Safety Lead - CR Transportation

MBTA; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Safety Lead for its Commuter Rail Transportation team. This pivotal role involves investigating incidents, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance safety protocols. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in railroad operations and safety management, with the ability to respond effectively to incidents. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to safety and operational excellence, where your expertise will contribute to the continuous improvement of safety programs and policies.

Qualifications

• 6 years of experience in railroad operations and safety management.
• Ability to respond to incidents in various weather conditions.
• Experience with safety training and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Investigate incidents and report findings to improve safety.
• Conduct regular audits and inspections for compliance.
• Collaborate with Keolis and federal representatives on safety issues.

Skills

Railroad Operations

Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Incident Investigation

Regulatory Compliance

Analytical Skills

Customer Service

Conflict Resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree in Transportation or Safety

Master's degree in Transportation Safety

High School Diploma or GED with additional experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The Safety Lead - Commuter Rail Transportation is responsible for investigating all incidents with a railroad T&E or dispatch component (e.g., major events and near misses involving employee injuries, infrastructure damage, derailments, service interruption, etc.). The Safety Lead will respond to incidents, gather documentation and information, report to the appropriate parties, determine root causes, and collaborate with Railroad Operations (RRO) and Keolis to recommend feasible corrective action plans to improve safety programs, policies, and procedures.

The Safety Lead will work closely with and support Keolis to track and implement safety recommendations and/or corrective actions. The Safety Lead will also assist the Deputy Director of Commuter Rail Safety Data and Commuter Rail Safety team with safety assurance activities including regular audits. The Safety Lead will be responsible for staying abreast of new laws and regulations regarding safety and recommend appropriate changes to MBTA Safety management.

• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and interpretive authority for all Railroad related safety matters and advise up to senior management.
• Respond to incidents that occur involving the MBTA Railroad System (including Keolis, Amtrak, and Freight), gather documentation evidence, notify, and report necessary information to the appropriate parties in a timely manner.
• Perform night and weekend oversight of Keolis T&E and Dispatch operations as required or directed.
• Provide operational management oversight of Safety Specialists, Safety Analysts and Safety Audit Coordinator.
• Oversee the performance of safety activities, conduct assessments of safety programs, including field inspections, and procedure and policy reviews, to identify areas of improvements and corrective actions.
• Serve as key MBTA liaison working closely with field representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to resolve identified safety issues.
• Be a strategic member of committees responsible for developing a vision, performance, goals and metrics, policies, and procedures to guide Commuter Rail Safety programs.
• Provide operational oversight of the development of root cause analyses including recommending feasible corrective actions for all engineering activities across the commuter rail when necessary.
• Provide technical directions to support staff to ensure safe work practices and effective mitigations of hazards are performed.

• Conducts scheduled and unscheduled inspections and/or audits of MBTA and Keolis facilities, work sites, specifications, infrastructure, vehicles, and equipment, ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local codes, regulations, and guidelines.
• Indirectly overseeing the capital programs across the Commuter Rail system to ensure compliance with safety programs including proper procedures and PPE are utilized in the performance of work.
• Provide technical direction in the design of safety inspections and hazard assessment reports and present findings to internal stakeholders.
• Work with appropriate departments to gather all necessary information (e.g., inspections, training records, hours of service) to supplement incident investigations.
• Develop and provide safety training in compliance with regulatory requirements and company policy.
• Partner with Keolis and Railroad Ops Transportation leadership on the continuous improvement projects for compliance between Transportation and Safety initiatives.
• Drive a company or personal vehicle to visit/inspect work sites and to assist with emergencies and/or events as needed.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Supervision

• No direct reports

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Transportation, Safety, or related field.

Six (6) years of experience in railroad operations, roadway worker protection, railroad track maintenance cycles, railroad signal maintenance cycles, and/or related experience.

One (1) year of supervisory, managerial, and/or leadership experience.

Valid Class D driver's license.

Ability to drive and respond to incidents/accidents and perform safety oversight in various weather condition including extreme weather events on all shifts and any time of day or night.

Demonstrated experience applying methods and techniques to mitigate safety issues by assessing safety hazards and ensuring corrective measures are followed

Working knowledge of 49 CFR Part 200-299.

Experience and understanding of Railroad Operating rules.

Specialized knowledge of the requirements of 49 CFR 217 – Railroad Operating Rules, 49 CFR 218

Railroad Operating Practices, 49 CFR 240 – Engineer Certification, and 49 CFR 242 – Conductor Certification.

Experience applying safety knowledge through the facilitating and processing of safety programs and assessments.

Experience participating in incident response and/or investigations.

Effective organizational, analytical, time management and multitasking skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.).
• Ability to complete, apply, and adhere to concepts in safety training including but not limited to SMS Fundamentals, ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 as well as courses offered on websites hosted by MassDOT, FEMA, and TSI within the first month of employment.
• Ability to complete a Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) within three (3) years of employment.
• Have excellent customer service and conflict resolution skills.
• The ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experience.

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• An associate degree from an accredited institution and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• A master’s degree in a related subject substitute for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in Transportation Safety or related field.
• One (1) year of supervisory experience.
• Experience working in transportation safety.
• Knowledge of American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Standards.
• NORAC Operating rules qualified.
• Demonstrated knowledge of SMS including hazard analysis, utilizing data to coordinate safety programs and monitor safety performance, safety assurance, and safety promotion.
• Working knowledge of OSHA standards. Certifications or other training in general industry (29 CFR 1910) or construction industry (29 CFR 1926).
• Completed Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) courses.