James Vesely, P.Eng.

Experience

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  Aversan Inc.

  Jun 2004 - May 2008

  Software Engineer - Consultant

  • Contract work for Honeywell Aerospace providing SW development and requirements based systems verification for civilian and military based aerospace projects.• Sound foundation in engineering processes and practices. Developing creative solutions to various technical challenges.• Continually accepting and demonstrating success at new tasks of increased responsibility to become a leader of a team and external client consultant.

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  Thales

  Jul 2008 - Nov 2017

  • System Engineering Manager for the DLR (Dockland Light Railway) project serving London UK’s underground transportation system.• Responsible for execution of all engineering work across multiple areas on the project, including; hardware, software, validation and systems engineering to meet project needs from planning to execution.• Project management and technical leadership role with a focus on engineering delivery and customer interface.• Responsible for the delivery of all engineering efforts on the project as a joint management and technical role.• Responsible for dashboard reporting and presentation to management on current project status on a monthly basis.• Conduct lessons learned activities, root cause investigations and process improvement initiatives.• Interface with customer, harboring frequent communication, and a positive relationship.• Perform project planning, including scheduling and milestones, resource planning, as well as review regularly for control and monitoring.• Direct interface with the customer in progress status updates, technical reviews, audit participation and new scope and price negotiations.• Monitoring of estimate to complete (ETC) status of various project groups and maintaining work is completed within estimated time frames.• Evaluation of scope work, enforcing policies and procedures to ensure no unauthorized work is being conducted. • Interface and work internally with functional department managers as well as coordinate externally with outside sub-contractors. Show less • Ensuring project deliverables by each functional group are completed on time and that all activities are progressing per scheduled plan.• Responsible for dashboard reporting and presentation to senior management on current project status on a monthly basis.• Conduct risk reviews and evaluate project risks with risk management principles.• Conduct weekly project meetings with complete project team leadership.• Participation for drafting statement of work for suppliers and working in tandem with contracts and technical teams.• Ensure milestones are met and invoicing of completed work. Show less • Direct management of 2 groups consisting of 16 people. Supervising, motivating, and assigning team members to tasks as well and monitoring performance. • Ensuring and responsible that all project deliverables are completed on time and that all activities are progressing per plan.• Providing estimates to projects and bid team for any new bids by diligently taking the time to fully understand the scope of changes and analysis of contract requirements in order to provide the most accurate estimation. • Identifying and capturing project risks and mitigations. Providing risk management principles to new bids.• Justification of estimates and proposals by use of metrics and historical data, as well as drawing from technical experience. Capitalization of a strong technical background to effectively manage the work in detail. • Using Primavera data from all projects to forecast resource demand and plan resource assignment effectively in order to identify any issues with enough lead time to proactively mitigate.• Work with various project managers on schedule flexibility in order to best deploy resources if high resource demands exist.• Earned value metric reporting, cost variance analysis. Frequent use of the project management software package Primavera to dynamically adjust the schedule and deduce impacts. Show less • Responsible for procurement of all deliverable HW on the Flushing and Culver (NYCT) urban transportation projects. Responsible for HW qualification.• Ensuring that all deliverable HW delivered on time and project milestones are achieved. Consistent monitoring of status with suppliers to ensure no schedule delays.• Responsible for raising demand in SAP for project HW and driving the demand to be put on order via PO to suppliers.• Maintain close relationships with equipment/parts suppliers and manufactures to allow quick issue resolutions and mitigation of long lead items.• Keep close interface with internal HW engineering design teams to ensure designs are completed in time to allow for procurement and manufacturing.• Controlling procurement budget and identifying areas for savings.• Managing and raising PR/PO and monitoring approval status to be released in a timely manner.• Maintaining a close relationship internal buyers, production staff, warehouse staff, quality, shipping/receiving, industrialization team, and supplier management teams Show less • Ensuring that all deliverables and milestones specified in the work package are met with cost and schedule constraints. • Frequent analysis of various cost and resource metrics, as well as continually managing and identifying potential project risks and finding mitigations. • Resource loading management ensuring that resource requirement levels are at an acceptable level and working with functional managers to procure specific resources when needed by the project. • Expansion of role to manage a 2nd work package on the project from a demonstrated ability to succeed. 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  • System Engineering Manager (SEM)

    Dec 2016 - Nov 2017

  • Assistant Project Manager – Docklands Light Railway Project

    Feb 2015 - Dec 2016

  • Group Leader – HW Compliance, IS IVQ

    Dec 2013 - Feb 2015

  • Project Procurement Manager

    Aug 2012 - Dec 2013

  • IVVQ Specialist and Team Lead - Work Package Manager

    Jul 2008 - Aug 2012
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  PNR RailWorks

  Nov 2017 - Jun 2021

  Technical Project Manager

  • General Manager of the PNR USRC (Union Station Rail Corridor) Cambridge Wiring and Testing Facility. Responsible for approx. 50 employees ranging from Installation, Testing, Engineering and administration functions.• Responsible for the planning and execution of all installation activities and factory acceptance testing efforts supporting the scale of a major railway signalling upgrade project.• Effectively coordinated cross-functional teams, driving project and schedule goals while maintaining high quality and assurance standards.• Developed and maintained resource plans and schedules, focusing on KPI measurement and detailed reporting of progress, cost performance, and project controls.• Proactive management of commercial issues. Production of change orders, development of thorough cost and pricing data, issuance of formal letters and correspondence. • Substantiating claims via provision of detailed metrics and cost tracking, correspondence, and contractual references.• Thoroughly reviewed contracts, managed scope creep, and ensured stakeholder organizations upheld contractual commitments.• Managed 3rd party contracts, including developing scopes of work (SOW) documents and supporting contract development and negotiation.• Effectively interfaced with the design authority, installation, testing, and engineering teams to resolve technical issues. Show less

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  Comtech Group

  Jun 2021 - Dec 2023

  Project Delivery Management - Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Wilson Yard Signalling System

  Upgrade of TTC's Wilson Yard to a new computer-based Solid-State Interlocking Signalling System, including upgrade of associated infrastructure.• Performed technical and project management duties focused on successful project delivery.• Served as the primary client liaison with the General Contractor, overseeing all aspects of design and project execution.• Effectively coordinated with cross-functional teams (installation, engineering, operations, etc.) and stakeholders to achieve project objectives and maintain schedule adherence.• Conducted rigorous technical reviews of design submittals, test reports, and technical documentation, providing timely feedback and resolving deficiencies with the General Contractor and Design Authority.• Proactively managed contract scope, identifying and resolving technical defects and deficiencies in collaboration with the client and General Contractor.• Provided regular reports to senior management on project status, including schedule and cost performance, financial status, and risk assessments, ensuring timely decision-making and proactive issue resolution.• Developed and implemented robust tracking mechanisms to effectively monitor installation progress, testing progress, materials planning, and consumption, ensuring project milestones were met.• Successfully managed the PICO testing program, ensuring timely completion and adherence to schedule, thereby guaranteeing the successful installation of critical project infrastructure.• Managed all contractor document and design submittals, ensuring compliance with contract requirements and maintaining project quality. • Effectively managed the production of RFQs, and response to RFIs, ensuring efficient communication and collaboration with the contractor.• Successfully managed contract changes and commercial items, including providing expert support for claims assessments and resolving contractual scope disputes. Show less

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  Comtech Group

  Jun 2024 - Jan 2025

  Interface Management - Ontario Line Delivery Partner
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  Accenture

  Jan 2025 - now

  Senior Manager Signalling

  Infrastructure & Capital Projects: Engineering Consulting and Advisory Services