Safety Management Systems Program Lead (SMS/PTASP)

Orange County Transportation Authority; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) seeks a Safety Management Systems Manager to lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of the agency's SMS and PTASP program. This exempt management role reports across the organization to strengthen safety practices and mitigate risk, while ensuring compliance with FTA and other regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in program management with strong expertise in SMS/Quality/Environmental management, safety

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of seven years of related program management experience; ten years preferred.
• At least three years of direct experience with a Safety Management System, Quality Management System, or Environmental Management System.
• Strong knowledge of safety management principles, hazard identification, risk assessment, mitigation, and continuous improvement.
• Experience with regulatory compliance oversight and interpreting safety-related requirements.
• Experience conducting compliance audits, assessments, or inspections.
• Ability to develop and implement preventive and corrective action strategies.
• Strong analytical skills with experience evaluating and presenting safety data, statistics, and trends.
• Experience developing and delivering employee training.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills with executive-level communication.
• Desirable related master's degree.

Responsibilities

• Lead agency-wide SMS and PTASP efforts as OCTA's subject matter expert.
• Oversee planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of SMS programs.
• Guide departments on implementing and maintaining FTA SMS requirements.
• Lead SMS committees, meetings, and PTASP compliance initiatives.
• Develop hazard identification, risk mitigation, and monitoring activities.
• Analyze safety data and trends to inform decisions and risk mitigation.
• Perform audits, assessments, and inspections of SMS/PTASP implementation.
• Identify preventive and corrective actions for safety hazards and risks.
• Develop and deliver SMS training for consistent safety responsibilities.

Skills

Safety management principles

Hazard identification

Risk assessment

Regulatory compliance oversight

Audits and assessments

Employee training development

Data analysis and trends

Executive communication

Stakeholder influence

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree (desirable)

Job description

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) seeks a Safety Management Systems Manager to lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of the agency's SMS and PTASP program. This exempt management role reports across the organization to strengthen safety practices and mitigate risk, while ensuring compliance with FTA and other regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in program management with strong expertise in SMS/Quality/Environmental management, safety