Senior Director, Commercial Transactions

At Alto, we are actively contributing to the transformation of Canada's future with our high-speed train project connecting Quebec City and Toronto. With the support of the Government of Canada, this innovative project aims to improve the quality of life of our citizens, strengthen ties between communities and stimulate economic growth.

Would you like to take on a stimulating, high-impact challenge?  We are looking for a Senior Director, Commercial Transactions. Please note that the candidate may be based in one of our 4 offices: Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto or Ottawa with a preference for the Montreal Office.

The role

Reporting to the VP, Commercial, Senior Director, Commercial Transactions, is responsible for managing and leading commercial deal structuring and negotiations activities for the Alto High-Speed Rail project. This position requires effective collaboration with Cadence (PDP)—a consortium of private sector partners—to advance the Project’s delivery strategies and negotiate commercial and contractual terms for the Project’s execution. The role emphasizes teamwork and working closely with cross-functional groups such as Legal Affairs and Project Management to ensure strategic alignment, address challenges, and maximize value.

In performing their duties, the person will work closely with various cross-functional groups, such as legal affairs and project management. This collaborative approach aims to ensure strategic consistency among the various stakeholders, address challenges as they arise, and maximize the value generated for the project.

The responsibilities

• Lead the development of commercial and contractual deal structuring analysis, in conjunction with the PDP.
• Evaluate project delivery, risk allocation, costs, and long-term benefits.
• Negotiate core PDP contract terms, including funding, payment methods, KPIs, risk sharing, and termination compensation.
• Ensure the accuracy, completeness and timely review of PDP invoices by the technical team and approve invoices from the PDP as per the terms of the PDA.
• Manage, negotiate, and oversee PDP contracts and agreements, including monitoring contractors, subcontractors, operators, lenders, and other external partners.
• Monitor market changes—including interest rates, supply limits, inflation, and escalation—to manage contract risks and inform commercial structuring.
• Provide training and development opportunities to build expertise within the team on contract negotiations and commercial strategies, while also mentoring and coordinating a large and diverse group of external advisors from multiple disciplines.
• Prepare detailed briefings and reports on the status of activities for senior management, senior Government stakeholders, and the Board of Directors.

The requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, law, engineering, or equivalent. Relevant certification (e.g., CFA) is considered an asset.
• Minimum 15 years experience in deal structuring and financing for major infrastructure projects, including expertise in public-private partnerships (P3) and collaborative delivery models.
• Experience with public private projects (P3) and/or collaborative models (progressive P3, IPD, Alliancing, etc.).
• Demonstrated detail-orientation, strong negotiation, problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to adapt to changing environments, drive results, and foster collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Bilingualism (English and French), both spoken and written, is considered an asset.
• Flexibility is required, as the role involves travel between Toronto and Montreal.

Why join our innovative team?

• Basic paid group insurance for you and your family: medical, dental, life, disability, etc.
• Access to wellness and health accounts to support your lifestyle.
• Flex-Alto account of $500 to encourage a healthier approach and a more sustainable mode of transportation.
• A retirement plan and savings options (RRSP and TFSA).
• Vacations based on experience, available upon hiring.
• An incentive compensation program.
• Flexible hybrid work mode.
• A work environment that encourages initiative, innovation, and forward-thinking solutions.
• A unique opportunity to shape the future of transportation in Canada.

We work to create high-performance, diversified teams

At Alto, we believe in the power of diverse teams. We aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone can develop and flourish. Alto offers equal employment opportunities to all and invites qualified individuals, regardless of their identity, origin or situation, to apply.

Please let us know if you need any adjustments during the recruitment process. We will do our utmost to provide you with a fair and pleasant experience, while keeping any adjustments confidential.

Please note that we will communicate only with those candidates whose applications are selected for further consideration. To find out more about the entire project, visit Alto - Home.