Senior Safety Specialist

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $66,650.00 - $94,049.00 Annually

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

Non-Represented Employment Opportunity

To apply for this exciting career opportunity, please visit norta.com/jobs

This bulletin is posted to establish or add to a qualified list of candidates

The Regional Transit Authority gets people moving around New Orleans. Our transit services bring hard-working commuters to their jobs, students to their schools, and fun-seekers to entertainment, shopping areas, and restaurants. We provide mobility to residents of the city as well as tourists, taking them to and from their hotels to historical neighborhoods and countless attractions. RTA’s system includes 5 streetcar lines, 30 bus routes, 2 ferry routes, and paratransit services. Our passengers take more than 19 million rides every year.

REPORTS TO
Senior Director of Transit System Safety

TITLES OF POSITIONS REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THIS JOB
N/A

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• May be instructed to lead, coach, train, and oversee the work of assigned staff including but not limited to reviewing and assisting Safety Specialist accident and incident reports for accuracy, completeness, and timely completion.
• Maintains and promotes harmony in the Safety department as well as ascertaining facts to resolve complaints and minor grievances.

JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Safety Specialist investigates injuries, accidents, and incidents; develops, implements, monitors, and reviews safety rules and procedures; and performs complex field inspections and audits to support RTA safety and health goals and to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and requirements. Collaborates with leading team members and gains cooperation from other department staff to build and promote a positive safety culture and build the agency’s Safety Management System (SMS). Develops, manages, and leads department-issued training, workshops, meetings, demonstrations, assessments, investigations, and other activities as directed by Safety Management. May be directed to serve as “lead specialist” and in that capacity will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Safety Department, including Safety Specialists and other staff. May be directed to fill the Senior Director of Transit System Safety role in an acting capacity, as necessary.

The position is responsible for performing a variety of complex duties in support of RTA’s SMS programs and compliance with safety-critical rules, procedures, and policies. Is responsible for managing and overseeing the safety of RTA’s operations in all four modes, fixed-route bus, paratransit, ferry (marine), and rail (streetcar), ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal requirements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions upon request.

• Investigates injuries, accidents, and other incidents taking the appropriate action to prevent or minimize reoccurrences.
• Develops and provides training to employees according to company policies and programs for vehicle operation, service delivery, and/or workplace safety
• Oversees and reviews safety-critical training conducted by other departments
• Responds to accident and incident scenes; collect facts; supervise other responding personnel; generate written reports associated with investigations before mandated deadlines; provide written recommendations and corrective actions associated with these investigations.
• Conducts refresher training and information meetings as deemed necessary.
• Shares on-call responsibilities with other Safety Specialists in the Safety Department
• Determines training needs; recommends, develops, conducts, reviews, and manages training for a diverse group of RTA and contractor employees
• Develops, directs, and oversees safety education programs and bulletins and maintains safety boards at each facility; manages safety messaging via newsletters, company intranet, videos, and other media.
• Conduct Industrial Hygiene assessments as directed.
• Conduct physical inspection of facilities, equipment, and work practices and procedures to identify and mitigate hazards and risks; and implement, manage, and/or oversee corrective actions in various departments resulting from those inspections.
• Assists the Senior Director of Transit System Safety in monitoring regulatory compliance throughout the agency, including developing, implementing, managing, and overseeing agency safety plans, policies, procedures, and training programs mandated by federal and state requirements.
• Develops, promotes, reviews, and audits the maintenance of safe and healthy working conditions throughout the transit system.
• Recommend, implement, track, manage, and oversee measures to reduce accidents and hazards
• Assist Operations with reroutes, and detour evaluations when necessary, resulting from construction, fire, and police activities, civil emergencies, or other unexpected situations
• Assist in the activities of mandatory external reporting (e.g., OSHA 300 log)
• Organizes, performs, and coordinates training programs for new employees in compliance with federal regulations and company standards.
• Assist in the company’s safety education, accident prevention, and loss control programs.
• Maintains personnel and employee qualification files in coordination with the Human Resources Department.
• Maintains, inputs, and communicates Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) regulations and assures compliance.
• Organizes, conducts, and oversees regularly scheduled and special safety meetings across departments.
• Designs, implements, manages, and oversees retraining programs as required for existing employees.
• Coordinates with the Human Resources Department as needed.
• Coordinates with insurance company representatives as needed.
• At the direction of Safety Management, performs investigations of industrial accidents occurring at transit facilities or on RTA property that cause damage to transit property and/or injury to transit employees.
• Determines root causes of accidents and develops recommendations for appropriate action to prevent a recurrence.
• Responsible for responding to system emergencies / or serious accidents at any time of the day and night.
• Responsible for answering phone calls from OCC and Supervisors 24 hours/day when on-call.
• Operating non-revenue vehicles on a routine basis.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Safety, Security & Emergency Management Officer, and the Senior Director of Transit System Safety.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Performs other job-related duties that are in keeping with the goals and objectives of RTA and the safety department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Must be able to deal tactfully and equitably with individuals with whom interfacing is required.
• Must be able to effectively supervise other employees performing complex, technical tasks.
• Ability to effectively train, supervise, and evaluate subordinates
• Read, write, speak, and understand English fluently
• Must be well-versed in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

EDUCATION
Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Engineering, Management, Transportation, or a related field;

OR:

EXPERIENCE
Five (5) years of relevant experience in system safety, industrial safety, fire/life safety, heavy construction safety, or loss prevention including program management experience in employee and/or operations safety programs. Supervisory or management experience preferred.

CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES/SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid Louisiana Driver's License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Currently has or will be able to obtain in the first three (3) years of employment Transit Safety and Security Program Certificate awarded by US DOT TSI (U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Safety Institute) preferred.

This position is classified by RTA as a “key SMS” position with direct safety oversight responsibility for rail. Incumbents must either: have received FTA certification under the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) codified at 49 CFR Part 672 or be able to receive this certification within the first three (3) years of employment.

Must submit to a criminal background check, the results of which must meet hiring criteria for the role.

This position has been deemed essential and will serve, when activated, on the RTA’s All Hazards Incident Management Team (IMT) in a Command Staff or General Staff role under the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS). Successful completion of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Incident Command System (ICS) training (IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800) is required within 60 days of hire.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. RTA provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
• High noise environment
• Exposure to moving machinery and/or vehicles
• Extensive safety training and/or use of protective devices and personal protective gear
• Exposure to weather, physical, electrical, mechanical, and chemical hazards
• Sitting at a desk or table for extended periods
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Standing for lengthy periods
• Walking for extended periods
• Must be able to lift up to 45 pounds at times.
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances
• Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.)

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EEO STATEMENT
NORTA is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions are based on job-related standards and must comply with the principles of equal employment opportunity.