Director, Safety and Environmental Compliance / Chief Safety Officer

About the position

The Director, Safety and Environmental Compliance/Chief Safety Officer (DSEC/CSO) is responsible for providing leadership to the Safety and Environmental Compliance Division. Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) with dotted line reporting to the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (GM/CEO), this position ensures the safety of the agency's employees, customers, facilities and transit network by overseeing all aspects of safety and environmental compliance, ensuring the agency adheres to federal and state law while maintaining a safe working environment by managing safety programs, conducting safety and environmental audits, and coordinating with regulatory agencies when necessary.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the development and execution of a long-term system safety strategy in alignment with the agency's mission, vision, and strategic objectives.
• Serves at the delegation of the GM/CEO as the Chief Safety Officer responsible for the implementation, management, and execution of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) in compliance with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requirements, and the System Safety Program Plan (SSPP) in compliance with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements.
• Acts as the primary contact with outside regulatory agencies, and is responsible for establishing, managing and monitoring all safety standards, processes and communication, to ensure compliance with federal and state safety oversight standards and regulations.
• Responsible for leading the full implementation and continuous improvement of the agency's Safety Management System (SMS) to identify risks and effectively manage hazards to ensure the safety of employees, customers, contractors, and the public in accordance with FTA and FRA regulations.
• Manages the Operational Risk Management (ORM) framework and safety assurance processes and outputs and coordinates ORM evaluations, investigations, and controls with attention to cross-organizational impacts.
• Leads safety incident, accident, and hazard investigations, analyzes root causes, and tracks the implementation of corrective actions to conclusion, using appropriate tracking systems.
• Oversees the collection and analysis of safety data to identify trends and measure safety performance.
• Advises the GM/CEO and executive leadership team on safety, occupational health and safety, and environmental regulations, industry best-practices, trends, and risk mitigation options.
• Co-chairs the Joint Labor Management Safety Committee and serves as a key member of the GM/CEO's Leadership Safety Committee.
• Directs and administers the process to obtain and comply with environmental permits; reviews supporting documentation required by various agencies; directs inventory procedures and recording of potential hazardous materials.
• Directs environmental clean-up and remediation for contaminated sites and ensures compliance with corrective action plans and assists the Chief of Police and Emergency Management's coordination of emergency preparedness and response and advises on related standards for bus, rail, facilities and environmental operations.
• Recruits staff to include interviewing, hiring, assigning work, training, coaching, and counseling to ensure consistent application of Employee Guidelines, processes, and procedures.
• Conducts performance reviews and holds employees accountable for performance of their responsibilities.
• Fosters a culture of safety and ensures compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations.
• Takes action to advance the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Title VI and ADA Plans, thereby ensuring RTD's hiring programs, work environment, contracting and procurement practices, and transit services/programs are fair, equal, and non-discriminatory.
• Provides leadership and direction to accomplish the agency's strategic goals and objectives for safety and environmental compliance.
• Identifies and resolves technical and operational issues and problems that impact the agency or its customers.
• Informs and advises the Deputy CEO regarding current trends, problems, and activities to facilitate both short, mid, and long-term strategic plans as well as improve operational performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in health and safety, safety engineering, environmental health, or related engineering or physical sciences.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in system safety principles, industrial hygiene, safety engineering and environmental compliance.
• A minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience in a public transit or similar regulated industry.
• Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) or ability to acquire within 12 months of hire.
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System All-Hazards Position Specific Safety Officer training course (usually designated as E/L 954).
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with SMS.
• Experience with accident investigation methodologies and reporting.
• Intermediate level NIMS Certification.
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Colorado Driver's License within 6 months of start date.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree health and safety, safety engineering, environmental health, or related engineering or physical sciences.
• Previous leadership experience within a complex public transit agency.
• Experience leading and managing in a unionized environment.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending accounts
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development opportunities