for budget variances and offsets
• Identify issues and implement actions to drive cost efficiencies
Team Development and Communication
• Serve as leader on the territory within the Engineering functions and across departments such as Operations, Finance, Human Resources (HR), Labour Relations (LR) and Safety, ensuring effective communication and collaboration
• Communicate, in a timely manner, issues addressed, consequences, and solutions implemented to senior management, with high technical accuracy
• Support the continuous development of their team by providing training, setting clear expectations, and driving accountability

Working Conditions

The role is performed in a combination of office and outdoors environments in various types of weather conditions. The role requires being available on-call 24/7 to respond to critical incidents. Due to the nature of the role, the incumbent must be able to provide deliverables on tight deadlines, maintain leadership composure under stressful and chaotic conditions, make decisions when all facts are not known, and minimize the impact of organizational and personal stress management on the Engineering team. The role requires regular travel (60%) both within and off the territory, including travel in Canada and the United States (U.S.).

Requirements

Experience

Relevant work experience
• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience
• Minimum 5 years of work experience in a leadership role or leading individuals in a matrix organization
o Experience advising senior executives
o Experience at CN
Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset

Education/Certification/Designation

• High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED)
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
*Any designation for these above would be considered as an asset

Competencies

• Knows the business and stays current on industry needs
• Collaborates with others and shares information
• Applies critical thinking
• Demonstrates agility and drives change
• Considers environmental impacts in every decision and action
• Identifies potential safety and security risks
• Leads by example for the safety and security of all
• Communicates with impact
• Develops self and others

Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Deep understanding of railroad track design, construction, maintenance, and repair processes
• Knowledge of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Transport Canada (TC) and other regulatory requirements
• Ability to analyze operational data and generate clear reports for executives and stakeholders
• Understands collective agreements and experience working with union representatives on operational matters
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.