Chief Safety Officer

*This position is eligible for telework which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

SUMMARY:

Reporting directly to the Chair of the MTA, the incumbent will have oversight and advisory responsibility for safety policies and strategy and assessing Agency safety performance. The incumbent will assist and guide the agencies in their continuing development of consistent agency-wide, best practice safety strategies designed to support and enhance a world-class safety culture and establish the safest possible environment for our customers and our employees across the MTA and its agencies. In addition, this position provides guidance to the Chair, MTAHQ and the MTA agencies and coordinates with the agencies on the development and implementation of emergency plans and procedures primarily related to natural hazard emergencies, but also to non-terrorist activities such as strikes, business continuity, organizational resilience, and public health emergencies in order to maintain maximum appropriate service with minimal disruption and ensure employee and customer safety.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the Chair ‘s senior adviser on issues related to safety, public health, and emergency management, and, in conjunction with the agency presidents, provide accurate and current information to the Chair on safety, public health, and emergency management. and environmental compliance
• Provide strategic direction on all MTA-wide issues and monitors the ongoing activities of the departments of MTA agencies to ensure coordination and consistency of safety, public health, emergency management, and environmental compliance activities within the MTA system.
• Provide direction and assist agencies with continuing to institute and refine performance-changing measures and techniques that foster the critical vision, values and behaviors essential to effecting best safety practices and a positive safety culture change in which all employees instinctively choose to avoid at-risk behavior.
• In conjunction with the agency senior safety staff, develop and disseminate a consistent and compelling agency-wide safety message that demonstrates and furthers top-level commitment to safety as a core value.
• Identify priority safety-related areas that may require attention and develop a strategy for addressing those areas and periodically update the list of priority areas as necessary.
• Work with agency presidents’ senior safety staff to ensure that the agencies are implementing recommendations resulting from industry peer reviews or external or internal investigations.
• Working with the agency presidents and senior safety staff to ensure that a framework to oversee third party contractor safety is in place and is continually refreshed and refined through regular feedback and lessons learned.
• Act as chair of an all-agency Safety Council, consisting of the senior safety official at each of the MTA agencies, to ensure the sharing of information among the MTA agencies regarding agency practices and ongoing safety issues.
• Working with the agencies and with Policy & External Relations staff, ensure that the agencies file timely and appropriate comments in response to any safety or emergency management related requests for public comment issued by any state or federal oversight agency; assist government relations staff in reviewing or drafting safety and emergency management related state or federal legislation, in consultation with agencies and the Policy & External Relations staff.
• Direct and oversee the strategy, development and implementation of MTA’s emergency management program and coordinate with agencies on development of-agency emergency management programs, including best practices.
• Ensure the development and implementation of comprehensive and effective emergency response plans and applicable metrics.
• Ensure all agency emergency lessons learned, and best practices are communicated with the goal of interagency learning and enhancing agency performance.
• Develop and maintain relationships with senior staff of partner agencies. Represent MTA as needed at meetings and exercises at federal, state, regional, private sector, and local offices of emergency management and agencies.
• Inform and advise the Chair with regard to emergency preparedness and activation activities. Direct and oversee the facilitation and sharing of critical emergency information among the Office of the Chair, their direct reports, and the agency presidents regarding emergency planning, response, and recovery during emergencies (or the threat of emergencies).
• Conduct research and compile information necessary to serve as a resource on industry best practices and new innovative safety and emergency management concepts; work with agency safety and emergency management staff to implement best practices and new and emergency management safety concepts and to identify and procure educational and other resources in support of the agencies’ overall safety and emergency management programs and initiatives.
• Serve as a resource to the Board on safety and emergency management issues.
• In coordination with agency presidents and their safety management and emergency management staff, report as necessary to the Board regarding ongoing safety and emergency management initiatives and efforts to promote best practices, preparedness and a strong safety culture at the MTA agencies.
• Ensures MTA and agency compliance with federal, state, and local environmental standards. Advances environmental compliance and sustainability initiatives associated with operations, facilities, and construction; Develops, trains, and manages environmental response and mitigation to incidents (fuel spills, water contamination, noise, etc.); Supports Risk Management to identify and mitigate legacy issues.
• Lead point of contact with NTSB, FTA, FRA, and all federal and state regulatory agencies during investigation of any safety incidents.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Must be knowledgeable in the areas of environmental, fire safety, Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Emergency Management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with all internal levels within a given organization, including the MTA Board.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact well with external agencies. External agencies may include the Governor’s Office for New York State, New York City government, elected and other public officials, as well as any staff located at other federal or state agencies or authorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a high-profile, high-pressure environment effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Must have strong leadership and managerial skills to effectively direct a staff of professional and technical employees in implementing the short- and long-term goals and direction of the functional group.
• Demonstrated ability to complete short- and long-term projects effectively and as efficiently as possible.
• Demonstrated analytical capabilities and quantitative skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or comparable applications, i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, or a related field from an accredited college.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in the management, administration, planning and oversight of system safety, preferably in a transportation environment.
• Must have had experience with managing a large staff within a complex legal and political environment, including at least 7 years in a group and/or department head role in a large, multi-faceted, fast-paced organization or governmental body preferred.

PREFERRED:

• An advanced degree in safety, engineering, physical or social sciences, public administration or a related field from an accredited university
• A working knowledge and understanding of the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Railroad Administration regulations; environmental regulations; MIL STD 882c; NFPA 130; and OSHA 1910 and 1926.
• Familiarity with the MTA’s policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with the MTA’s collective bargaining procedures.

GENERAL:

• Must be available to work at all hours (24/7) on an as-needed basis to respond to safety and emergency needs as they arise.
• Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites

OTHER INFORMATION:

Pursuant to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”).

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.