Director Safety Risk Management (7399)
Apply NowCompany: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Location: Philadelphia, PA 19120
Description:
Secure Your Future with SEPTA - A Leader in Transportation!
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the sixth-largest transportation system in the U.S., connecting communities across a 2,200-square-mile service region. SEPTA is at the forefront of innovation in the transit industry, ensuring reliable and efficient services while driving economic growth in the Philadelphia region.
We are proud to be recognized as:
2023 FORBES Best in State Employer
Philadelphia Employer of Choice for 2024
We are seeking to hire candidates for our Director Safety Risk Management (7399).
Opening Date: 04/16/2025
Closing Date: 04/30/2025
Job Grade: SAM 42
Salary Range: $104,000.00-$130,000.00
**Limited telework may be permitted for this position in accordance with SEPTA Policy.**
OVERALL DESCRIPTION
The Director of Safety Risk Management is accountable for leading the Safety Risk Management (SRM) program to ensure that safety risks and security vulnerabilities are identified, assessed, and mitigated to an acceptable level according to SEPTA's established risk tolerances. This position requires strategic leadership to oversee and manage all facets of risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring within SEPTA's multi-modal transit operations. The role involves close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, fostering a proactive approach to safety that supports SEPTA's mission to deliver reliable, efficient, and safe public transportation services.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Designs and executes comprehensive safety risk management strategies aligned with SEPTA's goals and objectives, ensuring consistency with local, state, and federal regulations; monitors and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, including those established by FRA, FTA, OSHA, NFPA, and PennDOT, by aligning internal policies and procedures with industry standards.
2. Oversees the identification and analysis of safety risks across all transit modes, ensuring effective mitigation strategies and the continuous improvement of safety systems; manages hazard identification intake into Salesforce and provides guidance to department management for determining the risk rating and prioritization of hazards.
3. Develops and manages a formal process for risk assessment of PennDOT SSOA requests for Data and Information for Hazard Identification (DIHIs).
4. Oversees the creation and maintenance of risk registers, hazard matrices, and performance-based metrics to measure the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies.
5. Ensures consistent monitoring of the hazard log to ensure hazard mitigations are being implemented as intended; ensures coordination with the Safety Assurance department to determine if any additional hazards have been introduced because of proposed and implemented mitigations.
6. Manages the safety committee program, including continued coordination of Location Safety Committee (LSC) meetings, stronger oversight of the LSCs, coordination between LSCs and the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), review of data and information resulting from the meetings, and cross-location review to determine best practices or systemic issues.
7. Per Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requirements, supports and advises the Safety Strategy Committee in the development and implementation of a risk reduction program, including partnering with Accident Reduction Coordinators (represented personnel) in support of hazard mitigation efforts.
8. Coordinates with the Safety Assurance and Regulatory Compliance Department and the Safety Statistics and Reporting Department to guide the Safety Strategy Committee in the review of SEPTA's safety performance targets, including those for the risk reduction program.
9. Leverages safety committees to monitor the performance of implemented mitigations; provides for centralized monitoring, coaching, expertise, and support in order to cohere committee efforts under an SMS program approach.
ADDL / DISCIPLINE RESPONSIBILITIES
10. Facilitates monthly reviews of the Salesforce hazard log with the Safety Strategy Committee to evaluate progress; facilitates monthly sharing of the hazard log with the PennDOT SSOA; coordinates with the Safety Assurance and Regulatory Compliance department for CAP development for unacceptable hazards.
11. Coordinates with the PennDOT SSOA to facilitate the Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) program, including access to SEPTA infrastructure, equipment, records, personnel, facilities, and raw data with and without advanced notice.
12. Manages results from the RBI program inspections, including assignment to appropriate personnel as required.
13. Actively collaborates with the Deputy Chief Officer, Safety Engineering, to ensure SEPTA SRM practices are properly integrated into safety and security certification (SSC) and change management efforts.
14. Routinely evaluates SRM performance in the spirit of continuous improvement and develops metrics and processes for this routine evaluation; performs regular audits of the SRM function.
