Brian Christie
Director Of Terminal Operations
Abu Dhabi
Summary
Dedicated Railway and Transportation professional with a history of meeting company goals utilizing consistent and organized practices. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organizational brand.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Terminal Operations Director
Etihad Rail
Abu Dhabi
06.2022 - Current
- Provide leadership and direction for terminal operations and take responsibility for effective management and safety of all operations employees.
- Manage the completion and taking over of the facilities from the construction project.
- Take the lead in the selection, negotiation and finalization of agreements with suppliers & customers including the execution and maintenance of SLA.
- Liaise with customs authorities, trucking companies, port authorities, etc. to ensure that service provision requirements are met.
- Oversee all Operations within the department, and work with the teams to optimize operations within each facility.
- Resource planning, including staff and machinery.
- Set terminal budgets and set goals to adhere to plans.
- Directed and initiated investigations to resolve shipper or customer complaints.
- Collaborated with the Management team to create, modify and implement goals, procedures and policies.
- Negotiate contracts with internal and external providers to minimize cost and increase profitability.
- Monitored employee performance and productivity, through goal setting and appraisals.
- Measure and report on operational performance and develop plans to improve relevant key performance indicators where necessary.
- Generated profit and loss statements and financial overviews of store.
- Developed emergency protocols for warehouse and safety guidelines.
- Coordinated and monitored maintenance and repair of company vehicles to provide timely servicing.
- Performed human resource-related tasks by interviewing and hiring employees, performing payroll functions and evaluating drivers.
- Promoted safety programs throughout terminal by conducting meetings and communicating safety program messages.
- Hired, trained and educated new employees to improve company performance and efficiency.
- Develop support programs and initiatives to emphasize incremental improvement in work process and outputs over an open-ended period of time.
Safety, Assurance & Compliance Manager
Etihad Rail DB JV
Abu Dhabi
01.2022 - 06.2022
- Support the Operator & Maintainer where applicable, which includes reviewing and verifying documentation relating to the operation of the federal railway in the UAE.
- Prepared and presented comprehensive reports to upper management and audit team, covering issues and recommendations.
- Prepare, produce and review all Safety Management System documents relating Operations.
- Management of the Etihad Rail Operations Readiness team risk register, as well attending meetings with regards to the risk register.
- Prepare the Operational Safety Case, in conjunction with departmental colleagues, in readiness for presenting to the Rail Regulator for commercial licensing.
- Provide Operation advice and guidance with regards to risk mitigations
- Monitored key food safety KPIs and prepared evaluations, assessments and reports.
- Managed compliance efforts, reporting and audits.
- Defined and developed policies and procedures for consumer reporting and privacy practices.
- Managed full life cycle of assigned audits in alignment with departmental procedures, delivering progress as well as closing reports to senior management and clients.
- Formulated detailed recommendations based on audit findings to support annual planning and definition of goals.
- Consulted with clients on best practices and served as project manager for all process improvements and regulatory initiatives.
- Advised division leaders of regulatory risks in business processed and provided recommendations for improvement.
Senior Operations Specialist
Etihad Rail
Abu Dhabi
03.2021 - 01.2022
- Tracked and analyzed reports to determine needed improvements.
- Motivated and trained employees to maximize team productivity.
- Identified company objectives by providing operational concept documentation based on the project deliverables.
- Enhanced operational performance and reduced labor expenses by developing and optimizing standard practices.
- Used Railsys to model train running data.
- Compiled training materials for new employees and tracked skill development.
- Managed internal operational standards and productivity targets.
- Evaluated team member performance and productivity, provided feedback and implemented corrective actions.
- Conducted root cause analysis in deficient areas to identify and resolve issues.
Operations Standards & Compliance Manager
Saudi Arabian Railway Co (SAR)
Riyadh
08.2017 - 03.2021
- Covering Passenger & Freight Operations.
- SAR’s technical lead for the Al Sharakah contract involving the Technical Content Delivery (SMS and Rule Book).
- Leading the technical review of all operational policies, standard procedures and instructions to ensure a uniform approach is applied across the entire business.
- Covering the Head of Driver Management (Freight only), with responsibility for 6 direct Driver Managers and 100+ Train Crew.(From September 2019).
- Ensuring that there are sufficient resources to cover all services as required.
- Develop training program's to ensure that all promoted employees have suitable and sufficient training for the new roles.
- Develop recovery plans in times of network disruption.
- Interface with the Operations Standards department for guidance on new or amended standards.
- Prepared and presented comprehensive reports to upper management and audit team, covering issues and recommendations.
- Maintained effective working relationships with regulatory authorities, suppliers and customers.
- Drove optimization of regulatory risks management, control testing and process improvements.
- Formulated detailed recommendations based on audit findings to support annual planning and definition of goals.
- Managed full life cycle of assigned audits in alignment with departmental procedures, delivering progress as well as closing reports to senior management and clients.
- Managed compliance efforts, reporting and audits.
- Delivered subject matter expertise for internal and external customers on compliance best practices and quality control.
- Conducted quarterly audits of environmental management compliance.
- Publicized health and safety program requirements and mentored employees on critical nature of compliance.
- Defined and developed policies and procedures for consumer reporting and privacy practices.
- Monitored key safety KPIs and prepared evaluations, assessments and reports.
- Played instrumental role in company-wide risk assessment efforts, supporting enhancements in business processes and controls.
