Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

Juan Zuluaga

Sydney,NSW

Summary

Over 15 years of international experience in rail and transit operations, leading multi-functional teams to ensure safe and reliable service delivery. Proven ability to develop and implement effective business strategies while driving continuous improvement initiatives. Expertise in fostering high-performing teams with a strong safety culture and building robust relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Modifications Director

RATP Dev
Sydney, NSW
04.2025 - Current
  • Contributed to RATP Dev's strategic direction as a Senior Leadership Team member.
  • Coordinated project activities to evaluate and implement major technical and operational modifications.
  • Ensured seamless integration of modifications for safe, reliable, and compliant future operations.
  • Conducted peer reviews of operational artifacts including Safety Management System and Incident Management Plans.
  • Managed budget adherence throughout the tender process and developed costing models for modifications.
  • Monitored expenses and allocated resources to optimize costs in response to modification requests.
  • Ensured compliance with contractual obligations outlined in O&M deed with Sydney Metro.

Head of Operational Readiness

Auckland One Rail
Auckland, New Zealand
10.2022 - Current
  • Led the Service Planning Team to develop and implement timetables in compliance with Auckland Transport requirements.
  • Directed the delivery of Network Optimization Projects, integrating them into daily operations for improved safety and reliability.
  • Owned the workforce planning stream, developing resource strategies for efficient project execution across Auckland network.
  • Represented tjhe Operations Team in major projects meetings, ensuring ongoing alignment with AOR operational needs.
  • Focused on commercial viability, managing project budgets and reporting financial outcomes regularly.

Acting GM Assets (Rollingstock)

Auckland One Rail
Auckland, New Zealand
11.2023 - 09.2024
  • Lead a team to manage the EMU (Fleet) Maintenance Agreement between CAF NZ and Auckland Transport to ensure the reliability and availability, and operational requirements are met.
  • Ensure the Auckland One Rail rolling stock activities are undertaken in line with technical and operational compliances applicable to the railway industry, and the Franchise Agreement with Auckland Transport.
  • Develop the strategy and lead the delivery of all activities to transition the Rollingstock Maintenance responsibilities from CAF NZ to AOR by October 2025.
  • Manage proposals and approved enhancement and optimization projects to deliver the financial and operational outcomes required from the projects, and deliver performance and reliability objectives.
  • Establish clear communication, solid lines of control, and delegation to direct team members, and actively create and maintain a culture of openness, responsiveness, honesty, ethics, and responsibility across the team.

Acting Chief Operations Officer

Auckland One Rail
Auckland, New Zealand
05.2023 - 10.2023
  • Oversee the service delivery and planning components of the rail passenger operation for the Auckland Metro Rail Network.
  • Identify short, medium and long-term risks to the operation and develop strategies to deliver the right solutions.
  • Drive a continuous service improvement culture within the Operations Team.
  • Manage the relationships with different business units within Auckland Transport and KiwiRail.
  • Work in collaboration with other members of the Executive Leadership to develop and implement strategies to meet KPIs set by the client.

Associate, Rail and Mass Transit

Aurecon Group
Auckland, New Zealand
08.2021 - 10.2022
  • Manage multi-disciplinary teams and ensure efficient business process, including managing time of others and contributing to optimise team performance and efficiency.
  • Develop deep insight into client business and being responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with key clients.
  • Be the single point of accountability and lead mid size to large projects.
  • Review and recommend for approval final project and/or bid deliverables.

Operations Director - Transit Systems - LRT

Transdev Canada
Edmonton, Canada
02.2020 - 07.2021
  • Plan, manage, and implement the pre-operations services and functions of the operations department to provide a smooth transition into the Testing and Commissioning activities through to Revenue Service.
  • Provide strategic direction and overall leadership for the operations of the Valley Line LRT. Responsible for the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, priorities and budgets.
  • Build and develop the Valley Line LRT Operations Team. (18 employees were hired - Route Supervisors, LRV Drivers and Controllers - Up to 50 employees were required for Revenue Service).
  • Formulate, recommend and approve operational documents required to operate and support the Valley Line LRT operations (Operation plans and schedules, operating rulebook, standard operating procedures (SOP's), training manuals, etc.).
  • Support the General Manager in the provision of strategic advice to the client's representative, the Board of Directors, and executives of the partnership.
  • Oversee and coordinate the daily operations of the Valley Line LRT during the Testing and Commissioning activities.
  • Participate in contract negotiations, grievance investigations and arbitration proceedings.

Operations and Maintenance Manager for Transit Systems

Aecon Concessions
Toronto, Canada
07.2019 - 02.2020
  • Lead strategic and functional initiatives for the operations, maintenance and rehabilitation scope of multiple Transit Systems Projects.
  • Participate in the development of Operational Concept Plans and bid schedules as well as the review of technical documents to minimize the conflicts during the operational phase.
  • Active member of multiple O&M working groups. Provide comments and challenge ideas from other partners regarding the efficient and effective operation and maintenance of the systems.
  • Review and provide input to the different Project Agreements as they relate to operations and maintenance of the transit systems.

