SMS Program Lead: Safety, Compliance & Risk

Octa; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

OCTA seeks a highly experienced Safety Management Systems (SMS) Program Manager to lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of the agency's SMS and PTASP. This role acts as the subject matter expert, driving regulatory compliance and coordinating across departments to strengthen safety practices in Orange County.

With a minimum of seven years in program management and a deep background in safety management, you will oversee audits, training, and hazard mitigation while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an 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; five years preferred.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as OCTA’s subject matter expert and lead agency-wide Safety Management System and PTASP efforts.
• Direct the planning, implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of SMS programs.
• Provide guidance to departments on implementing and maintaining compliance with FTA SMS requirements.
• Lead SMS committees, meetings, and initiatives focused on PTASP compliance and continuous improvement.
• Develop and oversee hazard identification, safety risk assessment, mitigation, and monitoring activities.
• Analyze safety data and trends to identify risks, evaluate mitigation efforts, and support informed decision-making.
• Perform and document audits, assessments, and inspections to evaluate SMS/PTASP implementation and regulatory compliance.
• Identify preventive and corrective actions to address accident hazards, health risks, and other safety concerns.
• Develop and deliver required SMS training and promote consistent understanding of safety responsibilities throughout the organization.
• Ensure compliance with SMS configuration management and document control requirements.
• Communicate SMS performance, risk trends, mitigation activities, compliance status, and emerging issues to employees, management, and executive leadership.
• Apply applicable regulations and industry best practices, including requirements from FTA, CPUC, Cal/OSHA, and Federal OSHA.

Skills

SMS knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Audits & inspections

Data analysis

Training delivery

Stakeholder influence

Safety culture

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree desirable

Job description

OCTA seeks a highly experienced Safety Management Systems (SMS) Program Manager to lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of the agency's SMS and PTASP. This role acts as the subject matter expert, driving regulatory compliance and coordinating across departments to strengthen safety practices in Orange County.

With a minimum of seven years in program management and a deep background in safety management, you will oversee audits, training, and hazard mitigation while