The GO Expansion program is the largest transit infrastructure program in Canadian history. Metrolinx, the owner/operator for suburban rail, has a dramatic GO Expansion Program that will transform rail services in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), providing two-way all-day GO train service and improved passenger experience with quieter and faster electric locomotives. The GO Expansion program includes Early Works, Off-corridor station, and infrastructure upgrades, as well as an On-Corridor program to deliver new tracks, platforms, facilities, grade separations and electrification.
The MCS team, a JV of Mace Comtech and Systra, is partnering, as the Program Delivery Partner, with Metrolinx to deliver the GO Expansion upgrade program and, at the same time, develop Metrolinx’s capability to deliver mega programs.
The MCS Program Delivery Partner (Delivery Partner) team will achieve this by facilitating Metrolinx’s creation of an outstanding organizational capability for program management and, simultaneously bring our global
and local expertise to the direction and successful delivery of the GO Expansion program.
A key part of this is adding exemplary Commercial Management capability to the program.
Key Accountabilities & Responsibility
Direct and lead GO Expansion throughout the lifecycle of all contracts/projects, and ensure that there are effective and efficient commercial policies, procedures, and best practices in place to establish and maintain that function.
Provide guidance and leadership in the development of procurement documents and contracting structures and oversee and develop strategies for contract negotiations and governance to ensure that Metrolinx effectively negotiates contracts that adhere to Metrolinx policies and procedures, and to minimize corporate liability and risk throughout the contract lifecycle.
Lead the development and implementation of appropriate commercial management plans and strategies to maximize funding opportunities and related value, while minimizing risk to Metrolinx.
Lead a commercial team and interface with technical team members and other stakeholders for the development and successful implementation of commercial strategies.
Identify emerging commercial hot topics, issues, and risks, report contractual claims, and lead the management and resolution of legal and/or commercial disputes.
Responsible for the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies, methodologies, tools and techniques for commercial management excellence, lessons learned and continuous improvement.
Undertake commercial activities as required to support the GO Expansion program with respect to commercial management of advanced works, target price, actual costs management, and mobilization and integration. Set up and manage target cost contracts.
Undertake an assessment of the development phase and early works, and recommend appropriate changes to processes and resources with the aim of controlling costs and delivering value for money.
Together with the Development Phase Lead and, with assigned individuals, undertake an assessment of spend to-date and review outturn of development phase and implement controls to provide certainty of cost.
Assess the status of the current cost plans and implement changes to provide a more robust cost plan that provides a clear understanding of the total cost. This will be a progressive refinement and will be done with the contractor and utilization of internal information.
Initiate dialogue to create a collaborative, transparent and constructive relationship with the contractors to enable a more mutually beneficial environment with aims to challenge target cost for the contractor and drive value for money for Metrolinx.
Review existing processes and procedures and assess their viability to provide controls and information during the life of the target cost implementation period. This includes taking a lifecycle view of the target price process, identifying gaps, and providing ideas and documentation to ensure a robust end-to-end process.
Building capability within Metrolinx by sharing skills, knowledge and experience, and embedding within Metrolinx the tools developed to leave a legacy of best practice, including process documents, guidance material and outputs from lessons learned exercises.
Lead the resolution of issues of corporate significance, as required to recover or protect Metrolinx’s commercial reputation, and ensure value for money and sound commercial decision-making.
Skills and Qualifications
Completion of a degree in Engineering, Architecture, Contract/Construction Law, Business Administration, or a related discipline or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent; Graduate level degree is an asset.
Demonstrated experience in a public transportation development, construction environment with experience and measured success in the application of commercial management methodology in the context of major, complex infrastructure projects; construction experience in the transportation industry and/or public sector is an asset.
Experience having developed / structured, procured, negotiated and/or administered complex contracts is required.
Detailed understanding of different procurement strategies and project delivery models (traditional, NEC, Alliance, P3, and collaborative) and the associated benefits and risk transfer implications.
International Transit experience and particularly UK transit experience is preferred, including expert knowledge of transit-related risks across construction, design, engineering and/or commercial management.
Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, procedures, professional or technical practices and precedents (e.g., Metrolinx Act, Places to Grow Act, Planning Act).
Knowledge of regulatory, legislation, building codes, legal, and financial issues and government bodies, external agencies, and partnering transit organizations involved in developing public transportation systems, knowledge of construction engineering principles and best practices.
