Safety Management Systems (SMS) Program Specialist

Safety Management Systems (SMS) Program Specialist

Salary

$134,315.22 - $163,306.00 Annually

Location

3331 N First St, San Jose, CA 95134, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

26-CK-7375

Division

System Safety & Security

Department

Transit System Safety

Opening Date

06/17/2026

Closing Date

7/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Description

Help drive safety excellence at VTA.

VTA is seeking a Safety Management System (SMS) Program Specialist to play a critical role in advancing the agencys commitment to safety, risk reduction, and continuous improvement. This position serves as a key contributor to VTAs Safety Management System by coordinating hazard management activities, facilitating safety risk assessments, monitoring corrective actions, analyzing safety performance data, and supporting compliance with federal, state, and agency safety requirements.

The Safety Management System Program Specialist works collaboratively with operational departments, project teams, and safety professionals across the organization to identify hazards, evaluate risks, develop mitigation strategies, and strengthen VTAs safety culture. This position also supports quality review of safety investigations and documentation, safety performance monitoring, training initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts that help ensure the safety of employees, passengers, contractors, and the communities we serve.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced safety professional who enjoys problem-solving, data analysis, regulatory compliance, and partnering with stakeholders to proactively identify and address safety risks in a dynamic public transportation environment.

About the Safety & Security Department

This division oversees VTAs safety and transit system security and law enforcement functions, which include oversight of the Transit Security Department, management of contracted security services provided by Allied Universal Security, administration of VTA's contract with the Sheriff's Department for sworn law enforcement personnel and Cyber Security.

Definition

Under general direction, performs advanced-level professional work in the implementation of VTA's Safety Management System (SMS), with lead responsibility for coordinating and administering assigned safety programs, including the Hazard Management Program (HMP), quality review of safety documentation and investigation reports, and support training, onboarding, and related safety compliance activities.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is an advanced-level professional classification. Incumbents exercise independent judgment and apply specialized knowledge of Safety Management System principles, practices, and regulatory requirements in the administration and oversight of VTA's SMS. This class is characterized by responsibility for hazard management, safety risk management, corrective action oversight, and accountability for the identification, evaluation, mitigation, and verification of closure of safety risks across the organization. Positions in this class may provide lead direction and technical guidance to other staff, as assigned.

This classification is distinguished from Transit Safety Officer by its program level authority and enterprise-wide responsibility for administration and oversight of VTA's SMS, including accountability for hazard management, safety risk management, and corrective action oversight. It is distinguished from Transit System Safety Supervisor in that it does not have full-time supervisory responsibility for staff but may provide lead direction and operational support as assigned.

The Ideal Candidate

The Ideal candidate is an experienced Safety Management System (SMS) professional with demonstrated expertise administering hazard management programs, facilitating safety risk assessments, overseeing corrective actions, and supporting regulatory compliance within a transit, transportation, construction, industrial, or other highly regulated environment.

The successful candidate possesses hands-on experience identifying hazards, evaluating risk, developing mitigation strategies, tracking corrective actions, and validating the effectiveness of implemented solutions. They have a proven ability to analyze safety performance data, identify trends, and recommend improvements that strengthen organizational safety performance and support continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate is skilled at reviewing accident and incident investigations for quality, completeness, regulatory compliance, and root cause identification. They are highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities while working collaboratively with operational departments, project teams, management, and regulatory agencies.

Additionally, the ideal candidate demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to facilitate meetings and risk discussions, and a commitment to promoting accountability, transparency, and a proactive safety culture throughout the organization.

About VTA

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County's authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation-related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.

VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participates as a funding partner in regional rail service including Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.

As the county's congestion management agency, VTA is responsible for countywide transportation planning, including congestion management, design and construction of specific highway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvement projects, as well as promotion of transit-oriented development.

VTA provides these services throughout the county, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County.

As we continue to implement our VTA Forward Plan, we aim to strengthen and increase our workforce to take on future opportunities and challenges by elevating our people and our services.

For more information about our VTA Forward Plan, visit: https://www.vta.org/VTAForwar

Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program (FFWCP)

The County of Santa Clara FFWCP recognizes VTA as a business that creates supportive workplaces for employees and their families.

Family-friendly workplaces improve health outcomes and job satisfaction for employees and increase work productivity and retention for employers. Employers can create a family-friendly workplace by meeting and exceeding state and federal employment laws relating to parental leave, lactation accommodation, and work/family balance.

