Manager, Environmental Impact

at  Canadian National Railway

At CN, everyday brings new and exciting challenges. You can expect an interesting environment where you’re part of making sure our business is running optimally and safely―helping keep the economy on track. We provide the kind of paid training and opportunities that long-term careers are built on and we recognize hard workers who strive to make a difference. You will be able to thrive in our close-knit, safety-focused culture working together as ONE TEAM. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join us!

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager, Environmental Impact - Eastern Region is responsible for delivering permitting and regulatory compliance of CN’s capacity expansion and maintenance projects in the Region. The position supports infrastructure growth while ensuring projects are designed and implemented to reduce their impact on the environment, neighbours, and Indigenous communities. The role influences across levels and functions and is responsible for the work to be performed respecting regulatory requirements, permit conditions, CN policies and procedures, environmental management system, and sound professional practice. Moreover, the incumbent ensures environmental approvals for projects are obtained, ensures monitoring and inspections are performed, and tracks compliance against permits. Furthermore, the role is accountable to issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs), prepare estimates for project costs, track spend against approved limits and oversee project budgets.

REQUIREMENTS

Experience

Environmental

• Between 5 to 10 years of experience in environmental permitting

o Between 3 to 5 years of management experience (i.e., human, contractor, or finance)

o Between 3 to 5 years of railway or linear corridor experience*

• Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset

Education/Certification/Designation

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science
• Certified or ability to certify as a Registered Professional

Competencies

• Demonstrates agility and drives change
• Know the business and stays current on industry needs
• Applies critical thinking
• Sets direction and inspires others
• Communicates with impact
• Collaborates with others and shares information
• Demonstrates active listening
• Identifies needs and finds solutions to create value for all stakeholders
• Leads by example for the safety and security of all
• Considers environmental impacts in every decision and action

Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of Project Management best practices
• Understanding of federal and provincial environmental regulations
• Strong written and verbal skills, preference for strong technical writing
• Knowledge of Systems, Applications, and Products (SAP), ENABLON, ENFOS*
• Fluently bilingual, both written and verbal (English and French)*
• Any knowledge for any of the above would be considered as an asset

Environmental Impact Assessment and Permitting

• Support the completion of environmental impact assessments, reviews and mitigation measures for construction and maintenance projects
• Plan, coordinate resources, and oversee the completion of field studies associated with the environmental assessments and reviews
• Apply for, negotiate, and receive environmental regulatory permits for proposed projects
• Engage with multiple government regulatory agencies on project-specific basis or in general as it relates to CN activities
• Provide direction to Project and Senior Managers on permitting and related issues concerning protection of fish and wildlife and compliance with CN and regulatory procedures, codes, and regulations
• Ensure consultant service excellence, including detailed technical review as well as Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) of all written products
• Hold pre-submission meetings with consultants and attend pre-construction meetings with contractors
• Support Indigenous and community engagement activities and discussions with Indigenous Affairs, Public Affairs and other departments as required for permitting
• Assist with emergencies, derailments and urgent projects that require coordination with regulators, consultants, emergency approvals, and provide technical subject matter expertise during outages
• Escalate issues with other departments to Superintendent and Senior Manager level and provide a summary to senior leadership

Environmental Compliance

• Ensure field monitoring of construction projects, either in-house or in conjunction with consultants is completed as necessary to meet permit conditions or Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Ensure inspection reports are documented, track compliance, guide the development of and ensure action plans are implemented and closed out
• Assist in developing system wide compliance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), tracking performance, and driving for continual regional improvement
• Assist in developing and delivering training and education on mitigation measures to staff and contractors
• Oversee the accurate and timely completion of permit obligations and reporting requirements
• Ensure post construction monitoring is completed and documented in compliance with Letters of Credit and other regulatory agreements, permits and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)
• Provide support, guidance and mentoring to the Environmental Impact Officer on compliance corrective actions and mitigation measures
• Provide updates on ongoing and unresolved non-compliance events to the Director, Environmental Impact Assessment and Biodiversity for further action
• Serve as a technical and local knowledge resource in inter and intra-departmental projects

Team and Budget Development

• Manage and coach the Environmental Impact Officer
• Set positive example of leadership, collaboration, integrity, and safety
• Ensure cooperative and progressive relationships with other CN departments
• Assist in the preparation of briefings and presentations for delivery by Senior Leadership
• Assist with the estimation of environmental costs associated with projects through RFPs, contract management, internal approval processes, invoicing, and budget tracking
• Manage and oversee budgets associated with departmental Operational Expenditures (OpEx) and Capital Expenditures (CapEx)
• Identify and track cost-saving opportunities and solutions
• Identify and track research and development projects
• Participate in developing, implementing, and using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Working Conditions
The role is performed in a combination of office and outdoor environments in various types of weather conditions with a regular work week from Monday to Friday. The role is required to be on-call 24/7 to respond to critical incidents. The role requires occasional travel (20%) in Canada and the United States (U.S.). Due to the nature of the role, the incumbent must be able to meet tight deadlines, handle pressure and stress.