Business Excellence Specialist

Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) are now CPKC. As the only truly North American railway, we are making big moves! Drawing on our strong foundations and heritage, CPKC moves essential goods across our 20,000-mile network to support economic growth throughout Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Be a part of history as we connect a continent and create exciting career opportunities across our new transnational network. Visit cpkcr.com to learn about the CPKC advantage, our purpose and culture.

 

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

This position is an integral part the Business Excellence team, working with functional leaders to execute process improvement projects aligned with the company’s strategic vision and goals. In this role, the specialist will work closely with business stakeholders to identify and execute projects focused on cost savings, waste reduction and optimization. It will be critical that this role is able to apply critical thinking skills to assist in developing creative approaches and solutions. Fundamental to this position’s success is a specialized project management skillset, an entrepreneurial spirit and proven success delivering on timelines and savings goals. The specialist will assist in identifying pain points and opportunities for improvement while coordinating with SMEs, stakeholders, and business resources to find solutions. Additionally, the specialist will act as a liaison between the SME’s Champions and the Business Excellence team to represent the interests of the stakeholders, clarify requirements, and solve for identified gaps. 

 

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Serves as the Business Excellence resource for specific project execution, data analysis, and solution implementation
• Works with process owners and business unit leaders to define objectives related to Lean Six Sigma; applies Lean methodology and Six Sigma expertise to improve operational efficiency and quality
• Reviews current business practices and challenges processes for opportunities and improvement; develops recommendations and controls for sustained improvements
• Helps to develop the Business Excellence training toolkit and training materials for the enterprise and provides teachable points during the project execution
• Develops current and future state process maps for identified processes
• Works with the Business Excellence departmental leadership to collaborate and provide advice on project timelines and deliverables from a process improvement perspective
• Reports out to Business Excellence and business unit leadership on status of project as well requests additional support when needed. Takes the lead on incorporating other resources into projects as needed
• Travels to project locations to observe processes and interview front line employees
• Develops and distributes project specific communications for Business Excellence and business unit leadership, as well as team centric communication with a consistent cadence
• Demonstrates operational excellence by knowing and applying the business requirements. Demonstrates customer focus and contingency planning to ensure stakeholder expectations are met
• Understands the relevant business metrics and applies effective tactics to sustain a culture of operational effectiveness that produces teams of high performing, engaged and empowered operational leaders
• Identifies when a rule/regulation/policy has been violated and has one-on-one accountability conversations with an individual who has not met expectations, using CPKC Consequence Leadership tools, and have the individual produce better results
• Demonstrates CPKC's commitment to its cultural foundation of respect by using communication and interpersonal skills to enhance inclusion, civility, respect, innovation, safety, customer focus, teamwork within CPKC, while encouraging and enabling others to do the same
• Exemplifies CPKC's Vision, Values, and Culture interactions with coworkers, business partners, customers and stakeholders

 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college, preferably in Industrial Engineering, Supply chain management or a related major field of study
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Working knowledge of SIMIO, JMP, SiGMA XL, Minitab, Python, R or other statistical software package
• Statistical modeling, and Statistical process control (SPC)
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, Training
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and presentation abilities
• Troubleshooting expertise and attention to detail
• Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, Training, or willing to obtain, preferred  
• Rail