15. Serves on safety committees at the department and/or executive level as directed by the CSO, DCSOs, or committee charters, or as the Director deems necessary and expedient to accomplish department goals.
16. Ensures high staff morale and adequacy of manpower and staff training to ensure the department goals and programs are being implemented. Instills a professional, positive, and supportive philosophy in all staff.
17. Supervises the daily activities of the direct reports, develops individual goals, provides work assignments, ensures implementation of work assignments, and promotes success through training, support and constructive feedback.
18. Works with the DCSO and other CSO direct reports on Budgetary planning and spending for both Operating and Capital expenses and manages spending and utilization of the department budget.
19. Performs other duties as required by the DCSO.
20. May serve as the acting DCSO as required.
21. Duties may be required on a 24/7 basis, with a varying work schedule as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Why Join Our Team? Enjoy Outstanding Benefits!
Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage - Medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans with little to no employee premiums.
Retirement Security - Participate in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan to build your financial future.
Work-Life Balance - Enjoy paid parental leave, generous vacation time, and paid holidays to recharge and spend time with loved ones.
Employee Wellness - Access wellness programs and resources to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Invest in Your Growth - We offer tuition reimbursement to support your education and career advancement.
Student Loan Assistance - Our positions qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, helping you manage and reduce student debt.
Free Travel Perks - Receive a FREE SEPTA Transportation Pass, giving you unlimited access to all SEPTA services!
Join us and take advantage of these incredible benefits while making a difference in your community!
Join the Best in Transit! Apply Today
Click Apply Now and take the next step in your engineering career with SEPTA!
Have Questions? For more information, please visit How We Hire Careers Page.
SEPTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
SEPTA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the sixth-largest transportation system in the U.S., connecting communities across a 2,200-square-mile service region. SEPTA is at the forefront of innovation in the transit industry, ensuring reliable and efficient services while driving economic growth in the Philadelphia region.
We are proud to be recognized as:
2023 FORBES Best in State Employer
Philadelphia Employer of Choice for 2024
We are seeking to hire candidates for our Director Safety Risk Management (7399).
Opening Date: 04/16/2025
Closing Date: 04/30/2025
Job Grade: SAM 42
Salary Range: $104,000.00-$130,000.00
**Limited telework may be permitted for this position in accordance with SEPTA Policy.**
OVERALL DESCRIPTION
The Director of Safety Risk Management is accountable for leading the Safety Risk Management (SRM) program to ensure that safety risks and security vulnerabilities are identified, assessed, and mitigated to an acceptable level according to SEPTA's established risk tolerances. This position requires strategic leadership to oversee and manage all facets of risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring within SEPTA's multi-modal transit operations. The role involves close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, fostering a proactive approach to safety that supports SEPTA's mission to deliver reliable, efficient, and safe public transportation services.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Designs and executes comprehensive safety risk management strategies aligned with SEPTA's goals and objectives, ensuring consistency with local, state, and federal regulations; monitors and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, including those established by FRA, FTA, OSHA, NFPA, and PennDOT, by aligning internal policies and procedures with industry standards.
2. Oversees the identification and analysis of safety risks across all transit modes, ensuring effective mitigation strategies and the continuous improvement of safety systems; manages hazard identification intake into Salesforce and provides guidance to department management for determining the risk rating and prioritization of hazards.
3. Develops and manages a formal process for risk assessment of PennDOT SSOA requests for Data and Information for Hazard Identification (DIHIs).
4. Oversees the creation and maintenance of risk registers, hazard matrices, and performance-based metrics to measure the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies.
5. Ensures consistent monitoring of the hazard log to ensure hazard mitigations are being implemented as intended; ensures coordination with the Safety Assurance department to determine if any additional hazards have been introduced because of proposed and implemented mitigations.
6. Manages the safety committee program, including continued coordination of Location Safety Committee (LSC) meetings, stronger oversight of the LSCs, coordination between LSCs and the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), review of data and information resulting from the meetings, and cross-location review to determine best practices or systemic issues.
