Project Director, Rolling Stock, Controls & Systems

At Alto, we are actively contributing to the transformation of Canada's future with our high-speed train project connecting Quebec City and Toronto. With the support of the Government of Canada, this innovative project aims to improve the quality of life of our citizens, strengthen ties between communities and stimulate economic growth.

Would you like to take on a stimulating, high-impact challenge? We are looking for a Projet Director, Rolling Stock, Controls & Systems.

The role

Reporting to the Vice President, Strategic Procurement, the Project Director serves as Alto’s main point of accountability for the successful delivery of assigned work packages within one of Canada’s most significant infrastructure projects.

The Project Director provides end-to-end Alto leadership across a portfolio of complex and interdependent work packages, ensuring that scope, schedule, cost, quality, risks, interfaces, and contractual commitments are effectively managed by Cadence. The Project Director ensures Alto’s scope of work is delivered in line with contractual obligations, more specifically with respect to land acquisitions, permitting, stakeholders agreements, community benefits and indigenous content. Working through a matrix structure, the incumbent mobilizes multidisciplinary teams, aligns internal and external stakeholders, enables timely decision-making, and addresses issues that could affect project outcomes.

At the core of the role is a highly results-driven mandate focused on achieving outcomes rather than managing activities. Success requires sound judgment, political and organizational acumen, constructive assertiveness, and the ability to build trusted relationships while maintaining clear accountability for delivery.

The responsibilities

Delivery accountability

• Serve as Alto’s primary internal point of accountability for assigned work packages, ensuring delivery against approved scope, schedule, budget, risk, and contractual requirements.
• Provide end-to-end leadership across the work package lifecycle, establishing clear priorities, milestones, accountabilities, and performance expectations.
• Maintain an integrated view of performance, dependencies, risks, and emerging issues, ensuring timely mitigation and corrective action.
• Exercise sound judgment in determining when to escalate issues or decisions to protect delivery commitments and contractual obligations.

Execution and matrix leadership

• Mobilize and lead multidisciplinary teams across technical, commercial, procurement, legal, finance, and other relevant functions.
• Create alignment around shared outcomes, clarify roles and decision rights, and hold contributors and partners accountable for their commitments.
• Foster a professional, respectful, and collaborative environment while demonstrating the assertiveness required to maintain execution momentum.
• Build trusted relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, navigating differing priorities with diplomacy, political acumen, and sound judgment.

Governance and executive communication

• Establish effective governance, communication, escalation, and decision-making mechanisms for assigned work packages between Alto and Cadence.
• Provide clear, timely, and decision-oriented reports on progress, financial performance, risks, dependencies, and key issues.
• Present complex information, options, and recommendations to the executive committee and governance bodies.
• Ensure key decisions, commitments, changes, risks, and accountabilities are appropriately documented, communicated, and followed through.

The requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, project or construction management, business administration, or another relevant discipline. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience leading complex projects or major work packages.
• Significant experience in large-scale rolling stock as well as controls and systems-related projects is required.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent, an asset.
• Proven ability to lead through influence and mobilize multidisciplinary teams in a complex matrix environment.
• Strong political and organizational acumen, with the ability to build alignment and navigate competing stakeholder priorities.
• Results-driven and solutions-oriented, with sound judgment and the ability to make timely decisions in complex or ambiguous situations.
• Strong communication, negotiation, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills, including the ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders.
• A professional and collaborative leadership style, combined with the confidence and assertiveness to challenge assumptions, address concerns, and protect project objectives.
• Proficiency with project planning, scheduling, and reporting tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Planner, Oracle Primavera).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both, French and English. Working English proficiency is required in order to serve our offices across Canada.

Why join our innovative team?

• Basic paid group insurance for you and your family: medical, dental, life, disability, etc.
• Access to wellness and health accounts to support your lifestyle.
• Flex-Alto account of $500 to encourage a healthier approach and a more sustainable mode of transportation.
• A retirement plan and savings options (RRSP and TFSA).
• Vacations based on experience, available upon hiring.
• An incentive compensation program.
• Flexible hybrid work mode.
• A work environment that encourages initiative, innovation, and forward-thinking solutions.
• A unique opportunity to shape the future of transportation in Canada.

We work to create high-performance, diversified teams

At Alto, we believe in the power of diverse teams. We aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone can develop and flourish. Alto offers equal employment opportunities to all and invites qualified individuals, regardless of their identity, origin or situation, to apply.

Please let us know if you need any adjustments during the recruitment process. We will do our utmost to provide you with a fair and pleasant experience, while keeping any adjustments confidential.

Please note that we will communicate only with those candidates whose applications are selected for further consideration. To find out more about the entire project, visit Alto - Home.