Specialist, Safety Compliance

State of Alaska; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Alaska Railroad Corporation is seeking a Safety Compliance Specialist to strengthen safety programs, support 49 CFR reporting, and coordinate training across ARRC operations. This role emphasizes accident reporting, system safety processes, and OSHA/FRA compliance.

The position requires strong analytical skills, documentation, and the ability to work with field teams to identify hazards and implement corrective actions for safer operations in Alaska.

Qualifications

• Must have thorough knowledge of railroad safety program administration, practices and related laws, regulations, and standards.
• Knowledge of CFR 225, CFR 270, CFR 243 reporting and training requirements.
• Experience with hazard analysis, incident investigations, and safety program administration.

Responsibilities

• Ensure employee safety and compliance across ARRC operations; support accident and incident reporting and investigations.
• Coordinate & support CFR Part 225 reporting, Part 270 system safety activities, and Part 243 training oversight.
• Develop and deliver safety training; assist with corrective actions and risk-reduction strategies.
• Prepare summaries, reports, and documentation from inspections, investigations, and audits.
• Participate in safety program management, field safety support, and emergency response activities.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

FRA CFR knowledge

Hazard analysis

Incident investigation

Data analysis

Training development

Field safety

Documentation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety or related field (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The Safety Compliance Specialist supports the development, implementation, analysis, documentation, and continuous improvement of ARRC safety programs, with primary emphasis on Federal Railroad Administration accident and incident reporting under 49 CFR Part 225 and system safety program requirements under 49 CFR Part 270. The position also supports training, qualification, and oversight activities related to safety-related railroad employees under 49 CFR Part 243, as well as other applicable FRA, OSHA, state, and company safety requirements.

This position provides accurate regulatory reporting, safety data analysis, incident investigation, program coordination, training, field safety support, and risk-based recommendations to strengthen compliance, reduce hazards, improve safety performance, and promote a proactive safety culture throughout ARRC.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Works with departments to ensure employee safety, process safety, accident and incident reporting, system safety program activities, and safety-related compliance requirements are integrated into ARRC operations and programs. Monitors safety performance through training, field observations, internal reviews, data analysis, audit support, and incident investigation. Identifies short-term and long-term safety issues and recommends corrective actions, risk controls, and improvement strategies.

Coordinates and supports 49 CFR Part 225 accident and incident reporting, classification, recordkeeping, quality control, documentation, and monthly submission activities. Reviews injuries, occupational illnesses, rail equipment accidents/incidents, and highway-rail grade crossing events for reportability. Reconciles source records, maintains supporting documentation, prepares reports, identifies trends, and provides recommendations to address hazards, recurring causes, and opportunities for corrective action.

Supports implementation and continuous improvement of ARRC’s 49 CFR Part 270 System Safety Program by assisting with hazard identification, risk assessment, mitigation tracking, internal assessments, corrective action follow-up, documentation, and safety performance review. Develops and and delivers training for ARRC employees and contractors related to Part 225 reporting responsibilities, Part 270 system safety processes, Part 243 training, qualification, and oversight requirements, corporate safety programs, and other applicable OSHA and FRA compliance requirements.

Participates in the management and execution of ARRC’s incident reporting and investigation process, including First Alert review and follow-up. Serves as an active member of the incident investigation team. Facilitates incident investigations to identify direct, contributing, and underlying causes. Assists in developing corrective actions to prevent recurrence and tracks completion of assigned follow-up items.

Participates in the management and execution of the ARRC Occupational Safety Programs, including but not limited to Hearing Conservation, Respiratory Protection, Confined Space, Fall Protection, PPE, Hazard Communication, and other programs as assigned.

Prepares follow-up summaries, communications, reports, and documentation resulting from inspections, investigations, audits, and program reviews. Oversees the tracking of the Safety Issue Resolution Process (SIRP).

Supports the operating departments with emergency services when requested. Will be an active member in the ARCC Incident Command Team, supporting emergency response in both filed applications and or at the Emergency Operations Center when needed.

Contributes to team effort by performing other duties as assigned.

FACTOR 1: Technical and Operational Knowledge

Must have thorough knowledge of railroad safety program administration, practices and related laws, regulations, and standards. Must have specific working knowledge of, or demonstrated ability to learn and apply 49 CFR Part 225, Railroad Accidents/Incidents: Reports Classification, and Investigations, and 49 CFR Part 270, System Safety Program, and familiarity with 49 CFR Part 243, Training, Qualification, and Oversight for Safety-Related Railroad Employees. Must be able to locate, interpret, explain and apply federal, state, and company safety standards to reporting, hazard analysis, risk reduction, training, investigations, and program improvement activities.

Must have a general understanding of the following processes; work experience in one or more area preferred:

• Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessments
• Development of Job Hazard Analysis (JHA’s)
• Conducting Field Safety Inspections
• Incident Investigations
• FRA regulations pertaining to railroad accident/incident reporting, classification, investigations, system safety programs, workplace safety, and safety-related railroad employee training, qualification, and oversight, including CFR 225, CFR 270, and CFR 243.

FACTOR 2: Analytical Skills and Impact

Ability to apply CFR 225 and CFR 270 knowledge and CFR 243 familiarity to determine effective methods for accident/incident reporting, data validation, trend analysis, hazard identification, risk assessment, corrective action tracking, employee training, qualification support, investigations, and field safety assessments. These program elements are designed to support compliance with federal and state requirements and company authority while reducing accident, injury, and operational risk.

Ability to determine employee and supervisor training and education needs to reduce or eliminate potential accident-related loss and the establishment of procedures to accomplish this objective.

Ability to assess environmental conditions to minimize adverse effects on the safety and occupational health of individuals and to determine compliance with State and Federal safety and occupational health standards.

