Vice President - Bus Fleet Maintenance

Our Operations team is looking for Vice President, Bus Fleet Maintenance to lead the maintenance organization responsible for ensuring the safety, reliability, availability, cleanliness and operational readiness of the GO Bus fleet. Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Bus, the Vice President will set the strategic vision, and the development and implementation of long-term, medium-term and short-term business plans for Bus Fleet Maintenance.

The Vice President will provide executive leadership for bus maintenance operations, maintenance planning, production, fleet reliability, maintenance programs, parts and materials, maintenance performance, workforce management and continuous improvement. 

Working closely with Bus partners, Engineering, Safety, Service Design, Network Operations Control (NOC) and other internal partners, the Vice President will ensure strong integration across the organization while maintaining clear accountability for the delivery and performance of the Bus Fleet Maintenance function. 

The role will lead a large unionized and non-unionized workforce and will champion a culture of safety, accountability, reliability, operational excellence, employee engagement and continuous improvement.
 

What Will I Be Doing?

• Working within a large union environment, provide strategic leadership, direction and delivery of GO Bus asset management, production, quality assurance, and maintenance programs for GO Bus assets including fleet planning.
• Accountable for the development and implementation of Fleet Maintenance strategies and ensure they are aligned with Metrolinx and GO Bus Operations strategic objectives and delivered consistently. 
• Oversee policies and procedures along with federal and provincial regulations are met.
• Oversee the development and implementation of standard processes and protocols for all areas of Fleet Maintenance; monitor and report on planning and project progress timelines to the EVP, Bus, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Senior Management Team (SMT). 
• Ensure collaboration and seek to continually improve alignment and integration with Bus Operations to ensure a seamless operation for Bus Services.
• Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs that contribute to the fleet’s safety, cleanliness and reliability.
• With the Bus Senior Leadership team, participate in strategic planning processes to support GO Bus and Metrolinx strategies, programs and standards.
• Oversee Safety Programs for Bus Fleet Maintenance and ensure they are being implemented with an ultimate goal of eliminating workplace injury and frequency. Reports on status of operations and critical incidents.
• Provide strategic leadership related to the management of a large Unionized and Non-Unionized workforce which includes fostering positive relationships with the Union and looking at ways to continuously engage staff.
• Oversee and set operational and capital costs and introduce a robust internal maintenance program. Prepare cost controls and lean tactics to achieve efficient goals.
• Represent GO Transit on strategic and high impact operational matters with regional and municipal transit organizations.
• Oversee the development and implementation of strategies to improve bus availability.
• Oversee the development and implementation of strategies and action plans to address CSAT measurements including fleet availability, cleanliness and reliability.
• Responsible for delivery of high-quality customer service, which meets or exceeds critical customer performance targets.
• Act as an ambassador and liaison for Metrolinx with high impact external stakeholders and partners to make presentations, attend public meetings and hearings, and garner support for the organization and its initiatives.
• Oversee bus fleet availability, service design and regional express bus plan and integration. 
• Oversee strategic research and planning; makes planning, policy and operational decisions; identifies areas of improvement and develops recommendations for proposed projects. 
• Accountable for all fleet assets.
• Oversee the revenue budget for bus and authorizes direction with respect to expansion and new route options.

• Works closely with the Bus Operations team, Service Design and NOC, to ensure that current Bus Requirements and future bus demands are planned and available.

• Sets bus maintenance and inspections based on MTO Standards and forecasts repairs or proactive repairs on vehicles based on projected failure rates.
  
   

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• Completion of a degree in Engineering , Business Administration, Transportation or a related discipline – or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent.
• Minimum fifteen (15) years of progressively senior leadership experience in bus fleet maintenance, heavy truck, public transit and/or transportation.
• Demonstrated experience leading a large, unionized maintenance workforce.
• Knowledge of applicable legal and regulatory requirements governing delivery of bus transit services, including federal or provincial rules and regulations established by the appropriate regulatory agencies, Ontario provincial and municipal standards and best practices, building codes, contracts, and environmental legislation is required.
• Familiarity with relevant legislation (e.g. Metrolinx Act, Places to Grow Act, Planning Act, Revised Statutes of Ontario (RSO), Municipal Act, and other applicable acts and policies) is an asset.
• Health, safety, human resources and environmental legislation and codes effecting the public, employees, contractors and facilities (e.g. Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Environmental Protection Act, Weeds & Pesticides Act, associated regulations, building codes, fire codes, electrical safety codes) to monitor and manage employees and contractors, including experience in the application of collective agreement provisions
• Knowledge of senior management and corporate administration requirements (e.g. business planning, financial management, risk management, asset management, capital planning, business continuity planning, and human resource management)
• Knowledge of budget development and management processes.
• Project management principles and practices, including budget and schedule controls, to lead and direct cross functional teams and consultants engaged in simultaneous projects (i.e. development, project progress, related staff, and project resources) and monitor project activities for adherence to timelines, budgets, and project performance objectives
• Service-focused management, leadership, and influencing skills to provide senior technical and administrative direction to an operating or functional unit
• Analytical and negotiation skills and experience with vendor management to manage development and delivery of externally provided products and services
• Must have a valid Ontario ‘G’ Driver’s licence. A valid driver’s abstract will be collected at time of hire. CZ license and BZ Ontario Driver’s license is an asset. 
   

Leadership Competencies & Specialized Skills

• Create a working environment that is aligned with the organization’s desire to be a “best company to work for”, ensuring that people resources possess the required skills, are properly aligned, and are provided with the resources to do the job.
• Direct and manage a large department of staff through Directors and Senior Managers.
• Provide creative thought leadership with input from others to develop and deploy a strategic vision; connects and aligns projects with strategic corporate goals.

Note: The successful candidate may be required to attend the worksite at off hours, as Bus Fleet Maintenance works on a 24/7/365 model. In addition, the successful candidate will be required to occasionally work in a non-office work environment (e.g. maintenance shop floor)