Transportation Safety Administrator
- Summary
Job Summary
King County Metro Transit is one of the fastest-growing transit agencies in the nation and we are strongly committed to safety. We are currently looking to hire an experienced safety professional to join the safety team that manages our multi-location, multi-modal transit safety program. Our current hiring program includes safety professionals with transit (rail and/or bus), high voltage, construction/trades, occupational/industrial, collision investigation, or generalist safety experience.
King County Metro Transit safety professionals are responsible for the implementation and oversight of safety plans, programs and procedures as they relate to employee safety and health, and the operational, maintenance, and industrial aspects of safety at King County Metro. Safety professionals report to a Superintendent of Safety and take a leadership role in the development and implementation of safety and compliance programs that meet and exceed all federal, state and regional regulations and standards set by the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Washington Department of Labor and Industries - Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH), American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and other applicable agencies.
Safety professionals with experience and training who are dedicated to managing safety programs and/or have a background in collision investigation and reconstruction are encouraged to apply.
Key duties of King County Metro safety professionals:
- Develop and implement Metro's Safety Management System
- Develop and ensure the effectiveness of comprehensive safety and regulatory compliance programs
- Certify the safety of projects and construction plans
- Perform safety audits and investigations
- Perform on-call rotation duties for incident investigations
- Investigate vehicle collisions
- Investigate job injuries
- Serve as safety subject matter experts
- Prepare technical reports
- Provide hands-on leadership, training and mentorship to employees
The safety of our system is managed daily by a vast array of Metro's Superintendents, Chiefs and Supervisors, with expert safety professional direction by a Managing Director for Safety and Security, two Transit Safety Superintendents, and a large cadre of Transportation Safety Administrators, who serve as subject matter experts, mentors, and change agents in various parts of the agency. Assignments could be in any of our operational, administrative or functional locations/areas. Our Safety team is a unique group of dedicated professionals who enjoy working together and with Metro's employees at all levels to lead the charge in keeping our employees, customers and vehicles safe and secure. We look forward to you joining our team!
Safety-Sensitive Position
This is a safety-sensitive position. Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with federal DOT alcohol and controlled substance testing program protocols. Applicants may also be required to undergo a background check.
King County Metro Transit
King County Metro Transit is a regional leader in getting people places quickly, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment and improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Metro has pioneered or refined dozens of innovations that have made us a leader in this nation's public transportation industry. Metro Transit employs over 4,500 employees and provides over 121 million passenger trips per year. Metro operates a fleet of about 1,535 coaches across 213 fixed routes within a 2,134 square mile area.
Our bus transit infrastructure includes 7 operating and maintenance facilities, over 8,000 bus stops, 16 transit centers, and 137 park-and-ride facilities. Metro Transit's fleet includes standard and articulated clean diesel coaches, electric trolley buses, battery powered electric buses, and hybrid diesel-electric buses. There are 14 routes on which over 150 electric trolley buses operate, supported by 70 miles of overhead wire and 36 substations. Metro Transit's Power and Facilities group services these electric lines and substations.
Metro Transit also provides full operational and maintenance staffing and safety support for both Sound Transit's Link Light Rail and the City of Seattle's Seattle Streetcar (as well as several of Sound Transit's Express commuter bus routes). The Seattle Streetcar encompasses two lines: South Lake Union (1.3 miles, seven stops) and First Hill (2.5 miles, ten stops). Link Light Rail currently travels just over 20 miles with 14 stops. Our rail systems are scheduled for significant expansion in coming years.
Great Benefits
King County encourages flexible work schedules where possible, and provides our employees with a free transportation pass (good on Metro, Sound Transit, Pierce Transit most transit systems throughout the Puget Sound region). We offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental and vision benefits for the whole family and state-registered domestic partner, a competitive sick leave and vacation plan, twelve holidays annually, and participation in the State's Public Employees Retirement Plan (PERS), as well as the option of participating in the County's deferred compensation plan (a 457 plan).
Who May Apply
This position is open to the general public and all King County employees. In addition to filling a current upcoming career service vacancy, this posting may create a pool of candidates who may be qualified to fill other similar career service or Term-Limited Temporary positions if they were to occur over the following 12 months.
