Director, Optimization and Crew Management

Director, Optimization and Crew Management

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Salary: CA$125,000.00 - CA$200,000.00 per year

The Director, Optimization and Crew Management reports to the Vice President, Network Operations, and is responsible for crew planning, scheduling, and rostering in accordance with current regulations and standards. The incumbent ensures optimal management of crew scheduling and planning teams. The Director also oversees all crew-related aspects, from scheduling and payroll to logistics and training, to ensure efficient and reliable operations, manage crew-related costs, and collaborate with other departments to achieve operational objectives.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with flight operations to plan short and long-term training for flight crew members, including simulator sessions, classroom and online training, and other training requests;
• Ensure regulatory compliance when preparing crew pairings;
• Plan medium and long-term crew movements;
• Manage hotel and transportation for crew travel as well as the daily operations of the crew scheduling department;
• Monitor supplier contracts (hotel and transportation companies);
• Manage the FRMS (Fatigue Risk Management System);
• Manage the budget of the planning and crew scheduling departments;
• In collaboration with the IT department, manage the performance of IT system providers from a customer perspective;
• Projection of medium and long-term crew requirements by base and aircraft type;
• Fulfill the entirety of the responsibilities described in the Operations Manual;
• Oversee workforce planning, including scheduling, payroll, and logistics, to ensure adequate aircrew and optimize crew-related costs;
• Participate in the creation and presentation of the annual budget of the crew management department and collaborate with the finance teams to optimize costs;
• Prepare and analyze key operational performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for improvement and increase efficiency;
• Participate in projects to modernize operational systems and improve efficiency within crew management;
• Participate in the optimization of the long-term flight program in collaboration with network planning, to improve the efficiency of flight crew resources;
• Participate in the negotiation sessions of the respective collective agreements for aircrew (pilots/cabin attendants).

Qualifications

• University degree in air transport management, administration, logistics, or any other relevant field.
• 10 years of experience in the aviation or transportation sector, including roles related to planning, optimization, or operational management.
• 5 to 10 years of team management experience, with the ability to navigate regulated and complex environments (experience managing unionized employees is an asset).
• Expertise in crew planning, including schedule management, flight credits, movements, and training.
• Proven ability to interpret and apply complex collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience in implementing strategic vision, change management, and continuous improvement.
• Mastery of operational optimization principles and performance monitoring tools (KPIs).
• Knowledge or experience with specialized systems such as Jeppesen or other planning tools (an asset).
• Global vision of aviation operations, with a collaborative approach and the ability to work across multiple departments.
• Oral and written fluency in French and English.
• A good knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec. The incumbent will be required to communicate and collaborate frequently in English, both orally and in writing, with colleagues, customers, and other stakeholders in Quebec, the rest of Canada, and internationally.

Additional Information

In case of absence, the responsibilities of the Director, Optimization and Crew Management, will be delegated to a qualified employee, designated in agreement with the Vice President, Network Operations.

Employment Equity

At Transat, we foster an environment where inclusiveness, respect and equity reign. We endeavour to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our customers as well as the communities to which we travel. We encourage women, members of visible minorities, ethnic minorities, aboriginal peoples as well as people with disabilities to submit their candidacy. Transat will accommodate people with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation, please contact us in order to work together in meeting adequately your needs.