Chief Safety Officer bei San Mateo County Transit District

About the Department

The Chief, Safety, Quality and Compliance Officer, reports to the Caltrain Executive Director.  This position is responsible for overseeing and leading Caltrain’s safety, quality management, and regulatory compliance programs. This role ensures compliance with relevant laws and regulations, minimizes risks, and promotes a culture of safety, quality and compliance throughout the Caltrain organization, its contract operator/maintainer and all third-party contractors and consultants involved in service to the Railroad.  This Chief will ensure that all safety, quality, and compliance strategies, policies and programs are in line with Caltrain’s core values, priorities, long-term vision and goals.   Key areas of responsibility include leading and/or supporting: a Safety Culture and Organization Development; Safety Policy; Safety Program Strategic Planning and Regulatory Compliance; Capital Program Safety; Quality Control and Assurance; System Safety, Hazard Management, and Risk Management; and Regional Stakeholder Engagement and Agency Advocacy.

The Chief is responsible for developing and growing productive strategic relationships with Joint Power Authority JPA member agencies, community stakeholders, regulators and other entities to successfully support Caltrain’s programs.

Position Duties

• Provide leadership in the areas of safety, quality and regulatory compliance, strategy and policy supporting the realization of the Caltrain Service Vision. 
• Collaborate with rail divisions and departments to advance safety culture and policy throughout the Caltrain organization. 
• Support Caltrain organizational change and the ability to adapt to changing environments.

• Provide oversight of all Caltrain safety, quality and designated compliance functions.

• Responsible for regulatory compliance with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Environmental and Cal/OSHA requirements applicable to all functional areas. 
• Oversee applicable contract operations compliance with FRA, CPUC and Cal/OSHA. 
• Serve as Caltrain’s authority on safety and is the safety liaison with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead Caltrain system modification/configuration management review committee.

• Serve as a collaborative strategic business partner within Caltrain and with local, state and federal governments, other public agencies, and private entities.  
• Supervise staff. Hire, mentor and take appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary action. Ensure EEO policies and procedures are followed. Participate in selection, coordinate staff training and professional development, objectives, monitor and evaluate employee performance. 

• Responsible for the development and management of the Safety, Quality and regulatory compliance functions and organizational development. 
• Act as a key point of contact and liaison to the Federal Railroad Administration, CPUC, and Cal/OSHA fostering collaboration and engagement between the entities and Caltrain. 
• Serve as the policy lead on safety initiatives, develop safety advocacy strategy for Caltrain and facilitate cross-agency collaboration.
• Establish performance metrics to assess policy and program progress and effectiveness.

• Responsible for internal and external standardized monthly and quarterly reporting of safety, quality and environmental related data and information for use by executive team and the Board.  
• Strategic planning and budgeting to align with agency and Executive Director goals.

• Present performance reports to the Board, external and internal stakeholders.
• Responsible for departmental budget.
• Demonstrate leadership in employee engagement and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Responsible for safety design criteria and requirements and safety and security certification requirements for capital and state of good repair projects.
• Collaborate with other departments, divisions and external contractors and consultants to identify, reduce, or eliminate hazards and risk.
• Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect oneself, fellow employees, and the public from injury or harm.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to:

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational health, or System Safety, Business Administration, or closely related field. Master’s degree in public administration, business administration, or related field preferred.
• Nine years of executive level experience in safety, quality or compliance-related field with progressive responsibility and experience in a highly regulated industry (e.g. Transportation, Rail, Aviation, Mining, etc.), preferably a commuter or heavy rail environment.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of program administration and management systems, Federal Railroad Administration or other Federal Regulations and requirements, risk management, and safety and security certification processes preferred

• A valid California driver’s license with a safe driving record is required

• Demonstrated experience in Safety Program Development, Capital Program Safety, Risk Management, and Change Management.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office 365 applications. 
• World Safety Organization or other recognized certifications (WSO-CSSD, TSSP, PTSCTP, CSP).
• Extensive experience with developing safety policy and programs with successful compliance outcomes.
• Excellent leadership skills in problem solving, driving change and building consensus. 
• Excellent managerial skills and the ability to evaluate the work of others.
• Excellent verbal, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Other Qualifications

To obtain more information or to submit a resume' and cover letter, please contact Gregg Moser, Principal at K&A, at [email protected]