Director of Safety, TMOC

WeDriveU•Charlotte, NC

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Bus System Safety provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for the safety performance of TMOC’s fixed-route bus system, including bus operators and passengers, maintenance activities, stations and bus-related facilities. This role is accountable for the development, budgeting, implementation, and continuous improvement of the bus system safety program and for ensuring full implementation of the CATS Agency Safety Plan within TMOC. The Director established safety governance, policies, and performance standards that promote a proactive safety culture that identifies, evaluates and mitigates operational risks. The role ensures that safety management principles are integrated into operational decision-making and that safety performance is continuously monitored through data analysis, investigations, and corrective action processes. The Director oversees accident and safety investigations, recommends disciplinary action when warranted, and implements corrective measures. This position is accountable to ensure alignment with federal, state, and contractual safety requirements and serves as the executive leader for bus system safety performance, risk mitigation, and safety culture development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in safety management, transportation, public administration, occupational safety, engineering, or a related field, and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in transit operations safety, transportation safety, or commercial vehicle safety, including experience leading safety programs or supervising professional staff, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience conducting or overseeing accident investigations and safety reviews within a transportation, transit, or commercial vehicle operating environment.
Experience applying regulatory safety requirements within a transportation or operational environment.
Knowledge of: Fixed-route bus operations and safety practices.
Accident investigation methodologies.
CDL and commercial vehicle safety regulations.
FTA Safety management systems requirements and FTA State Safety Oversight (SSO) regulatory framework and agency safety plan governance requirements.
OSHA workplace safety and recordkeeping regulations, including 29 CFR 1904 and applicable standards under 29 CFR 1910 and 1926.
Transit bus operations, including operational risk factors affecting vehicle operations, maintenance activities, and passenger facilities.
Accident investigation methodologies applicable to commercial vehicle and transit operations.
Safety performance management practices, including safety performance indicators, risk assessment processes, and corrective action tracking.
Labor agreement considerations affecting safety investigations, discipline, and operational safety enforcement.
Safety oversight considerations in contract-operated transit environments.
Skill in: Directing and evaluating safety investigations, including interpretation of investigative findings and determination of appropriate corrective actions.
Analyzing accident trends and performance data.
Developing corrective action plans.
Recommending disciplinary actions based on findings.
Leading safety training initiatives.
Exercising independent judgment in high-risk situations.
Preparing safety reports and executive briefings.
Managing safety staff.
Interpreting regulatory requirements and applying them to operational safety policies and procedures.
Analyzing safety data, performance indicators, and operational trends to identify risk patterns and guide mitigation strategies.
Developing and implementing corrective action plans that address systemic safety risks.
Preparing safety performance reports, regulatory documentation, and executive briefings.
Evaluating operational conditions and identifying potential hazards in field environments.

Nice To Haves

Experience in fixed-route bus safety leadership.
Experience directing or reviewing accident investigations involving commercial vehicles, transit operations, or transportation safety incidents.
Knowledge of transit labor environments.
Certification in safety management or accident investigation.
Experience in a contract-operated transit environment.
Experience implementing or supporting a Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with FTA Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan requirements.
Professional certification in safety management, accident investigation, or occupational safety (e.g., CSP, ASP, TSSP, or equivalent).

