Manager of 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

Pay Rate:
AFSCME Pay Grade A21
Annual Salary: $156,395.20 (Step 1) - $190,091.20 (Step 5)
*Initial negotiable annual salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Reports to:
Chief Safety Officer

Days Off:
Variable

Who May Apply:
All qualified candidates

Current Assignment:

Please note: Applications for this posting will be reviewed in three (3) rounds based on the following schedule:

• September 9 - October 8
• October 9 - November 8
• November 9 - December 8

The District reserves the right to close this recruitment at any time after the completion of a review round if a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified to advance in the selection process. Therefore, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible, as subsequent review rounds may not be conducted.

BART is currently seeking an experienced transportation safety professional who is a strategic and collaborative leader who thrives in working in a complex operational environment. This position will oversee a comprehensive rail operations safety program that protects employees, passengers, and critical infrastructure while ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

In this leadership role, the successful incumbent will oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of rail operations safety programs, lead the Operations Safety Division with the System Safety Department, and serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief Safety Officer. The Operations Safety Division programs encompass Operations Rules and Procedures, safety auditing, investigation of operations incidents and accidents, Roadway Worker Protection Program, and correction action plans for operations safety activities.

The ideal candidate will be a respected safety leader who combines technical expertise with exceptional leadership and communication skills and have the ability to work comfortably in a highly regulated environment, make sound decisions during critical operational events, and built collaborative relationships across departments within BART and with external partners including the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and others.

The most qualified candidates for this position will have highly developed competencies in the following areas, which will be reinforced in the related work experience and will be articulated during the selection process:

• Transportation and rail operations safety principles
• Safety engineering and risk management practices
• Accident investigation methodologies
• Rail operating systems and operational procedures
• Federal regulations 674 State Safety Oversight and 671 Roadway Worker Protection
• CPUC safety regulations, including Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) and Safety Management Systems
• Program development, budgeting, and strategic planning
• Leadership, employee development, and performance management

The incumbent will assist the Chief Safety Officer in the implementation of safety programs mandated by the CPUC and FTA including SMS, National Transit Database, and PTASP. Serves as a liaison between the System Safety Department and other District departments, and between the District and regulatory agencies; participates in a variety of District-wide safety-related committees; communicates safety concerns and integrates safety concerns into goals, objectives, priorities, and project plans.

1. Develops, manages, and administers safety related activities of the Operations Safety Division including the identification and evaluation of safety risks for the District’s rail operations services.
2. Investigates safety related rail operations accidents and incidents; performs walk through inspections; conducts safety checks on current and proposed operations and extensions; coordinates CPUC triennial safety audits with BART departments.
3. Identifies and reports on safety related hazards to senior management and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC); tracks corrective actions from audit recommendations.
4. Manages and administers the District’s comprehensive rail safety operational policies and procedures (Operations Rules and Procedure Manual, Roadway Protection Manual, and Operating Bulletins).
5. Serves as safety liaison with other divisions, departments and outside agencies; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues.
6. Coordinates training with District and local fire protection services; plans and conducts drills to determine emergency response times.
7. Participates in the management of the District’s Safety Management System (SMS) and successful transition of System Safety Program Plan (SSPP) to Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) as required by Federal regulation 49 CFR Part 673.
8. Selects, trains, motivates and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
9. Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the division's annual budget; participates in the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; monitors and approves expenditures; implements adjustments.
10. Conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations and operational studies; recommends modifications to safety programs, policies and procedures as appropriate.
11. Attends and participates in professional group meetings; serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; stays abreast of new regulations, trends and innovations in the field of transportation safety.
12. Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommends, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels.
13. Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities for assigned programs; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
14. Provides responsible staff assistance to the Chief Safety Officer; assumes department responsibility in the absence of the Chief Safety Officer.

Education

Bachelor’sdegreeinsafetyengineering,industrialhygieneoracloselyrelatedfieldfromanaccredited collegeoruniversity.

Experience

Five (5) years of (full-time equivalent) verifiable professional safety programs experience which must have included at least two (2) years of administrative and supervisory experience.

Other Requirements

• MustpossessavalidCaliforniadriver’slicenseandhaveasatisfactorydrivingrecord
• Mustrespondtoafter-hours, weekend and holidayincidentsandperformrelatedfieldactivities

Substitution

Additional professional safety programs experience as outlined above may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis. A college degree is preferred.

Knowledge of

• Operationalcharacteristics, servicesandactivitiesofatransportationsafety program
• Principlesand practicesoftransportationsafetyandsafetyengineering
• Principlesand practicesofprogramdevelopmentandadministration
• Methodsandtechniquesofsafetyinspectionandinvestigation
• Principlesand practicesofbudgetpreparationandadministration
• Methodsandtechniquesofaccidentinvestigation
• Operatingprinciplesofrailtransportationsystems
• Principlesofsupervision,trainingandperformanceevaluation
• Functionsandauthorityofregulatoryagenciesinrelationtooperationssafety
• Emergencyresponsepoliciesandprocedures
• Related Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations

Skill/Ability

• Overseeingandparticipatinginthemanagementofa comprehensivetransportationsafetyprogram
• Overseeing,directingandcoordinatingtheworkoflowerlevelstaff
• Selecting,supervising,trainingandevaluatingstaff
• Conductingsafetyauditsontheperformanceofrailoperationsandactivities
• Investigatingand analyzing accident and incidents
• Participatinginthedevelopmentandadministrationofdivisiongoals,objectivesandprocedures
• Preparingandadministeringlargeprogrambudgets
• Readingand interpreting schematic diagrams and plans
• Preparingclearandconciseadministrativeandfinancialreports
• Analyzingproblems,identifyingalternativesolutions,projectingconsequencesofproposedactionsandimplementingrecommendationsinsupportofgoals
• Researching,analyzingandevaluatingnewservicedeliverymethodsandtechniques
• Evaluatingoperationssafetyfeatures
• InterpretingandapplyingFederal,Stateandlocalpolicies,lawsandregulations
• Communicatingclearlyand concisely,bothorallyandinwriting
• Establishingand maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work