Danielle M. Short
Edmonton,AB
Summary
Rail & Supply Chain Leadership | Logistics Strategy | Operational Excellence | Cost Optimization | Automation | Systems Integration | Vendor Performance | Business Transformation
17 years of progressive experience in Oil & Gas. Leading rail and supply chain strategy, improving vendor performance, embedding automation to drive cost, capacity, and reliability gains. Proven track record of delivering multimillion-dollar profit growth, advancing digital transformation, and strengthening OPEX performance across Canada’s rail logistics network. Skilled in developing operating models, partnering with logistics providers, and mobilizing cross-functional teams. Known for blending financial discipline, technology enablement, and strategic execution to build scalable, high-performing supply chains.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
West Canada Area Rail Operations Lead
ExxonMobil
05.2025 - Current
- Supply Chain Strategy Development: Designed and executed supply chain operating and contingency strategies for Canada’s largest renewable facility, improving resilience while reducing fleet sparing time, decreasing fleet need and detention incurred ($1M savings per event)
- Logistics Performance & Monitoring: Enhanced operational visibility through proactive bottleneck management using early indicator triggers, resulting in a 20% reduction in significant downtime events and improved reliability.
- Cross-Functional Alignment & Service Accountability: Partnered with rail expansion and technology initiatives across Imperial’s WestCan rail network while holding service providers accountable, driving 99% adherence to service standards and enabling seamless collaboration across business units.
IOL Rail Operations Planner
ExxonMobil
07.2023 - 05.2025
- Rail Automation Strategy: Engineered scalable automation workflows, reducing 4 FTE positions and generating $60K in additional daily throughput capacity across operations.
- OPEX Cost Efficiency: Realized ~$3M yearly savings through targeted operational improvement programs, directly enhancing financial performance and resource utilization across multiple Canadian rail facilities.
- Capacity & Revenue Optimization: Modeled advanced capacity measurement frameworks that boosted throughput across sites, unlocking ~$10M in additional annual revenue and elevating KPI transparency.
- Stakeholder Bottleneck Resolution: Facilitated multi-site workshops to address operational constraints, improving site reliability by 7% as proven and realized over the subsequent two quarters.
- Strategic Subject Matter Expertise: Recognized as SME in rail operations and planning, advising leadership decisions impacting logistics, throughput, and cost efficiency across 12+ locations.
Lead Coordinator
ExxonMobil
03.2022 - 07.2023
- Demurrage Cost Reduction: Cut quarterly rail demurrage expenses by ~$1M through sequencing strategies, vendor negotiations, and improved shipment turnaround practices.
- Workforce Development & Coaching: Mentored site coordination teams nationwide, enhancing shipment optimization accuracy by 40% and reducing corrective rework by 60% annually.
- Shipment Continuity Assurance: Expedited and escalated time-critical rail shipments during network disruptions, sustaining 95% reliability for Canadian refineries and terminal operations.
- Process Streamlining Initiatives: Redesigned shipment workflows to achieve cross-functional visibility, preventing demurrage, over-purchasing, and ensuring 100% fulfillment aligned with project milestones.
- Operational Coverage & Flexibility: Coordinated rotating desk operations across Canada, ensuring seamless coverage, process reliability, and cost optimization under dynamic conditions.
Rail Site Coordinator
ExxonMobil
09.2018 - 03.2022
- Shipment Tool Innovation: Devised and maintained shipment-tracking tools, reducing reporting errors by 95% and cutting processing time by 180 minutes daily.
- Multi-Site Coordination Oversight: Aligned site-level logistics operations, ensuring rail reliability, consistency, and 20% fewer process deviations across multiple locations.
- System Expertise & Team Development: Led training and onboarding for 30+ new employees across multiple facilities, ensuring proper use and data integrity within the Bourque system; leveraged this expertise to drive later automation initiatives and strengthen operational accuracy.
- SAP & System Integration: Supported Bourque-to-SAP interfacing with working knowledge of AMP, G4P, and G9P, enhancing data consistency and real-time visibility.
CDMS Process Support (Procurement)
Syncrude Canada Ltd
09.2017 - 08.2018
- Contract Data Governance: Streamlined CDMS process workflows for procurement teams, enhancing contract compliance and enabling faster vendor onboarding with measurable cycle-time reductions of 15%.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Coordinated closely with procurement leadership and vendors to align contract documentation, supporting $20M+ in annual procurement spend across Canadian operations.
- Process Efficiency Enhancement: Designed & executed training for end users on CDMS, resulting in 30% fewer documentation errors and improved audit readiness.
Centralized CDMS Coordinator IOL Canada
Imperial Oil
02.2012 - 09.2017
- Contract Lifecycle Management: Administered centralized CDMS for refining and supply, achieving 98% on-time contract renewals and reducing non-compliance risks across multiple business units.
- Process Standardization: Unified CDMS practices across national sites, improving transparency, enabling consistent reporting, and driving efficiency gains equivalent to 10 FTE hours weekly.
- Vendor Alignment & Analysis: Supported procurement negotiations through detailed contract data analysis, identifying savings opportunities and influencing sourcing decisions worth $20M annually.
