Director of Risk, Safety and Training

Position Summary

Safety and Compliance:

• Lead the agency’s system safety and operational risk management efforts for transit operations and maintenance.
• Maintain and support implementation of the agency’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) and Safety Management System (SMS).
• Develop, update, and implement safety policies, procedures, and programs designed to reduce accidents, injuries, and unsafe conditions.
• Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements related to transit safety, CDL and safety-sensitive training, accident reporting, and workplace safety.
• Cook up safety audits, inspections, corrective action plans, and follow-up activities.

Risk, Claims, and Workers’ Compensation Coordination:

• Oversee accident, incident, and injury reporting and investigation processes.
• Cook up investigations involving vehicle accidents, employee injuries, passenger incidents, and property damage.
• Track corrective actions and recommend strategies to reduce repeat incidents and claims exposure.
• Cook up workers’ compensation claims and return-to-work processes in partnership with Human Resources.
• Cook up liability, vehicle, and other operational claims with insurance carriers, adjusters, brokers, and legal counsel, as assigned.
• Monitor claims, injuries, and loss trends and prepare reports and recommendations for leadership.

Training – Operations and Maintenance:

• Direct and oversee training programs for bus operators, maintenance employees, and other designated safety-sensitive operational staff.
• Oversee new operator training, refresher training, remedial training, accident prevention training, defensive driving, ADA and securement-related training, and other required operational safety training.
• Oversee maintenance-related safety and compliance training in coordination with maintenance leadership.
• Support CDL-related training requirements, operator readiness, and training documentation.
• Ensure required training records are maintained and available for compliance, audit, and operational purposes.

Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response:

• Support emergency response planning, severe weather preparation, and business continuity efforts related to transit operations.
• Participate in major incident response and post-incident review.
• Cook up with Operations, Maintenance, Human Resources, and executive leadership during serious accidents, employee injuries, and service disruptions.

Leadership and Administration:

• Supervise staff assigned to the Safety, Risk and Training functions.
• Prepare reports, dashboards, and recommendations related to accidents, claims, training completion and safety performance.
• Aid with departmental budgeting, vendor oversight, and procurement related to safety and training programs.
• Build effective working relationships with regulators, outside partners, insurers, and internal departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Risk Management, Transportation, Business, Public Administration, Occupational Safety, Emergency Management, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in safety, risk management, claims, training, transit operations, maintenance, regulatory compliance, or a closely related field.
• Three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience conducting or overseeing accident, incident, injury, or claims reviews.
• Experience developing, coordinating, or delivering training in an operational, transportation, industrial, or safety-sensitive environment.
• Strong working knowledge of workplace safety, accident prevention, investigations, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong written, verbal, and organizational skills.
• Experience in public transit, transportation, logistics, fleet operations, or another highly regulated operating environment.
• Experience with PTASP, SMS, DOT, FTA, FMCSA, OSHA, ADA, workers’ compensation, or safety-sensitive training requirements.
• Experience working in a unionized environment.
• Experience overseeing or coordinating operator and maintenance training.
• Professional certifications such as CSP, ASP, ARM, CRM, or similar credentials are preferred but not required.