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Senior Director of Safety Risk Management

Job ID:

250606

Location:

MD-Metro Bldg New Carrollton

Full/Part Time:

Full-Time

Posting Open-Close

07/17/2025

-

07/30/2025

Union

NRP

Regular/Temporary:

Regular

Job Description

Marketing Statement** **:

Play a leading role in shaping the future of transit safety. As the Senior Director of Safety Risk Management, you will oversee a critical function within Metro¿s Safety Department, driving proactive identification, evaluation, and mitigation of safety risks across our rail, bus, and paratransit systems. This executive-level position is responsible for implementing and advancing key elements of our Safety Management System, ensuring that safety risk data is translated into meaningful decisions that protect employees, customers, and assets.

The ideal candidate brings a strategic mindset, deep expertise in risk management and regulatory frameworks, and a track record of leading cross-functional teams to deliver measurable safety improvements. You will collaborate with leaders across operations, engineering, and executive management to embed safety into every level of decision-making, helping the organization reduce hazards before incidents occur.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-performing team and build a modern, data-driven safety culture in one of the nation¿s most visible and complex transit systems. If you are a transformational leader passionate about making transportation safer, more resilient, and more accountable, we want you on our team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

+ Bachelors Degree in Transportation, Safety Management, Systems Engineering, Health, Occupational Safety, or a related field

Experience

Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in administration and management of programs and projects related to Safety, Human Factors, and Fatigue Risk Management in transportation industry or comparable operational environment to include minimum five (5) years of senior management and supervisory experience in a safety-related or investigative function.

Certification/Licensure

+ N/A

Preferred

+ Master's Degree in the discipline of Safety, Human Factors, Health, or related human behavioral science is preferred.

+ Prior experience in mass transit, aerospace, or transportation industries or a comparable relevant operational environment is preferred.

+ Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP) certified in both Bus and Rail is preferred.

Medical Group

Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Safety Risk Management is a key member of the Department of Safety leadership team. This role includes a portfolio of responsibilities centered around leading the development and implementation of Metros Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with the Agency Safety Plan (ASP). Specifically, the incumbent is responsible for developing and leading teams focused on advancing the Safety Risk Management component of Metros SMS. Experience crafting safety policy in transit organizations and working across various departments and levels to secure approval is essential. The incumbent is highly skilled in applying Safety Risk Management principles to continuously improve Operational Safety as well as Occupational Safety and Health. The incumbent leads a team in the development of end-user friendly processes; leading implementation through training, coaching, and mentoring; measuring effectiveness with metrics based on key performance indicators; and capturing feedback that is used to drive continuous improvement. The outcome of this leaders efforts is a robust SMS that applies the MIL-STD-882E methodology, prioritizes safety risks, allocates resources against them, measures progress against performance targets, and shapes a culture designed to ensure continuous improvement. The accountability includes orchestrating a wide range of complex projects and commitments with a proven record of delivering results on time and within budget. Specific subject matter expertise should exist in the following areas: Human Factors, MIL-STD-882E, Occupational Safety and Health, Fatigue Risk Management, Just Culture, Project Management and Data Analysis.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

+ Develops, leads, and manages a variety of teams organized around the effort to develop and implement the Safety Risk Management component of SMS. Directly oversees and provides guidance and direction to teams performing Occupational Safety and Health Program Development, Operating Practices, Safety Training, and Safety Risk Management functions.

+ Influences senior leaders throughout operations on strategies to comply with processes, policies, and best practices, improving WMATA¿s safety performance and meeting internal and external risk management expectations.

+ Works with the various lines of business and functions throughout operations to increase consistency by conducting internal benchmarking and sharing best practices regarding Risk Management .

+ Applies subject matter expertise in Human Factors, Fatigue Risk Management, Occupational Safety and Health Programs, Industrial Hygiene, Disease Prevention, Operating Practices, Risk Management and MIL-STD-882E to design and build the mechanics of Metro¿s SMS.

+ Orchestrates a wide range of complex projects and commitments with a proven record of delivering results on time and within budget.

+ Develops and oversees comprehensive reviews and assessments of workplace safety and risk management programs to ensure adherence with FTA, WMSC, OSHA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements.

+ Simplifies the complex by synthesizing data and information from a variety of sources to provide comprehensive status on SMS progress at a glance.

+ Applies the managerial skills needed to adjust plans as lessons are learned and when circumstances require creative solutions to sustain progress while facing adversity.

+ Develops key performance indicators and metrics that measure performance and enable informed decision making.

+ Maintains highly effective, professional relationships with key stakeholders, including but not limited to the Chief Safety Officer, senior management across Metro including the Executive Management Team, and the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.

+ Reviews existing Voluntary Safety Reporting Programs including confidential close call reporting programs to identify opportunities for improvements to WMATA procedures.

+ Demonstrates the verbal and written communication skills necessary to prepare progress reports and present to executive leadership.

+ Reports progress on a regular basis to an executive-level audience to include the Executive Management Team and Executive Safety Committee

The** **functions** **listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

+ Skills and/or behavioral assessment

+ Personal interview

+ Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)

+ Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)

+ Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)

+ Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.