Position Summary
Capital Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking an experienced Risk and Safety Manager to provide leadership and management oversight of the agency’s operational safety risk, accident/incident management, regulatory compliance, safety assurance, and related security functions.
The Manager establishes safety priorities, monitors agency safety performance, oversees regulatory and Safety Management System requirements, and ensures identified hazards and corrective actions are appropriately addressed. This position leads assigned Safety and Security staff and works collaboratively with Transportation, Maintenance, Human Resources, Customer Engagement, Facilities, and executive leadership to strengthen safety performance throughout the agency.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and administer agency operational safety risk and safety-assurance programs.
- Establish safety policies, procedures, goals, performance expectations, and departmental priorities.
- Supervise and provide direction to the Risk and Safety Supervisor, Security Team, and other assigned Safety staff.
- Provide management oversight of accident and incident investigations, preventability reviews, hazard identification, and corrective actions.
- Analyze accident, incident, injury, and safety data to identify trends, recurring hazards, and operational risks.
- Ensure significant safety concerns are appropriately investigated, escalated, and resolved.
- Recommend operational, procedural, equipment, or policy changes to mitigate identified safety risks.
- Oversee compliance with applicable FTA, DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, CDL, and other transportation and workplace safety requirements.
- Oversee implementation and maintenance of the agency’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) and Safety Management System (SMS).
- Ensure required safety documentation, regulatory reporting, audits, inspections, and corrective actions are completed appropriately.
- Monitor safety performance and provide assessments and recommendations to agency leadership.
- Coordinate safety responsibilities and accountability across agency departments.
- Provide leadership oversight to the Security Team and coordinate significant security matters with internal departments, law enforcement, and external partners.
- Facilitate safety committees and cross-departmental safety reviews as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Transportation, Occupational Safety, Risk Management, Public Administration, Business, Emergency Management, or a related field; equivalent directly related experience may be considered in lieu of the degree.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in transit safety, transportation safety, fleet safety, occupational safety, operational safety risk, regulatory compliance, or a closely related field.
- Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing accident/incident investigations, preventability reviews, hazard identification, corrective actions, or similar safety functions.
- Working knowledge of transportation and workplace safety regulations and safety-management principles.
- Ability to analyze safety performance, identify trends and operational risks, and develop practical recommendations.
- Strong leadership, judgment, analytical, investigative, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in public transit, transportation, fleet operations, logistics, or another highly regulated operating environment.
- Working knowledge of PTASP, SMS, FTA, DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, ADA, and related transportation safety requirements.
- Experience supervising safety and/or security personnel.
- Experience working with law enforcement, emergency responders, or regulatory agencies.
- Experience working in a unionized environment.
- Professional certification such as CSP, ASP, ARM, CRM, or comparable safety/risk credential preferred.
Additional Requirements
Ability to work variable hours and respond to significant safety or security events as operational needs require. Position may require work in operational, field, and outdoor environments.
Capital Area Transit System is an Equal Opportunity Employer.