Chief Safety Officer Full Time

Salary range is $210k to $310k, with a midpoint of $260k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and supported by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) for Agency Oversight, the Chief Safety Officer (CSO) has the authority and responsibility for day-to-day implementation and operation of the Agency’s safety division, safety programs, and the safety management system (SMS). This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer to ensure regulatory compliance and quick escalation and resolution of safety-related issues and risks.

The CSO exhibits a personal commitment to safety and is a passionate advocate for the safety of our passengers and our workforce. This position is responsible for leading a progressive and proactive vision of safety across the Agency and our transit system. They translate the safety vision into strategy and provide guidance and direction to agency and division leaders on program implementation, government regulations, reporting requirements, and standards of practice in five safety areas: Emergency Management, Operational Safety/Hazard Management, Safety and Security Certification, Construction Safety, and Employee Health and Safety.

The CSO oversees division leaders responsible for day-to-day management of safety programs; develops and implements plans, procedures, and program activities associated with safety and health assurance; oversees compliance with federal and state rail and bus safety requirements; coordinates compliance with safety and security certification requirements for new rail operations and extensions; and serves as agency liaison with various municipal departments and local, state and federal agencies; ensures safety programs, policies and procedures are aligned with Agency values. The Chief Safety Officer ensures that a safety culture exists in Agency decision-making to continuously improve the safety of our riders, employees, contractors, key stakeholders, and the communities we serve.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Drives performance through influence, relationship building and rational thinking, creating an agency-wide culture of excellence that maximizes internal and external safety. Sets clear and challenging goals for internal-facing departments ensuring these functions collaborate and create efficient cross-functional processes and teams to work effectively while addressing the agency’s mission.
• Develop relationships with internal and external colleagues to be seen as a valued and collaborative partner in the Agency’s business.
• Supports the CEO and agency leadership to identify key challenges and opportunities and in developing and implementing effective responses to safety issues to position Sound Transit for ongoing success.
• Creates clarity within the Safety division and throughout the Agency of the division’s roles and responsibilities. Drives performance by actively leading and managing the culture change necessary for creating a best-in-class safety system and acting as a change agent. Effectively communicates the need for change while modeling and enforcing new behaviors and norms for the division and creating and promoting an inclusive and positive work environment.
• Participates in organizational design, staffing, recruitment, and succession planning efforts. Coaches, trains, and motivates staff; facilitates staff training; manages employee relations and staff performance and takes appropriate corrective action when necessary; and provides advice and counsel to staff as well as guidance to agency leaders on establishing professional growth and development plans for staff.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with external stakeholders including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and their Project Management Oversight Contractor (PMOC), the State Safety Oversight (SSO) Office, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), consultants/contractors, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction. Develops and maintains positive relationships with internal stakeholders including Sound Transit departments and board members.
• Assures the CEO and DCEO, FTA, FRA, and the State through the Safety and Security Certification Verification Report that extension projects are ready for revenue service, and ultimately has the authority, at any point, to inform the CEO and Agency leadership if the project is not ready for revenue service.
• Focuses division efforts on safety and security hazard identification and mitigation and safety and security assurance through risk analysis to deliver safe transit service; monitors compliance with identified objectives and work scope commitments; makes decisions and acts regarding the administration and management of short- and long-term transit safety improvements.
• Oversees the administration and management of assigned contracts involving consultants. Directs, oversees, and participates in contract negotiations; monitors administration of terms and conditions and budget performance; implements corrective actions when needed; and oversees the management of third-party partner agreements to maintain partnerships and ensure compliance and accountability. Participates in the Agency’s development of future contracting strategies and negotiation of terms and conditions; negotiates solutions to conceptual issues involving policy and direction change and effectively leads and influences internal and external decision makers and stakeholders; leads senior leaders to develop and administer contract terms; ensures agreed-upon services are completed within the scope, schedule, and budget and that all objectives are successfully met.
• Develops and maintains, and oversees the division’s annual budget; makes recommendations and forecasts for future funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; reviews and approves division expenditures and implements adjustments.
• Meets frequently with agency leadership to provide direction and supervision for the development and implementation of various Agency program plans that define the safety culture and safety requirements and standards of care for implementation of regulatory and contractual requirements; and defining the level of safety requirements of the Agency, its employees, consultants, and contractors, patrons, and facilities.
• Regularly collaborates and meets with peers in Service Delivery and Capital Delivery.
• Leads and directs programmatic engagement with fire chiefs and building officials of city, state, and county agencies impacted by Sound Transit’s projects and facilities; coordinates with federal, state, and county agencies.
• Supports the agency’s safety committee structure to ensure key executives within Sound Transit are involved in agency risk evaluations per Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and State Safety Oversight (SSO) requirements, and that identified executives are part of the acceptance and/or resolution of these risks, as appropriate.
• Provides support to the CEO and agency leaders on matters as directed; serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment including new auditing and accounting pronouncements; incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures processes, policies, and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• Champions and models Sound Transit’s core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, or related field and twelve years of experience in directing and managing the safety, engineering, construction, and related functions of a transit safety program in a large, multi-faceted organization; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Ten years of progressively senior leadership, budgetary, planning, and workforce management experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

Valid state driver’s license. Position is required to go to construction sites that are not yet served by transit as well as attend in-person meetings with other jurisdictions.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• Transit Safety and Security Program Certificates for Bus.
• Transit Safety and Security Program Certificates for Rail.
• Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Rail transit.
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a safety department and associated programs.
• Proven experience implementing and cultivating a successful organizational safety culture.
• Pertinent state and federal regulations and Agency policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Safety functions and programs including facility safety, construction (OSHA) safety, hazard analysis, transit safety and security certification, and reliability, maintainability, and availability analysis of transit systems.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration. Business/industry principles and practices for the area of responsibility and external and management reporting requirements and report preparation.
• Principles of leadership, training, and performance evaluation. Leading and motivating staff. Fostering a positive and progressive attitude in a diverse technical and operational environment with competing priorities. Developing, managing, and directing assigned divisions, complex programs, and functional areas.
• Budget preparation and management principles and practices.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and influence with department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups. and the general public.
• Demonstrated direct and authentic communication style that is adept at delivering complex messages and information to varying levels of leadership including the CEO and Board of Directors. Speaks up effectively to ensure the safety of our system, passengers, and employees even when it is unpopular or inconvenient.
• Ability to think broadly about a topic and gain the viewpoints of others to ensure that a situation, task or goal and its potential impact is fully understood by all stakeholders.
• Strong active listening, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills, proficiency in using self- assessment and self-management skills to participate effectively and constructively as a team member to ensure group success over individual goals.
• Critical thinking and rational processes to analyze and synthesize information in a concise manner, make recommendations on strategies to resolve issues and build complex cross- group/department plans to drive, track, and report execution progress.
• Conceptualizing, influencing, developing, and administering goals, objectives, guidelines, and procedures for the assigned divisions, programs, and functional areas and participate in the development and administration of goals and objectives.
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Developing and monitoring divisional and program/project operating budgets, costs, and schedules.
• Applying advanced principles and practices of safety management.
• Responding to emergency situations and organizing incident response.
• Planning and organizing work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports, and statistical databases.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Previous experience in a transit or transportation organization.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office and field environment.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Position is responsible for responding in the field on demand 24/7; may be subject to bending, climbing, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, standing, talking, seeing, and walking.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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