Ability to accurately document and report findings from field observations and formal inspections.

As a safety team member, must be able to contribute to the development and editing of corporate safety policy, procedures, documents, manuals, and system safety program materials; analyze CFR 225 accident/incident data, investigation reports, safety observations, and applicable regulations; and recommend corrective actions and risk‑reduction strategies to reduce or eliminate hazards.

FACTOR 3: Supervision and Control

This position generally works under the direction of the Director, Safety, but is expected to perform duties with a high degree of independence, accuracy, and professional judgment. The incumbent may provide functional direction, coordination, or technical guidance to employees, supervisors, contractors, or project participants regarding safety processes, reporting requirements, corrective actions, training activities, inspections, investigations, or program requirements. The position may assist with safety program planning, budget input, contractor coordination, and management of safety-related services or projects. The incumbent must be able to prioritize work, manage competing deadlines, maintain regulatory documentation, and complete assignments with minimal supervision. This position does not normally supervise regular employees unless specifically assigned.

FACTOR 4: Communication

Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. The position communicates with employees, supervisors, managers, contractors, regulatory stakeholders, and other internal and external parties regarding safety requirements, incident reporting, investigations, training, corrective actions, safety concerns, and program improvement activities.

The incumbent must be able to:

• Explain technical and regulatory requirements in clear, practical language;
• Prepare accurate written reports, summaries, safety messages, and correspondence;
• Develop training materials and safety communications;
• Facilitate meetings, investigations, or follow‑up discussions;
• Communicate professionally with employees at all organizational levels;
• Exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive safety, personnel, or incident‑related information.

FACTOR 5: Working Conditions

The work is primarily office-based administrative, analytical, and regulatory compliance work. Duties include reviewing safety records, accident and incident data, reports, regulatory documentation, corrective action tracking, safety communications, training records, and program materials.

Occasional field work is required for site visits, inspections, investigations, training support, emergency response support, and other safety-related activities. Field assignments may require the incumbent to work in or around railroad tracks, yards, shops, facilities, industrial work areas, equipment, railcars, vehicles, machinery, weather conditions, noise, dust, grease, uneven terrain, and other environmental or operational hazards.

The incumbent must wear required personal protective equipment when performing field duties. The position may be required to participate in rotating on-call coverage, weekend duty, or emergency response activities. The incumbent may occasionally be required to respond to emergency situations at any time or location where ARRC operates.

High school diploma or GED equivalent is required.

A minimum of three (3) years, any combination, of railroad operations, safety, compliance, transportation, mechanical, engineering, maintenance, training, risk management, or closely related experience.

Experience must include demonstrated exposure, defined as participation, support, administration, oversight, or execution of activities related, to safety compliance, regulatory requirements, incident reporting, accident/incident investigation, field safety, safety training, or safety program administration.

Must have working knowledge of safety fundamentals and the demonstrated ability to learn, interpret, and apply applicable FRA, OSHA, state, and company safety requirements, including:

• FRA accident and incident reporting requirements;
• System safety program concepts;
• Safety-related employee training, qualification, and oversight requirements;
• Hazard identification and risk assessment principles;
• Incident investigation and corrective action processes.

Must have strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, summaries, safety communications, and regulatory documentation.

Must have strong analytical skills, including the ability to review accident/incident data, identify trends, maintain documentation, prepare reports, and support safety program assessments.

Must have intermediate-level computer skills using Microsoft Office, including proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Must be able to obtain and maintain required access credentials, including DOD DBIDS military base access clearance, if required by ARRC business needs.

Must have a valid driver’s license. To be considered a valid driver's license, an employee must maintain a continuous three-year period free of any Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Operating Under the Influence (OUI) convictions.

Preferred Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Safety Management, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, Risk Management, Transportation, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.

Professional safety certification is preferred, including one or more of the following:

• Certified Safety Professional, CSP;
• Associate Safety Professional, ASP;
• Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician, OHST;
• Construction Health and Safety Technician, CHST;
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, CHMM;
• Other equivalent safety, risk, environmental, or transportation safety certification.

Railroad safety experience is strongly preferred.

Experience with one or more of the following:

• 49 CFR Part 225 accident and incident reporting;
• 49 CFR Part 270 system safety program requirements;
• 49 CFR Part 243 training, qualification, and oversight requirements;
• FRA reporting systems or documentation processes;
• Root cause analysis;
• Corrective action tracking;
• Safety audits or internal assessments;
• Occupational safety programs;
• Development or delivery of employee safety training;
• Safety dashboards, metrics, or trend analysis.

Required Certifications, Training, or Qualifications

Required Upon Hire or Within Six Months

• First Aid/CPR/AED certification;
• Any ARRC-required safety, security, or operating orientation;
• Any required access credentials necessary to perform assigned duties.

Required Within One Year, As Assigned By Business Need

The following certifications or instructor qualifications may be required within one (1) year of hire depending on assigned duties and operational need:

• Smith System Driver Instructor;
• Operation Lifesaver Instructor;
• Advanced First Aid Instructor;
• Bridge Fall Protection Instructor;
• Competent Person Rigging Instructor;
• Competent Person Trenching Instructor;
• Other safety, emergency response, or regulatory training certifications as assigned.

Failure to obtain or maintain required certifications may result in termination of employment.

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or [phone] if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to [e-mail].

For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/js_lostpswd.cfm?&topheader=alaska

Alaska Railroad Human Resources Department

E-Mail: [e-mail]

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 107500, Anchorage, AK 99510-7500

Street Address: 327 West Ship Creek, Anchorage, AK

Fax Number: 907-265-2542

Alaska Railroad Corporation is an equal opportunity employer