Manager, Intermodal & Automotive Operations

Join CPKC, North America’s first transnational railroad connecting the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, where your career drives progress and safety is paramount. We connect communities, fuel economic growth, and provide meaningful work in a culture that values diversity, accountability, and pride. With opportunities for training, development, and advancement, you’re not just building a career—you’re part of something bigger. Together, we move goods, connect people, and create lasting change. Your future starts here.

About the role

As the Manager for Intermodal & Automotive Operations, you’ll lead a high-performing network of terminals within your territory—driving service quality, operational efficiency, and a culture of safety. You will guide daily performance, streamline processes, and elevate customer satisfaction while ensuring operations run smoothly and cost-effectively.

• Department: Network & Capacity Management
• Job type: Full-Time
• Position type: Non-Union
• Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Travel: 0-10%
• Number of positions: 1
• Job grade: 4
• Job available to: Internal & External

Responsibilities

• Execute the Intermodal & Automotive business strategy for all facilities within the Territory, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and operational plans.
• Champion safety excellence by monitoring compliance, conducting audits, enforcing corrective actions, and driving a culture committed to safe work practices.
• Protect terminal security by preventing theft, controlling access, and overseeing truck traffic flow and driver compliance with site rules.
• Foster seamless coordination among Mechanical, switching crews, drivers, intermodal staff, and contractors to deliver on-time train releases and efficient truck turn times.
• Implement and sustain process improvements, continually enhancing operational efficiency, service performance, and terminal effectiveness.
• Provide strong leadership to Supervisors, ensuring activities comply with collective agreements and contractor terms while supporting developmental and career growth.
• Ensure compliance with Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental standards, and oversee thorough investigations of all safety rule violations with appropriate recommendations.
• Manage terminal budgets, ensuring operations remain within approved expense plans while identifying cost-reduction opportunities.
• Develop and manage Supervisor schedules, ensuring adequate staffing for operational excellence, vacation coverage, and training.
• Issue train build instructions and Intermodal Train Plans, ensuring efficient train assembly and timely departures.
• Resolve no-bill railcar issues through collaboration with the billing department to correct discrepancies.
• Manage fleet vehicle assignments, ensuring appropriate equipment availability for operations.
• Review and approve invoices, including contractor, fleet, and protection system costs, ensuring accuracy and budget compliance.
• Prepare dwell reports and operational action plans to optimize railcar movement, yard capacity, and dwell reduction.
• Deliver fluidity reports, guiding yard capacity decisions, transfer sizes, and clear shift-over communication.
• Lead port planning activities, providing direction to Intermodal ports aligned with domestic loading requirements.
• Ensure accurate track planning and tagging in OASIS to support effective loading and operational visibility.
• Maintain strong communication with T&E and Operations Centers, ensuring alignment on train performance objectives and operational execution.
• Respond to incidents quickly, escape per emergency action plans, and conduct follow-ups to mitigate risk and uphold safety.
• Maintain daily terminal scorecards, updating all key performance metrics and operational data.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalency.
• 7 years' experience in rail, intermodal, or automotive terminal operations.
• Strong understanding of union environments and collective agreements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); experience with SAP, Oasis, Transportation Management System (TMS), Nexus, and Train Yard Execution Systems (TYES) is an asset.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes and lead diverse teams.
• Valid driver’s license.

Pre-employment requirements

Medical and Drug Testing

This is a safety-sensitive position. A successful pre-employment medical assessment, including physical, vision, and hearing, and a negative company drug test are required. Post-hire qualification drug testing may also be required.

Background Investigation

• Criminal history check
• Education verification
• Professional references
• Driver’s license verification and driving history

Becoming a Railroader

As an employee with a North American presence, the possibility does exist that the location of your position may be changed based on organizational requirements.

Management Conductor Program

Becoming a qualified conductor or locomotive engineer is the single best way for a management employee to learn the business at CPKC. You may be required to obtain a certification or to maintain your current certification/qualification as a conductor or locomotive engineer.

Benefits

• Flexible and competitive benefits package.
• Competitive company pension and/or retirement plans.
• Employee share purchase plan.
• Performance incentive plan.
• Annual fitness subsidy.
• Part-time studies program.