Advisor, Learning & Development

Did you know that VIA Rail is carrying out ambitious projects to modernize its services and infrastructure? From our new ultramodern train fleet to ongoing improvement of our infrastructure, we’re building the future of transportation in Canada. Working for VIA Rail is being a part of a collective effort in sustainable mobility.

The Advisor, Learning & Development supports VIA Rail’s Equipment Maintenance business unit by identifying current and future skills gaps, and by designing, maintaining, and evolving practical learning solutions that protect business performance, quality, and safety. The incumbent develops and improves technical training programs and materials, collaborates closely with subject-matter experts and operational stakeholders, and helps deploy learning solutions aligned with broader business priorities and transformation initiatives. Success in this role requires strong capabilities in needs analysis, instructional design, and project management, along with bilingualism and a genuine interest in technical environments.

Responsibilities

Training Program Development, Maintenance and Evolution

• Develop, maintain, and evolve training programs for Equipment Maintenance to address current and future skills gaps that may negatively affect business performance, quality, or safety.
• Conduct learning needs analyses with operational leaders, trainers, and other front-line stakeholders to identify priority gaps and recommend practical solutions.
• Ensure learning pathways, qualification activities, and onboarding contents remain aligned with operational requirements, evolving equipment, procedures, tools and regulatory expectations.
• Monitor training effectiveness and recommend adjustments based on business feedback, performance indicators, incident trends, and future workforce needs.

Continuous Improvement of existing training materials and activities

• Maintain and continuously improve existing training materials, learner tools, and learning activities to ensure they remain accurate, engaging, and operationally relevant.
• Apply instructional design principles and adult learning best practices to update classroom, practical, on-the-job and digital learning solutions adapted to technical audiences.
• Review feedback from learners, trainers, coaches and business partners, and incorporate lessons learned into content revisions and delivery improvements.
• Help ensure that training documentation and activities support safe work practices, standardization, and the consistent transfer of technical knowledge.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Learning Solution Deployment

• Collaborate with subject-matter experts, business stakeholders, trainers, coaches and support function specialists to identify issues and define learning requirements as part of larger initiatives and business priorities.
• Effectively manage projects to ensure deliverables are completed on time, on budget and aligned with project objectives.
• Contribute learning expertise to cross-functional projects, change initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts affecting Equipment Maintenance.

Requirements

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• University degree in Human Resources, Adult Education, Instructional Design, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• Experience in learning and development, ideally in unionized technical, operational, industrial, transportation, maintenance, or safety-sensitive environments.
• Genuine interest in technical topics and curiosity to understand maintenance operations, equipment, processes, and business realities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools and the ability to quickly learn new systems and learning technologies.
• Knowledge of learning authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate is an asset.
• Availability to travel occasionally, as required by operational needs.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to assess learning needs, identify skill gaps, and recommend solutions that support operational performance, quality, and safety;
• Solid project management skills, including planning, coordination, prioritization, and follow-through across multiple initiatives and stakeholders;
• Sound instructional design capabilities and the ability to develop engaging learning experiences for technical audiences;
• Strong partnership and collaboration skills with the ability to build credibility with subject-matter experts and business stakeholders;
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills in both official languages;
• Professionalism, autonomy, sound judgment, and a results-oriented approach;
• Curiosity, adaptability, and a genuine interest in technical topics and operational environments.

At VIA Rail, we are proud to be an employment-equity employer and we strive to form teams that reflect the diversity of Canadian society. We aim to remove barriers to employment accessibility and aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone is valued, regardless of their identity or differences, to enable them to reach their full potential.

If you need assistance in making the recruitment process or the position you are applying for more accessible, please let us know. Alternate arrangements may be offered to individuals who request them at any stage of the recruitment process. All information received in relation to arrangements will be kept confidential.

Note that we will only contact those who are selected for an interview.

Join our 3,000 other employees in helping provide Canadians with a safe, accessible, environmentally sustainable way to travel!