Investigations Manager - Transportation

Job Summary

This position is responsible for conducting accident investigations and analysis within the Operations Compliance Division of the Long Island Rail Road Corporate Safety Department. This position will provide for a safe workplace and safe, efficient transportation for our customers through performing thorough incident investigations and in-depth analysis and conformance audits to identify and resolve hazards/causal factors, thereby reducing or eliminating them.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Investigate accidents/incidents for cause identification and mitigation per corporate policy and departmental SOP.
• Gather investigative data for all rail and employee accidents.
• Serve as subject matter expert and provide testimony in legal or other proceedings.
• Prepare investigation and analytical reports and presentations for Senior Staff, Department heads, and departmental management staff.
• Track the status of the implementation of recommendations and evaluate them for effectiveness.
• Develop corrective actions including policies, procedures, training, and new technologies as a result of the investigation of close calls/near misses, LIRR and NYAR rail accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and employee/customer injuries/fatalities.
• Develop and foster professional relationships with all departments, regional transportation authorities, and professional organizations.
• Remain current with continuing education/refresher training, state-of-the-art investigation methods, techniques, and technology and maintain all operational and professional qualifications to ensure departmental and corporate goals are met.
• Conduct must be consistent with a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables all employees to develop and contribute to their full potential.
• Ensure a safe working environment and adherence to guidelines of company safety policies and procedures.
• Lead by example.
• Perform other assignments as requested by Senior Management.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Qualified Locomotive Engineer or Conductor.
• Effective interpersonal, presentation and communication skills, with the ability to direct the course of an investigation within a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Strong crisis management skills and ability to effectively react to emergency and stressful situations.
• Self-sufficient able to work independently when required using effective decision-making and judgment skills, problem-solving and analytical skills and recommend sound resolutions and the ability to identify, assimilate, organize and convey pertinent information; able to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Able to respond to and conduct investigations during emergency situations when necessary and, on a rotational on call basis, 24 hours per day/7-day per week.
• Ability to oversee safety compliance and terminate all operations when required.
• Ability to facilitate, foster, and participate in interdepartmental committee meetings with Senior Management and Department Heads following rail incidents to discuss, recommend, and follow up on cause and recommendations to prevent future occurrence.
• Ability to coordinate working relationships between the various departments, resolve conflicts and work towards having all departments concur on cause following a rail incident.
• Able to take accountability, following a rail incident, for initiating and terminating an investigation.
• Able to take responsibility and approve movement of trains/equipment so recovery efforts can begin.
• Able to effectively interface with directors, Senior Managers, Department Heads etc.
• Able to effectively interview witnesses and take statements of employees as well as participate with accident interviews chaired by other departments.
• Ability to effectively interface with regulatory agencies (FRA, PTSB, NTSB, MTAPD), during investigations.
• Able to investigate and prepare accidents reports on incidents as requested by senior management.
• Able to develop and participate in the revision and creation of Corporate Procedures, Policies and, Training Curriculums, as directed by Senior Management.
• Able to develop corrective actions including policies, procedures, training, and new technologies as a result of the investigation of close calls/near misses, LIRR and NYAR rail accidents, and employee/customer injuries/fatalities.
• Able to monitor the industry (NTSB, FRA, etc.) for accident/incident reports and findings, analyze potential LIRR vulnerabilities in relation to these incidents, develop recommendations, and follow through to implementation.
• Able to conduct field inspections to track the status of the implementation of recommendations and evaluate them for effectiveness.

Preferred

• Experience in employee and/or customer accident investigations, preferably in the railroad/transportation field or in a large, complex operation, construction, and/or industrial environment, with emphasis on root cause/failure analysis, identification and mitigation.
• Knowledge of Federal and New York State Safety and Health regulations and technical standards (i.e., DOT, FRA, PTSB, FTA, NTSB, OSHA, PESH, NYSDEC, NYSDOH, EPA, ANSI, ASTM, NFPA, AREMA, APTA, ISO, ASME, IEC, AAR, etc.).
• Experience conducting or leading field investigations that require data gathering, using methods such as preservation, capture and recording of evidence, observation, interviews of injured party and witnesses and scrutiny/analysis of evidence and documents relating to any aspect of an investigation.
• Familiarity with railroad operations, policies, and programs.
• Formal Accident Investigation Training / Certification.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of qualified Locomotive Engineer or Conductor experience required.
• Required Education And Experience: Associate’s degree in Engineering, Safety Management, Accident/Forensic Investigation, Business Administration, or related field of study. In lieu of degree two additional years of related experience is required.

Other Information

• Pursuant to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”).
• Actual salary offers may vary based on individual work experience.
• The annual salary range is subject to change and may be modified at the company’s discretion.
• Employees driving company vehicles will be subject to License Monitoring and must complete defensive driver training once every three years for current MTA drivers; or within 180 days of hire or transfer for an employee entering an authorized driving position.
• Current employee applicants should be in their current position 12 months prior to starting a new role and must possess a satisfactory work history, including attendance and discipline record.
• META and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers and encourage qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.
• If you seek a reasonable accommodation for a medical condition or disability, or for a religious practice or observance, to participate in the job application or interview process, please notify your MTA representative once you have been contacted regarding the role.