Essential Job Functions

Typical Tasks

• Administers and oversees the agency's Hazard Management Program (HMP), including hazard identification, classification, prioritization, tracking, and closure of corrective actions;
• Monitors the status of corrective actions; validates completion and effectiveness of mitigations; and escalates overdue or non-compliant actions, as appropriate;
• Validates closure and effectiveness of corrective actions to ensure compliance with agency procedures and applicable regulatory requirements;
• Coordinates and facilitates Safety Risk Assessments (SRAs) for operational changes, capital projects, and procedural modifications, including hazard identification, risk evaluation, mitigation development, and risk acceptance;
• Coordinates with internal department, operational units, project teams, and subject matter experts to support hazard mitigation, risk analysis, corrective action implementation, and regulatory compliance;
• Conducts technical and quality review of accident/event investigation reports and other safety documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, root cause identification, and regulatory compliance;
• Identifies systemic safety issues, trends, and recurring causal factors, and drives corrective actions and continuous program improvements;
• Monitors and analyzes safety performance data in accordance with Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) requirements, including fatalities, injuries, safety events, system reliability, and prepares related reports, dashboards, and trend analyses;
• Monitors, analyzes, and reports safety performance data and trends related to hazard management, investigations, corrective actions, and other Safety Management System activities;
• Oversees safety reporting processes and data integrity, monitors the accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of safety records and reporting, and identifies opportunities for process improvement;
• Facilitates meetings related to hazards, risk assessments, corrective actions, promoting accountability and transparency across departments;
• May provide lead direction, training, and technical guidance to staff in assigned program areas;
• Maintains safety records, risk assessments, corrective action documentation, and related files to support regulatory compliance and audit readiness;
• Prepares and presents regulatory responses, status reports, presentations, and related documentation pertaining to hazard management, safety risk management, and safety and compliance activities;
• Develops and supports SMS training, onboarding, and continuous improvement initiatives, enhancing program effectiveness, efficiency, and organizational safety culture;
• Ensures continuity of safety program operations in the absence of the Transit System Safety Supervisor;
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Development of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of education and progressively responsible experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in safety, occupational health and safety, safety engineering, industrial hygiene, or a related field; and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in transportation safety, construction safety, industrial safety, safety program administration, and/or regulatory compliance. Two (2) years of the aforementioned experience must have included directly applying SMS principles, including Hazard identification and risk assessment, corrective action tracking and closure, and safety data analysis and performance monitoring.

Possession of, or the ability to obtain and maintain, a valid California Class C drivers license is required.

The ability to obtain Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) credentials per CFR 49 Part 672 and the ability and willingness to travel, including overnight and out-of-state travel, is required.

Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Safety Trained Supervisor (STS), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or Occupational Health and Safety Technician (OHST) certifications are desirable.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of Safety Management Systems, hazard management, and corrective action follow-up;
• Principles and practices of accident investigation, report preparation, and documentation standards;
• Applicable local, state, and federal safety laws and regulations governing facilities, bus and rail operations, including those promulgated by CPUC, FTA, FED OSHA, CAL OSHA, CA/FED EPA, and FRA;
• Principles and practices of program coordination, quality assurance, and compliance monitoring;
• Principles and practices of staff training, onboarding, and employee development;
• Methods of data collection, tracking, analysis, and reporting;
• Organize and manage the operations of a public transit system.

Ability to:

• Coordinate and administer assigned safety programs and compliance activities;
• Conduct detailed quality review of safety reports, investigations, and related documentation;
• Analyze information, identify issues, and recommend practical solutions;
• Coordinate or support the development and implementation of training and onboarding activities;
• Provide lead direction, training, and technical guidance to staff;
• Maintain accurate records and prepare clear, concise reports and correspondence;
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal staff, operational partners, and external regulatory agencies;
• Maintain accurate records and prepare clear, concise reports;
• Lift up to 25 pounds and maneuver heavier materials and supplies with proper material handling equipment.

Working Environment/Conditions and Physical Demands

Work Environment and Physical Effort:

Good Conditions

Primarily Sedentary Work

Work Locations:

Office or similar indoor environment - Frequently

Outdoor environment - Occasionally

Vehicle and field locations - Occasionally

Exposures:

Occasional exposure to environmental factors

Loud noise - sometimes

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer. We welcome differences in the form of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, philosophy, sexual orientation, or gender identity. All applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply.

General Application Instructions

Please read this job announcement in its entirety before applying. We recommend printing or saving a copy for future reference.

To be considered, applications must be submitted online through the Human Resources department by the posted deadline. If the job posting is listed as "continuous," we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the posting may close without prior notice. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an immediate email confirmation.

Personalized responses to Supplemental Questions that connect your past experiences to this specific role are the most effective. AI-generated content may lack the specificity required to address the key criteria outlined in the job description. While we encourage the use of AI as a tool to enhance your work, we want to evaluate your non-AI-assisted communication skills. You may use AI to generate ideas, but please ensure your final responses are in your own voice and reflect your unique experience. Overreliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish your chances of success.

