Head of Rail Operations Safety

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART); Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

BART is seeking an experienced transportation safety leader to oversee a comprehensive rail operations safety program and ensure regulatory compliance across districts and partners in the Oakland region.

The role requires strategic leadership, strong communication, and the ability to operate in a highly regulated environment with coordination across CPUC, FTA, and internal departments.

Qualifications

• Five years of professional safety programs experience with at least two years in supervisory roles.
• Strong knowledge of railway safety regulations and compliance requirements.
• Ability to develop, implement and improve safety programs.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills for cross‑functional collaboration.
• Experience working with regulatory agencies (CPUC, FTA) and safety audits.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development, implementation and continuous improvement of rail operations safety programs.
• Lead the Operations Safety Division within the System Safety Department and advise the Chief Safety Officer.
• Coordinate safety audits, investigations of incidents, and corrective action plans.
• Manage budgeting and staffing for safety initiatives; supervise and coach staff.
• Liaise with internal departments and external agencies to ensure regulatory alignment.
• Lead training programs and drills; monitor emergency response times.

Skills

Leadership

Safety management

Regulatory compliance

Risk assessment

Investigation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in safety engineering / industrial hygiene or closely related field

Job description

BART is seeking an experienced transportation safety leader to oversee a comprehensive rail operations safety program and ensure regulatory compliance across districts and partners in the Oakland region.

The role requires strategic leadership, strong communication, and the ability to operate in a highly regulated environment with coordination across CPUC, FTA, and internal departments.