- Enterprise Process Standardization: Pioneered standardized rail logistics processes across Imperial Oil refineries, ensuring consistent operational practices & enabling efficiency gains equivalent to >$5M in cumulative annual savings.
- Cross-Functional Project Leadership: Directed collaboration between operations, procurement, and IT teams during large-scale systems deployments, successfully delivering complex rail and supply chain projects on time and within budget, strengthening long-term operational resilience.
CDMS Administrator
Syncrude Canada Ltd
09.2009 - 01.2012
- System Administration: Maintained CDMS database integrity and performed technical troubleshooting, resolving 95% of system issues within SLA and reducing downtime.
- Data Quality & Accuracy: Verified contract documentation for accuracy and completeness, minimizing errors and contributing to 100% audit compliance during regulatory reviews.
- User Support & Training: Delivered one-on-one and group training sessions for staff, building system knowledge and reducing recurring user errors by 25%.
Corporate Security Administrative Assistant
Syncrude Canada Ltd
01.2009 - 09.2009
- Administrative Coordination: Supported corporate security operations with document control, proxy management, and reporting, reducing administrative turnaround time by 20%.
- Compliance & Documentation: Managed sensitive data and identity management requests with precision, ensuring 100% compliance with corporate security protocols and audit standards.
- Process Support & System Maintenance: Assisted in developing the Syncrude ID Station system, strengthening access controls and improving efficiency of security clearance approvals.
Education
Certificate - Theology, Youth Ministry
Vanguard College
01.2008
Skills
- Rail Operations Management
- Rail Network Optimization
- Demurrage Cost Reduction
- Shipment Scheduling & Sequencing
- Multi-Site Rail Coordination
- Yard Management Systems (YMS)
- Rail Safety & Compliance
- Rail Billing
- Expediting
- Contingency Planning
- Strategy Development
- Risk Mitigation
- OPEX Optimization
- Contract Lifecycle Management
- Strategic Sourcing
- Supplier Negotiations & SLA Compliance
- Business Continuity Planning
- SAP (MM & Logistics Modules)
- Track Software SME
- Bourque Logistics SME
- Data Analytics & KPI Reporting
- Capacity Modeling
- Forecasting Tools
- Systems Integration
- Real-Time Inventory Tracking
- Advanced Excel
- Data Management
- Process Optimization
- Automation
- Digital Process Automation
- Workflow Standardization
- KPI Dashboard Development
- Reporting Automation
- Lean Process Improvements
- Operational Efficiency Initiatives
- Project Management
- Leadership
- People Development
- Team Mentorship
- Functional Stakeholder Engagement
- Workshop Facilitation
- Strategic Decision-Making
- Change Management
- Risk Management
- Escalation Handling
- Knowledge Transfer
- Training Programs
- Performance Management
- Monitoring & Governance
- Cost Analysis & Recovery
- Procurement Analytics
- Vendor Performance Alignment
- Contract Compliance
- CI Programs
- Stakeholder Alignment
Accomplishments
- Renewable Facility Strategy (2025): Developed supply chain and rail operating model for a new renewable bio-diesel facility, unlocking millions in annual profit while reducing additional FTE requirements through automation.
- Railyard Expansion (2024): Partnered with project team to remove roadblocks; procurement team to progress contract and operations team to develop strategy.
- Strategic Foundations (2024): Facilitated workshops to evaluate rail strategy, align on KPI-driven stewardship processes, and embed measures and monitoring for long-term operational success.
- Demurrage Cost Avoidance (2023): Designed an inventory monitoring system that avoided $4M annual YOY costs, alongside a forecasting tool that delivered $13M in cost avoidance for a local project.
- Automation & System Innovation (2022): Implemented software solutions resulting in automated invoice reconciliation, freight visibility programs, enhanced data integrity and improved shipment traceability across the network.
- Systems Implementation (2012–2015): Directed the enterprise-wide rollout of Track Software to all Imperial Oil refineries, automating P2P systems, standardizing processes and enabling millions in recurring annual savings.
- Capacity Expansion (2025): Repurposed existing facility capacity through optimization, increasing throughput and driving $4.8M in incremental annual profit for Canadian operations.
Certification
Certified with Project Management for Administrators
Timeline
West Canada Area Rail Operations Lead
ExxonMobil
05.2025 - Current
IOL Rail Operations Planner
ExxonMobil
07.2023 - 05.2025
Lead Coordinator
ExxonMobil
03.2022 - 07.2023
Rail Site Coordinator
ExxonMobil
09.2018 - 03.2022
CDMS Process Support (Procurement)
Syncrude Canada Ltd
09.2017 - 08.2018
Centralized CDMS Coordinator IOL Canada
Imperial Oil
02.2012 - 09.2017
CDMS Administrator
Syncrude Canada Ltd
09.2009 - 01.2012
Corporate Security Administrative Assistant
Syncrude Canada Ltd
01.2009 - 09.2009
Certificate - Theology, Youth Ministry
Vanguard College
Awards
- Ranked in top three categories of performance YOY out of 7; in the past three ranked in top tier two years with one year ranking with honors for providing significant business value.
- 2024 Won major ventures aware recognized for role on major project, cost savings initiatives and automation.
- 2024 Won Sr. Management recognition for role in major project being delivered ahead of time and under budget.