Manager - Transportation Safety & Security

Salary range is $95k to $191k, with a midpoint of $143k. 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 discount.
• 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 direction from the Deputy Director of Transportation Safety and Security, plans, manages, develops, and oversees the implementation of the transportation safety and security program for transit projects from planning through operations. Manages transportation safety and security staff and provides support to the Director and/or Deputy Director.

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.

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned areas of responsibility and assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates resources, schedules, projects, and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.
• Coordinates and collaborates with other Agency departments, divisions, and project teams to ensure safety and security certification requirements are visible, planned, and incorporated in project requirements, design, scopes of work, construction contract requirements, and facilities operations.
• Coaches, trains, and motivates staff; works with individual staff to develop performance plans; assesses task assignments, work products, and evaluates staff performance; and implements or recommends training and professional development classes.
• Enrolls in and completes the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) mandated Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP).
• Develops and fosters strong working relationships with staff, contractors, agency departments, labor representatives, and state and federal oversight agencies for collaboration and coordination with safety certification elements or requirements.
• Establishes and manages budgets and contracts for assigned staff and consultants; identifies needs and leads procurements for consultant and technical services.
• Responsible for safety reviews of directives, rules and procedures for all modes; reviews train orders, track access, and status of train and facilities operations, as required. For all modes in assigned region, reviews incident statistics and hazard reports to generate remedial recommendations; and prepares summaries of any findings for further review and trend analysis.
• Manages safety oversight and coordination of agency bus and rail safety programs with King County Metro, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Amtrak, BNSF, and/or Sounder Operations in addition to all stakeholders in relation to the overall safety management program.
• Manages the risk assessment program for assigned area to ensure hazards are identified and mitigation plans are implemented.
• Maintains project status reports for all stakeholders and presents status reports to department and executive leadership for project performance of safety and security certification with respect to established goals, project milestones, and provides updates and status for all safety certification requirements.
• Able to respond to incident investigations as needed.
• Conducts post-incident debriefings, tracking and management of corrective actions, and generates detailed reports and management briefings.
• Manages work plans and projects independently and develops physical security processes and protection systems that are suitable for implementation.
• Promotes a positive safety and security culture.
• Communicates and builds partnerships with staff from other departments and with external staff from agencies such as local police, the Washington Department of Transportation, and the Department of Homeland Security.
• Represents Sound Transit Transportation Safety and Security Division at internal and external meetings.
• Provides support to the Deputy Director and/or Director of Transportation Safety and Security on matters as directed; serves on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees as directed.
• Understands and keeps current with industry trends; ensures internal and external processes, policies, and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; and ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• Champions and models Sound Transits 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: Bachelors Degree in Safety, Security Management, Engineering, Emergency Management, Criminal Justice, Transportation, Public Administration, Business Administration, or closely related field with five years of experience in transportation safety, system safety, physical security, security systems, hazard management, safety assurance, rail or transit operations, capital project delivery, or closely related discipline; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Three years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience. Experience leading multidisciplinary teams or complex safety/security programs preferred. Public transit or public agency experience preferred.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid state driver's license. This role is required to drive assigned Sound Transit safety vehicles to construction projects and respond to operational safety incidents throughout the system.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• Transportation Safety Institute (TSI). TSSP (Bus/Rail)
• CFR 672 Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP).
• Certified Safety and Security Director for Rail Transportation or higher through the World Safety Organization.
• American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA).
• American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS).

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations; FTA and FRA requirements for Safety and Security Certification of Public Transit Systems.
• Physical security systems such as, access control, video management and intrusion detection.
• Regulatory, operational, and design characteristics of Fire, Life, and Safety and security programs.
• Applicable fire/life safety codes, building codes, transit codes, and references of standard safety and operations practice in transit environments.
• Methods and techniques used to conduct risk assessment, hazard identification, and hazard resolution.
• Familiarity with railway systems, design, and construction, control systems, communications, operating systems and elements.
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of law enforcement and security functions.
• Vendor and contract negotiation.
• Retrieving, analyzing, and reporting security related incidents and trends.
• Identifying and addressing operational security risks and vulnerabilities
• System certification or quality assurance functions that includes auditing, verifying, documenting system safety, design, and construction compliance reviews in a medium to large organization.
• Design and contractual specification and contractor submittals such as design specifications, drawings, reports, and operations and maintenance manuals.
• Strong personnel supervisory principles, methods and techniques, and personnel management skills and experience.
• Strong implementation of team leadership principles, promoting integrity, inclusion, collaboration, safety and continuous improvement techniques.
• Program/project management techniques and principles.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.
• Developing and drafting clear written documents and analyses for senior and executive level management.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other division staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.
• Customer relations and developing collaborative relationships for problem solving.
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Applying principles and practices of transit safety, risk assessment, hazard mitigation, and federal system certification processes.
• Understanding technical and/or industry concepts of safety management, safety transit certification, and applicable safety codes and ordinances as they relate to the transit environment.
• Performing design review of plans, engineering documents, and operational schematics related to safety procedures and system safety.
• Monitoring safety and security certification program performance to create recommendations and implement improvements.
• Supervising, leading, and delegating daily tasks; communicating and providing feedback and work direction to assigned staff.
• Serving as an effective member of teams and working groups that can successfully communicate physical security related concepts to a broad range of technical and non-technical staff.
• Presenting plans and proposals to key personnel.
• Applying project management techniques and principles.
• Managing multiple tasks, setting objectives/goals, meeting deadlines, and adjusting to changing priorities. Preparing, analyzing, and interpreting an extensive variety of technical instructions and preparing complex data and numerical computations and comprehensive reports.
• Maintaining confidentiality and communicating with tact and diplomacy.
• Implementing the programs and services of an identified functional area within the department.
• Responding to inquiries and in effective oral and written communication.
• Researching, analyzing, and evaluating new service delivery methods and techniques.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a standard office environment.
• This position will be expected to work three days per week in the office.
• Subject to standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds.
• May be exposed to active rail lines or operational rail areas.
• 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.