Required Application Materials
An online employment application at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs with employment history going back at least ten years if you have ten years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience), answers to the supplemental questions, a resume, and a cover letter summarizing your qualifications and interest in the position. Please see application instructions at the end of this posting for more details.
Work Schedule
This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is not eligible for overtime pay. The work week is normally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Must be available to work some evening, nights and/or weekend hours, or work extended hours to respond to job responsibilities. Must be available to work "on-call" in rotation with other members of the safety professional team.
Work Location
Majority of work may be performed at an assigned Transit location. Some supporting work will be performed at our main safety offices, and in the field. Field work is conducted out of doors in all types of weather.
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Ralph Cady
Senior Talent Advisor
(206) 477-5998
ralph.cady@kingcounty.gov
- Job Duties
- Deliver a comprehensive safety program and promote safety awareness
- Audit safety programs, policies, and procedures
- Conduct accident/incident investigations and analyses (including industrial and vehicular); function as lead in accident investigations; perform root cause analysis; conduct re-reads; chair accident review boards
- Serve as a trainer/provide oversight of the traffic collision investigation program for field supervisors;
- Provide expertise in traffic collision reconstruction and cause analysis for major collisions;
- Develop and implement safety policies and procedures
- Conduct safety meetings; identify and resolve safety problems for the division.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment, determine whether events or processes comply with safety laws, regulations, and standards
- Perform or oversee safety training which may include but is not limited to new employee safety orientation, OSHA 10, bloodborne pathogens, lockout/tag out, right of way, and fall protection
- Monitor work sites for health and safety hazards; identify and assist in the development of mitigations for hazards; make recommendations for changes to maintain a low accident rate
- Perform job hazard analyses to determine appropriate personal protective equipment (hearing protection, respirators, etc.) necessary training, and/or procedural changes
- Evaluate and make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists
- Participate as a member of various committees involving safety and security issues and resultant committee activities such as emergency responder drills.
- Make technical recommendations
- Coordinate information regarding accident/incident with NTSB, FTA, WSDOT, DOSH, City of Seattle, Sound Transit and/or public information staff
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications
An Associate of Arts degree, preferably in a related field, or two years of professional safety training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, and at least five years of safety-related work experience in occupational/industrial, construction, plant/manufacturing, transit, rail, or general transportation safety, or in traffic or public safety OR any combination of education and experience that provides the ability to perform the duties of the position. The most competitive candidates will have the following qualifications:
- Experience coordinating with internal and external stakeholders in order to comply with safety plans, programs and regulatory requirements such as System Safety Program Plans, and Accident Prevention Plans
- Experience serving as safety subject matter expert
- Experience investigating accidents and incidents, including traffic collision reconstruction, root-cause analyses, recommendations for mitigations, assistance in the development of corrective action plans, and coordination of first responders at incident scenes
- Experience ensuring the effectiveness of safety programs, policies, and enforcement of regulations, and implementation of "stop work" orders as necessary
- Ability to coordinate and monitor the work of outside agencies, contractors and vendors to ensure their compliance with established processes, protocols, and policies
- Ability to prepare technical reports and analyses
- Experience with hazard management
- A working knowledge of local, state and federal industrial safety regulations
- A working knowledge of local, state and federal commercial vehicle safety regulations
- Excellent speaking and written communication skills to convey program and procedural information effectively as appropriate for the needs of the audience and at any level of the organization, or with other stakeholders
- Ability to effectively handle multiple competing priorities
- Critical thinking and analytical abilities to exercise judgment in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of mitigations, conclusions or approaches to problems, safety hazards, and/or accident scene actions
- Ability to make decisions, initiate action, show positive leadership, motivate others, and gain compliance to resolve safety-related problems
- Skill in accomplishing objectives through coordination, facilitation and negotiation; skill in recognizing and dealing with conflict
- Ability to work with diverse groups, and develop and maintain relationships with coworkers and work effectively as a team member
- Ability to be discerning and adroit in handling sensitive and confidential matters.
- Skill in the use of personal computer programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word
- Willingness to work out of doors in all types of weather
- Must be available for on-call response and rotating shifts.
Additional Desirable Qualifications
- Bus or rail transit experience is desirable but not required.