Principal Project Manager - Train Services Team

Auckland Transport
Auckland, New Zealand
08.2017 - 05.2019
  • Actively participate in the development of business strategies acting as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT).
  • Active participation as the Client representative in multiple committees with the Service Provider and the Maintenance Provider to support the Rail Operation Manager with all operations matters and issues.
  • Ensure assignment of appropriate staff to projects to ensure requirements were incorporated and projects were implemented in a coordinated manner while meeting the budget, timelines and quality targets.
  • Monitor objectives related with technical specifications, document control, budget and forecasts and analyze expenditures to prepare project status reports. Determine and take corrective actions on contractual, technical and commercial issues.

Facilities and Infrastructure Projects Manager - Bus Operations

Auckland Transport
Auckland, New Zealand
09.2016 - 08.2017
  • Manage several different consultants who were tasked with undertaking different investigations at the same time for the implementation of a brand-new bus network in Auckland.
  • Lead the interface between consultants undertaking the investigations and major internal stakeholders to ensure key information was channeled to all affected parties in an appropriate, relevant and timely manner to ensure an efficient operation of the bus network.

LRT Operations Specialist

Auckland Transport
Auckland, New Zealand
11.2015 - 09.2016
  • Main responsible for the development of an Overall Operational Plan for the proposed Auckland's LRT System.
  • Provide technical expertise regarding LRVs and rail systems requirements, design of fixed infrastructure facilities, the development of O&M budgets and the overall operation of the system.

Commissioning Manager

CAF
Auckland, New Zealand
05.2013 - 10.2015
  • Build up and lead the Commissioning Team as well as supervise specialist contractors to ensure the deadlines to deliver all EMUs were met.
  • Main responsible for the development of training material and SOPs to ensure the Commissioning Team activities were undertaken in a coordinated manner.
  • Identify and manage dependency between activities undertaken by internal and external parties (Operator, Testing Team and Maintainers) for a smooth project execution. Identify opportunities to optimize times, cost and quality of deliverables.
  • Proactively develop and maintain effective and very strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Produce timely and accurate reports including costs expenditures, schedule, cash flow and work progress. Identify deficiencies and opportunities and recommend solutions.

General English Student

Auckland, New Zealand
09.2012 - 04.2013

Business Development & Sales Coordinator

Alstom Transport
Bogota, Colombia
04.2011 - 07.2012
  • Development of business opportunities for rail solutions in Colombia.
  • Management of key stakeholders for the development of feasibility studies for several potential LRT Systems in different cities in Colombia.

Projects, Commissioning and Systems Engineer

Trienergy
Bogota, Colombia
01.2007 - 04.2011

Education

Master of Science - Engineering Management

Universidad Javeriana
Bogota, Colombia
09-2011

Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering

Universidad De America
Bogota, Colombia
09-2007

Skills

  • Leadership and mentoring
  • Results-driven mindset
  • Commercial awareness
  • Stakeholder management
  • Team collaboration
  • Effective communication
  • Complex problem solving
  • Operational excellence
  • Negotiation skills
  • Operational compliance
  • Strategic planning
  • Client relations
  • Change management
  • Contract management
  • Analytical thinking

Certification

Project Management Professional, PMI, 06/01/17, 06/30/26, 2048254

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Modifications Director

RATP Dev
04.2025 - Current

Acting GM Assets (Rollingstock)

Auckland One Rail
11.2023 - 09.2024

Acting Chief Operations Officer

Auckland One Rail
05.2023 - 10.2023

Head of Operational Readiness

Auckland One Rail
10.2022 - Current

Associate, Rail and Mass Transit

Aurecon Group
08.2021 - 10.2022

Operations Director - Transit Systems - LRT

Transdev Canada
02.2020 - 07.2021

Operations and Maintenance Manager for Transit Systems

Aecon Concessions
07.2019 - 02.2020

Principal Project Manager - Train Services Team

Auckland Transport
08.2017 - 05.2019

Facilities and Infrastructure Projects Manager - Bus Operations

Auckland Transport
09.2016 - 08.2017

LRT Operations Specialist

Auckland Transport
11.2015 - 09.2016

Commissioning Manager

CAF
05.2013 - 10.2015

General English Student

09.2012 - 04.2013

Business Development & Sales Coordinator

Alstom Transport
04.2011 - 07.2012

Projects, Commissioning and Systems Engineer

Trienergy
01.2007 - 04.2011

Master of Science - Engineering Management

Universidad Javeriana

Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering

Universidad De America

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