Senior Electrification Manager - Construction

SYSTRA Canada is part of the SYSTRA group, an international consulting and engineering group, a world leader in the design of transport infrastructures. SYSTRA Canada is an engineering and consulting firm whose primary focus is to offer transportation solutions, whether for passengers or goods: feasibility studies of building a new railway line, increasing the capacity of the existing infrastructure, privatization of a railway.

Understand better who we are by visiting www.systracanada.com.

Context

The Senior Programme Manager – Electrification is responsible for the overall leadership, planning and successful delivery of complex railway electrification programmes, including Overhead Contact Systems (OCS/OLE), traction power, substations, distribution systems, interfaces and associated civil and railway infrastructure works.

The role provides senior programme leadership from design and procurement through construction, testing, commissioning and handover, ensuring delivery against safety, programme, cost, quality and operational requirements.

The Senior Programme Manager will lead multidisciplinary teams and contractors while maintaining strong relationships with the client, railway operators, designers, construction partners and other key stakeholders.

Missions/Main Duties

Provide overall leadership and accountability for the delivery of the railway electrification programme.

• Develop and implement the programme execution strategy covering design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning and handover.

• Establish clear programme objectives, milestones, performance targets and governance arrangements.

• Lead multiple projects and workstreams forming part of the overall electrification programme.

• Ensure programme activities are integrated with the wider railway construction and operational programme.

• Provide strategic direction to Project Managers, Construction Managers, Engineering Managers and commercial teams.

• Identify emerging programme issues and implement appropriate recovery and mitigation strategies.

• Provide accurate programme performance reporting to executive leadership and the client.

Electrification / OCS / OLE Delivery

Provide senior oversight of the delivery of electrification infrastructure including:

• OCS/OLE foundations and support structures.

• Masts, portals, cantilevers and headspans.

• Contact and catenary wire installation.

• Registration and adjustment of overhead wiring.

• Sectioning and switching arrangements.

• Neutral sections and overlaps.

• Earthing and bonding.

• Traction power substations.

• Feeder and distribution systems.

• SCADA and power control interfaces.

• Testing, commissioning and energisation.

• Integration with signalling, track, telecommunications and civil infrastructure. Drive efficient construction methodologies, installation sequencing and production rates while ensuring compliance with approved design and railway safety requirements.

Programme Planning & Controls

• Establish and maintain the integrated master programme.

• Ensure construction programmes accurately reflect access, possession, resource and productivity constraints.

• Monitor critical path activities and programme float.

• Review contractor schedules, progress and productivity.

• Lead programme recovery planning where performance falls behind target.

• Establish measurable installation production targets including foundations, structures, steelwork and OCS wiring.

• Ensure programme controls provide reliable forecasting of completion dates and key milestones.

• Coordinate closely with planning and project controls teams to monitor schedule, cost, risk and change.

Construction & Railway Access

• Develop construction strategies that maximise available railway access and possessions.

• Ensure electrification activities are fully coordinated with track, signalling, civil engineering and operational railway requirements.

• Review possession and access strategies to maximise installation productivity.

• Coordinate blockade, possession and engineering access requirements.

• Ensure plant, equipment, materials and labour are available ahead of planned construction activities.

• Drive effective utilisation of specialist OCS installation equipment, engineering trains and road-rail vehicles.

Engineering & Design Management

• Work closely with the Engineering Manager and Design Manager to ensure designs are safe, constructible and delivered in accordance with the construction programme.

• Ensure design packages are released sufficiently in advance of construction.

• Lead constructability and value-engineering reviews.

• Manage technical interfaces between OCS/OLE, traction power, track, signalling, structures, stations, utilities and civil engineering.

• Ensure technical queries and design changes are resolved efficiently.

• Maintain appropriate engineering assurance and configuration management processes.

Commercial & Contract Management

• Maintain overall accountability for programme financial performance.

• Work with commercial teams to manage budgets, forecasts, cash flow and cost-to-complete.

• Monitor contractor performance against contractual obligations.

• Review variations, compensation events and programme changes.

• Ensure commercial risks and opportunities are actively managed.

• Support procurement and contracting strategies for major electrification work packages.

• Challenge contractor costs, productivity and resource levels where appropriate.

