Deputy Chief Safety Officer

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metro Transit is one of the country's largest transit systems, employs more than 3,000 people, and prior to Covid provided more than 80 million rides a year through an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter trains, as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike in the Twin Cities.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

Under the direction of the Chief Safety Officer, responsible for monitoring, managing, and developing hazard management, safety assurance, safety culture, and both tactical and strategic safety initiatives to develop Metro Transit as a world-class safety program. Supports the daily Chief Safety Officer's goals and objectives, assists agency leadership, and drives safety key performance indicators. Interfaces regularly and coordinates with transit contractors, operations staff, agency departments, and external stakeholders. Builds a strong presence within the agency as a dependable, responsive safety resource that derives consistent decision-making processes and delivers risk and safety assessments through documented formal reports. Leads safety staff and provides oversight to other agency departments to ensure processes conform to documented plans and procedures. Facilitates the development and implementation of safety continuous improvement, reviews and approves after-action plans, communicates corrective actions, and assists the Chief Safety Officer with establishing annual performance indicators, division budgets, and seeks means to improve agency safety metrics.

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned areas of responsibility and assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates resources, reviews schedules, approves projects, procedures, and programs.
• 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.
• Responsible for the direction and implementation of the agency's safety management system strategy and processes. Assists in the risk identification and mitigation process for system safety. Assists in the development and drafting of policies, procedures, and plans necessary to effectively execute Metro Transit's Agency Safety Plan.
• Drives mitigations and closure for Corrective Action Plans, audit findings, and incident investigations to foster and lead a proactive safety culture, emphasizing continuous improvement with safety processes, procedures, and reporting for all agency departments.
• Interface frequently with agency project and operational contractors, promote safety and safe work practices with labor members, consultants, and external partners to timely address safety issues and concerns.
• Lead and/or promote the agency's Safety Management System elements and safety awareness campaigns to engage employees and stakeholders to promote a culture of safety.
• Provide visibility and engagement, promoting employee involvement in safety programs through committees, feedback mechanisms, and recognition programs.
• Sponsor and drive continuous improvement for an agency's data management and safety process software platform(s) to establish a consistent and comprehensive system that maintains consistent processes, real-time records, and updates for safety tasks or project progress, provides comprehensive records of safety metrics, incident status, corrective actions, audit findings, inspection reports and compliance activities.
• Support the Chief Safety Officer with division-level administrative strategy, process work products, department goals, budget development and rationale, staffing and organizational strategies, and workflow assessments and improvements.

Any of the following combinations of experience in safety, business administration, operations management, large program or project management, or a closely related field with five (5) years supervisory/management experience and completed education in safety management, engineering, transportation or a related field.

• High school diploma and thirteen (13) years of required experience, including (5) years of supervisory/management.
• Associates degree and eleven (11) years of required experience, including (5) years of supervisory/management.
• Bachelor's degree and nine (9) years of required experience, including (5) years of supervisory/management experience.
• Master's degree and seven (7) years of required experience, including (5) years of supervisory/management experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications)

• Senior roles in transit safety, operations, emergency management, or compliance.
• Experience in agencies with strong regulatory oversight.
• Participation in developing or managing a Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP).
• Leading cross-functional safety committees and safety audits.
• Public Transit Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) Certification
• Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP) Certification
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of leadership, team development, and decision-making in complex operational environments
• Knowledge of methods for creating, implementing, and sustaining standards, processes, and procedures recognized as best practices.
• Knowledge of principles and applications of critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving in safety and operational settings.
• Knowledge of business writing, report preparation, and documentation standards.
• Knowledge of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) safety and security regulations, MNOSHA/OSHA standards, and related local codes and rules.
• Skilled in influencing, motivating, and developing productive working relationships across departments, teams, and stakeholder groups.
• Skilled in building and maintaining effective partnerships with management, staff, contractors, vendors, and outside agencies.
• Skilled in collecting, evaluating, and interpreting complex data and information from multiple sources.
• Skilled in monitoring and managing program and project budgets, schedules, and performance metrics.
• Skilled in preparing and delivering clear, concise written and oral communications, including presentations and reports.
• Skilled in using computers and standard Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Ability to provide effective leadership in dynamic operational settings with competing priorities.
• Ability to apply critical thinking and analytical skills to develop data-driven recommendations and solutions.
• Ability to foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to represent Metro Transit and the Safety Division with professionalism, credibility, and sound judgment.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.
• Career advancement opportunities.

More about why you should join us!

Union: Non-Represented Grade M

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No