Job Description Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, safer, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

The Sponsor Officer, reporting to the Manager, Bus Sponsor, ensures that GO Bus Network projects are strategically aligned and deliver defined outcomes. They lead the planning, execution, and oversight of the network, including capital business case development—such as transitioning to zero-emission buses. Acting as the project’s guiding authority, the Sponsor Officer secures approvals, assigns delivery teams, and governs budget, schedule, and risk to ensure the client receives the intended benefits.

What will I be doing?

• Support Sponsors in providing assurance of project readiness through planning, design, delivery and operation to ensure project benefits are delivered on time and within budget
• Develop recommendations and prepare materials for various corporate governance bodies, including the Investment Panel, Change Control Board, Metrolinx Board, Treasury Board, etc.
• Monitor bus project risks, constraints and contingencies to avoid additional project costs, penalties and delays and proactively escalate issues to the Sponsors.
• Lead business case analyses for future fleet technology, new and revised GO Bus service, as well as service-related infrastructure investments with the goal to maximize ridership, enhancing the customer experience, while minimizing resource needs
• Gather and develop project requirements for bus investments, procurements, and other initiatives, including research, working group facilitation and documentation of requirements (infrastructure, operational, maintenance, fleet, customer experience, other).
• Evaluate outputs of modelling and analysis from project and consultant teams to ensure alignment with project, organizational, customer, land use, operational and financial objectives.
• Oversee consultant assignments, negotiating fees, cost sharing agreements, approvals and contractual claims.
• Contribute to the development, review and monitoring of various GO Bus initiatives, including business cases, benefits realization plans, funding submissions and performance requirements and measures (KPIs)
• Critically analyze service and infrastructure proposals to ensure alignment with organizational strategic directions, construction timelines, operational constraints, customer impact and demand, as well as available resources.
• Conduct initial analyses, research, and studies in support of planning in the transit investment area, with a focus on bus; provides advice with respect to technical and socio-economic impacts and considerations of capital investment and planning issues
• Develop new strategies, present conclusions and recommendations to the Sponsor or Senior Management Team, and suggest alternate strategies associated with possible transit initiatives/capital investments for bus.
• Work to ensure alignment of plans with transit policies, factoring in impacts, costs, benefits, and other considerations in a timely manner
• Develop and integrate processes and procedures that define roles and responsibilities in review and decision- making at various stages of work, such as Strategic Planning, Business Case development, capital budget process, etc.
• Develop and sustain strong working relationships with teams and senior decision-makers across Metrolinx (e.g. planning, delivery teams, operations, finance) and facilitate the flow of information
• Demonstrate team work and core competencies at a high level of development and be an exemplary model of living the corporate Values and Code of Ethics

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• Completion of a degree in Engineering, Public Policy, Planning, Business or a related discipline – or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent
• Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), Registered Professional Planner (RPP) designation recognized by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is an asset
• Demonstrated experience in leading and developing projects and strategy, urban/transportation planning, or transit infrastructure, preferably in the public sector
• Familiarity with the bus sector, including zero emission buses, and working in a transportation / transit planning and/or project delivery environment, leading large scale projects is an asset
• Thorough knowledge of innovative and progressive transit planning processes and methodologies, including knowledge of government transportation direction, transportation policy analysis, and transportation data analysis.
• Knowledge and sensitivity to the needs of transit operators including operations, funding and governance.
• Clear analytical thinking, problem solving skills, and adaptability combined with strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated Project Management skills, with the ability to co-ordinate different complex projects under pressure, meeting schedule and budget commitments.
• Management, negotiation, and influencing skills to discuss key technical issues, foster multi-stakeholder collaboration to mitigate risks, and assist senior management with major infrastructure and investment decisions
• Interpersonal and oral/written communication skills to edit and review consultant reports, design drawings, specifications, and contract documents, and to develop and deliver presentations to senior management and other stakeholders.

Don’t Meet Every Requirement? If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation We value the unique skills and experiences each person brings to Metrolinx and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment. We are committed to the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act so if you require accommodation during the hiring process, please let our Recruitment team know by contacting us at: 416-202-5601 or email hr.recruitment@metrolinx.com .

Application Process All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate.

For Internal applicants, with the recent implementation of the Internal Mobility Policy, the internal recruitment process has changed for non-union roles. Candidates must be in their current role for 12 months prior to applying for another role and each applicant must be in good standing (not participating in a Performance Improvement Plan). Please review all provisions of the policy before submitting your application.

Should it be determined that any background information provided be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.