Contractor & Supply Chain Management

• Provide senior leadership of principal contractors, specialist electrification contractors and suppliers.

• Establish clear performance expectations and KPIs.

• Monitor contractor productivity, quality, safety and programme performance.

• Conduct regular programme and performance reviews.

• Ensure sufficient skilled OCS/OLE resources are available to meet programme requirements.

• Identify supply-chain risks relating to specialist equipment, steelwork, conductors, insulators, switchgear and other long-lead materials.

• Implement corrective action where contractor performance is below expectations. Safety

• Demonstrate visible leadership in railway and construction safety.

• Ensure compliance with applicable railway safety legislation, standards, procedures and client requirements.

• Promote a strong safety culture throughout the programme.

• Ensure construction methodologies, access arrangements and commissioning activities are appropriately planned and controlled.

• Review significant incidents, near misses and emerging safety trends.

• Ensure risks associated with high-voltage systems, working at height, railway operations and construction plant are effectively managed.Testing, Commissioning & Handover

• Develop the programme-level testing and commissioning strategy.

• Ensure progressive completion and assurance of installed electrification assets.

• Coordinate energisation activities with traction power, railway operations and other systems.

• Ensure test documentation, inspection records and asset information are completed progressively.

• Manage interface testing between electrification and associated railway systems.

• Lead readiness reviews for energisation and operational entry into service.

• Ensure defects and outstanding works are managed through to final acceptance.

• Oversee successful handover of assets to the infrastructure owner and railway operator.

Stakeholder Management

Develop strong working relationships with:

• Client programme leadership.

• Infrastructure owners.

• Railway operators.

• Government and transport authorities.

• Engineering and design organisations.

• Principal and specialist contractors.

• OCS/OLE and traction power suppliers.

• Signalling, track and civil engineering teams.

• Safety and regulatory organisations.

Represent the electrification programme at senior client, executive and programme governance meetings.

Leadership Responsibilities

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team potentially including:

• Programme Managers.

• Project Managers.

• Construction Managers.

• OCS/OLE Managers.

• Traction Power Managers.

• Engineering Managers.

• Design Managers.

• Planning and Project Controls Managers.

• Commercial Managers.

• Testing & Commissioning Managers.

• Access and Possession Planning teams.

Create a high-performance culture focused on safety, accountability, collaboration, productivityand delivery.

Profile/Skills

Education: Completion of a degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Engineering, or a related discipline – or a combination of Tertiary education, training and experience deemed equivalent

Experience: Minimum ten (10) years leadership and project management experience in the field of Electrification, within the transportation industry/sector.  

Certifications or Designations: Valid Professional Engineering (P.Eng.) license recognized by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) is an asset

Technical Competencies:

• Knowledge of and expertise in the planning and implementation of Electrification systems, including resource allocation and infrastructure requirements for the design, rehabilitation and.
• Knowledge of Metrolinx and the provincial and national transit industry is an asset
• Service-focused leadership and influencing skills to provide senior technical and administrative leadership to an operating or functional unit;
• Knowledge of project management principles and practices to manage and provide oversight to complex engineering design projects in an operating environment, including the identification and prioritization of projects, defining project scope, terms of reference and project plans, project resources (e.g. hiring outside consultants) and budgets, timelines and deliverables;
• Managerial and leadership experience with the ability to plan, set priorities, schedule and manage staff and team deliverables;
• Knowledge of Human Resources legislation  (e.g. Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, etc.) to monitor and manage employees and contractors, including experience in the application of applicable collective agreement provisions would be an asset
• Knowledge and experience in operational planning, budget development, planning and management processes;
• Innovative and creative problem solving, data driven root cause analysis skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder relationship skills;
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to make clear presentations, produce concise technical and administrative reports, and translate complex/technical issues to diverse audiences, including executives

SYSTRA Canada is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values applications from all and offers employment equity based on the merits and abilities of candidates and personnel.

Note: In this description, the masculine gender is used for easy reading purposes and includes the feminine.

We use AI-enabled tools in our recruitment platform (iCIMS) for tasks like resume parsing and candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; all applications are reviewed by a human recruiter, and final decisions are made by our hiring team.

For questions about our hiring process or AI tools, please contact infocanada@systra.com.

Workplace Type

On-site