- Developed and delivered training programs to inform new and current employees in railway operations, safety and compliance.
- Perform Internal Verification of the locations that come under my direct management.
Operations Specialist
Saudi Arabian Railway Co (SAR)
Riyadh
12.2016 - 08.2017
- Development and implementation of a new Competence Management System (CMS), including all associated documents.
- Develop and deliver the training material required for compliance with new CMS, which included training of all managers named in the documents.
- Verification of existing training material ensuring its compliance.
- Production of SAR, Mineral & Cargo Business Unit training requirements and forecasts.
- Production of training plans with projected timelines.
- Verification of the CMS for the purpose of compliance with audits.
- Assist with the technical content of current and new Safety Management System (SMS) and CMS documents.
- Development of cross-functional safety management documentation.
- Enhanced operational performance and reduced labor expenses by developing and optimizing standard practices.
- Conducted root cause analysis in deficient areas to identify and resolve issues.
Operations Manager & Head of Ops Safety & Standard
First Hull Trains
Hull (UK)
02.2012 - 12.2016
- Acting Head of Operations (3 months).
- Stakeholder Management within both Holding Group, various passenger working groups, and within the rail industry.
- Develop and manage the strategic operational direction of the company for the implementation of EU Driver Licensing to ensure the continuity of service at the implementation date.
- Develop and manage the strategy for new routes, to ensure that the business achieves the required resources to implement the new timetable to include the additional routes.
- Develop and manage the strategic plan for changes to routes that affect the direct operation of services, including a company move to a new fleet maintenance location.
- Production of period Operations Safety & Standards board report.
- Ensure company compliance with ROGS certification.
- Company compliance with Safety Management System requirements.
- Production of emergency timetables during sever disruption, and management of the planning of diversionary route timetables for major engineering works.
- Management of post incident reviews, including the sharing of best practice.
- Active part of the ATOC (now RDG), UK Digital Railway and RSSB subgroups.
- Creation of operations standards publications and instructions relating to the safe, compliant delivery of the Hull Trains operation.
- Creation of Professional Policies, industry standards to conform to licensing requirements and RSSB, control documents relating to the Hull Trains specific operation.
- Maintain systems to ensure all Operational Managers, Drivers, On-Board Managers, On-Board Hosts and other are regularly monitored and assessed on their competencies and underpinning knowledge.
- Verification of the business CMS and preparation for external audit.
- Working with senior representatives of industry partners, trade unions, Network Rail, ATOC (now RDG) including representing Hull Trains on the ATOC Operations Standards forum, RSSB, ORR, Digital Railway and First Group.
- Significant player in the UK ERTMS concept forum and the East Coast ERTMS implementation steering group.
Production Manager
EWS / DB Schenker
Various
03.2003 - 02.2012
- Management of wagon pools, which included planning and management maintenance cycles of to ensure that business achieved its KPI targets against customer contracts. The KPI set in the contract with Tarmac Southern was 95% wagon availability, and tonnage delivery.
- Budget responsibility, which included forecasting staff costs, including overtime, for ground-staff as well as for the traincrew depot. I was also responsible for the other locations, including buildings, track, and fence line at the outstation locations I managed. This included CAPEX and OPEX for the various locations under my direct management whether for repairs or location upgrades, or for operational requirements for new traffic flows.
- Managed continuous improvement initiatives to drive gains in quality, flow, and output.
- Reviewed work for quality and compliance with company standards and design specifications.
- Created streamlined production schedules and collaborated with production employees to communicate objectives and goals.
- Standardized production procedures, job roles, and quality assurance guidelines.
- Sourced materials to keep up with production goals and meet customer demands.
- Resolved issues quickly to maintain productivity goals.
- Delivered direct feedback to senior management regarding project visibility and status.
- Determined suitable crew requirements, scheduled employees, and worked with human resources to meet changing production schedules.
- Managed internal operational standards and productivity targets.
- Estimated labor requirements to support anticipated workload.
- Wrote and conducted formal performance reviews for production personnel.
- Managed personnel by implementing company policies, procedures, work rules, and disciplinary action.
- Collaborated with technical and administrative teams to develop and implement successful corrective plans.
- Evaluated employee performance and provided feedback and training as needed.
- Scrutinized production output and identified areas for improvement.
- Updated logs and submitted timely reports detailing activities in line with regulatory standards.
- Enforced health and safety protocols to promote safe working environment.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Railway Operations
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow (UK) 10.2018 - 10.2020
High School Diploma -
Ross High School
Tranent (UK) 08.1981 - 06.1984
Skills
Staff training/development
undefinedAffiliations
Chartered Institute of Railway Operators
Timeline
Terminal Operations Director
Etihad Rail
06.2022 - Current
Safety, Assurance & Compliance Manager
Etihad Rail DB JV
01.2022 - 06.2022
Senior Operations Specialist
Etihad Rail
03.2021 - 01.2022
Bachelor of Science - Railway Operations
Glasgow Caledonian University
10.2018 - 10.2020
Operations Standards & Compliance Manager
Saudi Arabian Railway Co (SAR)
08.2017 - 03.2021
Operations Specialist
Saudi Arabian Railway Co (SAR)
12.2016 - 08.2017
Operations Manager & Head of Ops Safety & Standard
First Hull Trains
02.2012 - 12.2016
Production Manager
EWS / DB Schenker
03.2003 - 02.2012
High School Diploma -
Ross High School
08.1981 - 06.1984
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