- Safety certifications such as those listed in our Supplemental Question later in this posting
- Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field
- Ability to represent the Transit Division on inter- and intra-agency panels and committees and work with community members and groups on safety issues and concerns
- Experience developing safety programs and policies
- Experience performing internal safety audits, including entrance/exit meetings, records review, interviews, field verification, report writing, presentation of results, and corrective action tracking
- Knowledge of mechanical and electrical equipment to evaluate their safe operation
- Knowledge and experience in the application of ergonomic principles to prevent musculoskeletal disorders
- Experience working as a generalist safety professional, or in the trades (especially high voltage, construction and/or industrial safety)
- Experience in the field of traffic collision reconstruction and instruction
- Skill in the use of personal computer programs such as PowerPoint, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
Necessary Special Qualifications
- Valid Washington State driver's license. (Out-of-state candidates will need to have their Washington driver's license by date of hire.)
- Supplemental Information
King County Metro Transit is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and values diverse perspectives, life experiences, and differences. The Department of Transportation encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, people of all ages, and veterans. We are committed to being equitable and fair in providing equal access to opportunities for all.
Application Process
Applicants should complete the online application, which includes the Supplemental Questions, and attach or paste in your required resume and cover letter. NOTE: Please answer the questions in the online employment application for each job (listing each position for each employer separately), with duties explained, reasons for leaving, etc. Your job history in the employment application should go back ten years (if you have ten years of employment). Earlier jobs should be included if they are relevant in some way to this job. If you have questions about this, please contact Ralph Cady as stated above. Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions under Application FAQs at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs
Selection Process
Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. There may also be a written exercise. Employment offers will be finalized only after candidates have successfully completed physical examinations, drug screens, drug and alcohol background checks, and reference checks.
Union Membership
The position is represented by PROTEC17, Professional and Technical bargaining unit.
Class Code:
2450100
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Thank you for your interest in this employment opportunity. In applying for this job, please follow the instructions provided on filling out your employment application. Data fields provided should all be completed. This includes, but is not limited to: • the education and work experience sections of your employment application (do not merely refer to your resume). • A description of each position that you have held in the last ten years. If you held more than one position with an employer, each job must be listed separately. You should also include jobs that are prior to the last ten years if they were relevant to your qualifications. • For each employer listed, state the month and year in which you started and in which you ended the position. • For each employer listed, you must indicate your reason for leaving. If you have been terminated from any previous jobs, please state the specific reasons why. If you have any questions about this, please contact the HR Analyst identified in the job announcement. I have read the above statement and certify that the statements made by me on the application are, to the best of my knowledge, true, complete and correct. I understand that any misrepresentation or material omission of fact on this or any other document required by King County may constitute grounds for rejection, or if employed by King County, for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. I acknowledge I have read and understand the above information.
- Yes
- No
02As the posting states, a resume, and a cover letter summarizing your qualifications and interest in the position are required to be attached to this application as a part of the application process. If you have not yet attached your documents, you may still go back and do so before your final submission of the application. Are you attaching your resume and cover letter?- Yes
- No
03Please describe with some detail your experience, if any, in collision reconstruction and investigation.04Please describe your experience, if any, giving instruction on collision reconstruction and/or investigation.05If you have experience with hazard identification resolutions, please describe the environment and specific type of work you performed in this category, for which employers, AND describe one example in more detail.06Please indicate which, if any, of the following certifications you have.- Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
- Industrial Hygienist (IH)
- Certified Utility Safety Administrator (CUSA)
- Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS)
- Certified Safety Manager (CSM)
- Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
- Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP)
- Safety Management Specialist (SMS)
- Certified Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
- World Safety Organization (WSO) certifications
- Collision Investigation (state details below in next question)
- Certified Collision Reconstructionist (ACTAR or other - please list in question below)
- Transportation Safety and Security Professional (TSSP)
- Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
- Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST)
- Other
- None of the above
07If you marked "Other" above, and/or marked either of the Collision items above, please indicate the name of the certification here and the certifying agency. If you did not mark "Other," please mark N/A.08It would be helpful for our future recruiting purposes to know the place where this opportunity first caught your eye, prior to being directed to our own kingcounty.gov website. If you don't mind, we would very much appreciate you providing this information here.Required Question