Important: Only online applications will be accepted for this recruitment. We do not accept paper applications, resumes, Job Interest Notification Cards, or incomplete/unsubmitted applications in place of a fully completed application.

Communication & Contact Information

All updates regarding your application-including notices for testing and interviews-will be sent via email. Be sure to select email as your preferred method of communication and maintain a valid, up-to-date email address. Applicants are also responsible for keeping their phone numbers and mailing addresses current in their online profiles.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide individual updates. Please check your application status through your online account. For technical support, contact NEOGOV at (855) 524-5627, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (PST), excluding holidays.

Application Review & Processing

All current and prior relevant work experience-including experience with VTA-must be fully detailed in the Work Experience section of your application. Entries such as "see resume" are not acceptable. Incomplete or improperly completed applications may be rejected, even if you meet the minimum qualifications.

While you are welcome to upload a resume, it does not substitute for completing the online application in full. Be sure that your application accurately reflects the education and experience necessary for the position.

Applications are reviewed throughout the recruitment process to determine whether candidates meet the minimum qualifications. Meeting these minimums or advancing through any stage does not guarantee further consideration. Any misrepresentation or falsification of qualifications, experience, education, or training may result in disqualification and/or exclusion from future employment opportunities with VTA.

This classification is represented by Service Employees International Union American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment are governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement between VTA and the union.

Tentative Examinations:

Oral Panel: Week of July 20, 2026

Conditions of Employment

Final candidates must successfully complete a Livescan background check, reference checks, verification of education or certifications, and a criminal history review before appointment.

For sensitive positions, VTA requires all safety-sensitive positions to have a 6-month DOT physical clearance. Obtained at the time of preboarding from a VTA-contracted Concentra Location.

Eligibility List

The established Eligible List from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur. Eligible Lists typically remain in effect for six (6) months. However, Human Resources may abolish Eligible Lists at any time during the six (6) month period. Human Resources may extend eligible Lists for up to two (2) years. Eligible Lists may be used for more than one recruitment.

Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations

VTA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the recruitment and examination process. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department at (408) 321-5575 or email Personnel@vta.org at least five business days before the test.

Equal Employment Opportunity

VTA is an equal employment opportunity employer. VTA does not and will not tolerate discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age, ancestry, color, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, national, origin, immigration status, political affiliation, race, religion, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, medical condition, disabled veteran or veteran status, etc.

VTA offers a generous benefit package including: vision care, a choice of health plans, dental coverage, an employee assistance program, life insurance, and liberal holiday, vacation, and sick leave. A credit union and deferred compensation are also available to employees at their option. Detailed information on VTAs benefits may be found here: https://app.strivebenefits.com/santa-clara-valley-transportation-authority

As defined by the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA):

• Classic Members retirement benefit formula is 2% @55.
• New Members retirement benefit formula is 2% @62.

All Classic AFSCME, SEIU, TAEA, and Non-Rep employees hired on or after 01/09/2012 pay 7.0% of salary toward the required employee contribution to PERS.

All New/PEPRA AFSCME, SEIU, TAEA, and Non-Rep employees pay 8.0% of salary toward the required employee contribution to PERS.

Social Security taxes will be deducted from each employees bi-weekly salary.

01

1. Provide a specific example of a hazard or safety risk you identified. What process did you use to evaluate the risk, develop mitigations, monitor corrective actions, and verify effectiveness and closure?

02

2. Provide a specific example of a corrective action you were responsible for monitoring. How did you track progress, validate effectiveness, and ensure timely closure?

03

3. Describe your experience applying Safety Management System (SMS) principles in transportation, transit, construction, industrial, aviation, or other regulated environment. Include your role in hazard identification, risk assessment, corrective action management, and safety performance monitoring.

04

4. Describe your experience analyzing safety performance data and preparing reports, dashboards, or presentations for leadership, regulatory agencies, or operational stakeholders. What metrics did you monitor, and how did your analysis influence decision-making or safety improvements?

05

5. Do you possess at least two (2) years of experience directly applying Safety Management System (SMS) principles, including hazard identification and risk assessment, corrective action tracking and closure, and safety performance monitoring?

• Yes
• No

06

6. Do you possess, or have the ability to obtain, Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) certification as required under 49 CFR Part 672?

• Yes
• No

07

7. This job requires you to attend training facilitated by the Federal Transit Administration and will require travel outside of California including traveling by Air. Are you willing to travel for training as designated?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Address 3331 North First Street, Bldg. B-1

San Jose, California, 95143

Phone 4083215504

Website http://www.vta.org