Director Dispatching

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:

The Director, Dispatching provides leadership, mentorship and supports safety to a team of Train Dispatchers. You will be responsible for all operational related matters pertaining to the execution of the “Daily” Operating Plan within their assigned territories, including any bulk train slotting. This role requires display of leadership accountability for inputs and outputs of safety, service, productivity and financial metrics; and be accountable for execution of on-time and full duration Engineering Services work blocks.

This position will require an  extensive travel to Minneapolis, MN up until Summer of 2024 at which point the Minneapolis, MN center  and the Kansas City, MO center will be merged and the travel requirements will greatly reduce.

 

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Meets or exceeds the monthly and annual safety objectives:
  • On a monthly basis, performs the required number of quality efficiency tests
  • Conducts monthly Safety topic discussions
  • Participate in rules review/coaching sessions
  • Provides written correspondence in a timely fashion to support positive/negative Train Dispatcher behaviors
  • Participate in managerial safety audits as required
  • Complete Train Rides, Safety and Health Committee meetings, and Safety meetings as required
  • Complete weekly Operation Center Management Quizzes on time with a minimum score of 90%
  • Required to maintain/become rules qualified (GCOR, OTS, TOCM, Haz Mat, GOI, etc.)
• Train performance:   
  • Communicate and ensure execution of the Operating plan
  • Monitor train performance, in consideration of long train meet locations, Trip Plan, and train status
  • Ensures execution failures are recorded in Nexus and necessary emails notifications are sent to appropriate distribution lists
  • Provide feedback and documentation as required
  • Responsible for the validation and execution of the over the road power plans
  • Coordinates with 3rd party carriers (CN, UP, NS, short lines)
  • Monitors recorded NEXUS train delay, ensuring delays explanations comply with pre-set standards
  • Ensures there are NO outstanding variances to report in assigned territory
  • Monitor all over the road work events to ensure work is completed within standards
• Incident Alert reporting:
  • Ensures that all incident notifications are completed promptly and accurately 
  • Ensures the data documented is accurate,  including: cause, status, details, location, time delayed, subsequent impacts
  • Escalate any crew transportation exceptions
  • Completes the Mainline Derailment checklist and crew interview within 5” of incident
  • Manages the Operation Center emergency response processes escalating emergent conditions to the Senior Director  
  • Further, executes incident recovery plans, conference calls, detour monitoring, etc
• Ensure effective management of Running Trades Employees (RTE) in accordance with the collective agreements/applicable guidelines:
  • Review Crew Dispatcher (CD) manpower reports to ensure lineup is protected escalating any areas of concerns
• Accountable for execution of the Daily Engineering Services work block plan for major Engineering Services work programs and scheduled Engineering Services maintenance blocks where applicable:
  • On time start
  • Execute the required daily duration
  • Plans 24 hours out, based on Engineering Services Daily plan & Train Performance Graph (TPG)
  • Develops contingencies, and or Communicate exceptions  LATE start/ block duration to  Senior Director
  • Address exceptions to the plan

• Monitors all applicable CPKC Systems; NEXUS, TRAM, CTC, CMA, CREW BALANCER, etc., ensuring information accuracy and Safe Train Operations
• Manages over-the-road locomotive failures, including lifting Bad Order (B/O) locomotives
• Develops contingency plans

 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• University Degree or  5 years of railway experience and/or strong transportation industry based knowledge
• Working knowledge of collective agreement
• Strong organizational skills and ability see long term initiatives through to completion