7. Per Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requirements, supports and advises the Safety Strategy Committee in the development and implementation of a risk reduction program, including partnering with Accident Reduction Coordinators (represented personnel) in support of hazard mitigation efforts.
8. Coordinates with the Safety Assurance and Regulatory Compliance Department and the Safety Statistics and Reporting Department to guide the Safety Strategy Committee in the review of SEPTA's safety performance targets, including those for the risk reduction program.
9. Leverages safety committees to monitor the performance of implemented mitigations; provides for centralized monitoring, coaching, expertise, and support in order to cohere committee efforts under an SMS program approach.
ADDL / DISCIPLINE RESPONSIBILITIES
10. Facilitates monthly reviews of the Salesforce hazard log with the Safety Strategy Committee to evaluate progress; facilitates monthly sharing of the hazard log with the PennDOT SSOA; coordinates with the Safety Assurance and Regulatory Compliance department for CAP development for unacceptable hazards.
11. Coordinates with the PennDOT SSOA to facilitate the Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) program, including access to SEPTA infrastructure, equipment, records, personnel, facilities, and raw data with and without advanced notice.
12. Manages results from the RBI program inspections, including assignment to appropriate personnel as required.
13. Actively collaborates with the Deputy Chief Officer, Safety Engineering, to ensure SEPTA SRM practices are properly integrated into safety and security certification (SSC) and change management efforts.
14. Routinely evaluates SRM performance in the spirit of continuous improvement and develops metrics and processes for this routine evaluation; performs regular audits of the SRM function.
15. Serves on safety committees at the department and/or executive level as directed by the CSO, DCSOs, or committee charters, or as the Director deems necessary and expedient to accomplish department goals.
16. Ensures high staff morale and adequacy of manpower and staff training to ensure the department goals and programs are being implemented. Instills a professional, positive, and supportive philosophy in all staff.
17. Supervises the daily activities of the direct reports, develops individual goals, provides work assignments, ensures implementation of work assignments, and promotes success through training, support and constructive feedback.
18. Works with the DCSO and other CSO direct reports on Budgetary planning and spending for both Operating and Capital expenses and manages spending and utilization of the department budget.
19. Performs other duties as required by the DCSO.
20. May serve as the acting DCSO as required.
21. Duties may be required on a 24/7 basis, with a varying work schedule as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's Degree in Safety Engineering, Occupational Safety, Risk Management, or a related field, required.
- An equivalent combination of experience and education (i.e., two (2) years of related experience, equating to one (1) year of formal post-high school education) may be considered in lieu of the above requirements. Post-Baccalaureate Degree (Master, Ph.D., etc.) will provide up to four (4) years of related experience to the applicant.
- A minimum of eight (8) years of progressive experience in safety risk management, preferably within public transportation or a related industry, required.
- Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local safety regulations, including FRA, FTA, OSHA, NFPA, and PennDOT requirements, required.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven track record of implementing successful safety improvements, required.
- Excellent communication skills, with experience preparing detailed reports and delivering presentations to diverse audiences, required.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite, safety management systems, and data analysis tools, required.
Why Join Our Team? Enjoy Outstanding Benefits!
Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage - Medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans with little to no employee premiums.
Retirement Security - Participate in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan to build your financial future.
Work-Life Balance - Enjoy paid parental leave, generous vacation time, and paid holidays to recharge and spend time with loved ones.
Employee Wellness - Access wellness programs and resources to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Invest in Your Growth - We offer tuition reimbursement to support your education and career advancement.
Student Loan Assistance - Our positions qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, helping you manage and reduce student debt.
Free Travel Perks - Receive a FREE SEPTA Transportation Pass, giving you unlimited access to all SEPTA services!
Join us and take advantage of these incredible benefits while making a difference in your community!
Join the Best in Transit! Apply Today
Click Apply Now and take the next step in your engineering career with SEPTA!
Have Questions? For more information, please visit How We Hire Careers Page.
SEPTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
SEPTA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.