Responsibilities

Direct the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of TMOC’s bus system safety program and ensure implementation of the CATS Agency Safety Plan within TMOC operations.
Establish safety policies, procedures, and performance expectations.
Develop, manage, and present the TMOC safety program budget, identifying resource needs to support safety initiatives, compliance activities, and safety improvement programs.
Lead the implementation of the Safety Management System (SMS) for TMOC bus operations in coordination with the CATS Safety and Security Division, ensuring alignment with the Agency Safety Plan and its four pillars: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion.
Maintain and oversee the TMOC formal hazard identification and hazard log process, ensuring hazards are documented, risk-assessed, tracked, and mitigated in accordance with the Agency Safety Plan.
Collaborate with the CATS Safety and Security Division to develop and implement SMS processes, safety risk assessments, and mitigation strategies applicable to bus operations and maintenance activities.
Promote a culture of safety across operations and maintenance.
Provide executive-level leadership on safety strategy and initiatives.
Establish standards for safety training, field safety observation programs, and operational safety monitoring activities conducted by safety staff or operational supervisors.
Ensure alignment of safety practices with contractual and regulatory requirements.
Develop and manage the structure, priorities, and work plans of TMOC’s safety function as the organization grows.
Establish and monitor safety performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of safety programs and operational safety practices.
Maintain accountability for TMOC bus system key safety performance indicators, ensuring corrective actions are implemented to address negative safety trends and operational risk exposure.
Analyze safety data and trends to identify emerging risks and opportunities for system improvement.
Provide regular briefings to executive leadership regarding safety performance, risks, and recommended mitigation strategies.
Lead safety performance review discussions with operational leadership to address accident trends and safety concerns.
Direct initiatives designed to improve safety performance and strengthen TMOC’s overall safety culture.
Promote continuous improvement through data-driven safety management and proactive risk identification.
Prepare and deliver safety performance briefings to TMOC executive leadership and the CATS Safety and Security Division summarizing key safety performance indicators, risk trends, investigation outcomes, and mitigation activities.
Direct and oversee investigations of bus collisions, employee injuries, safety incidents, and hazardous conditions.
Ensure investigations are conducted using established methodologies and identify root causes and contributing factors.
Approve corrective action recommendations.
Recommend disciplinary action based on investigative findings and applicable policy or labor agreements.
Ensure timely documentation, reporting, and closure of safety investigations in accordance with regulatory and agency requirements.
Provide oversight and guidance to Safety Coordinators conducting investigations and field safety reviews.
Ensure investigative findings are translated into operational improvements, policy updates, or targeted training interventions.
Ensure TMOC safety programs comply with applicable federal and state regulatory requirements, including 49 CFR Part 673 (Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans), OSHA recordkeeping requirements under 29 CFR 1904, and applicable workplace safety standards under 29 CFR 1910 and 1926.
Oversee required reporting to regulatory bodies and contracting agencies.
Maintain safety records and documentation.
Support internal and external safety audits, compliance reviews, and oversight activities.
Monitor safety performance metrics and trends to ensure TMOC policies remain aligned with evolving safety standards and regulatory expectations.
Prepare executive level safety reports and briefings summarizing safety performance, compliance status, and emerging risks.
Ensure implementation of operator safety evaluation programs, including ride checks and field safety evaluations of bus operators.
Ensure compliance with CDL and operational safety standards.
Exercise stop-work authority to immediately halt operations, maintenance activities, or work practices that present an imminent safety hazard to employees, passengers, or the public.
Oversee safety training and retraining initiatives addressing operational safety concerns and identified performance gaps.
Promote safe maintenance practices within bus garages and maintenance facilities and address recurring maintenance-related safety risks.
Work collaboratively with Operations and Maintenance leadership to resolve operational safety concerns and implement improvements.
Monitor safe maintenance practices within bus garages.
Address recurring operational safety risks.
Identify systemic safety risks within bus operations and develop mitigation strategies to reduce operational hazards.
Develop corrective action plans in response to safety trends.
Monitor implementation of corrective measures.
Identify systemic safety risks and mitigation strategies.
Analyze performance indicators related to preventable accidents.
Collaborate with Operations leadership to reduce risk exposure and improve safety outcomes.
Ensure lessons learned from investigations and safety review are incorporated in operations practices and safety programs.
Provide strategic safety leadership within the TMOC management structure and advise the CATS Chief Safety and Security Officer on safety strategy, risk mitigation priorities, and system safety initiatives affecting bus operations.
Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, Dispatch, and HR on safety matters.
Participate in labor discussions involving safety-related discipline.
Represent TMOC in safety-related meetings with CATS.
Serve as a safety liaison during emergency response situations.
Provide executive briefings on safety performance.
Support emergency response planning and coordination.
Participate in major incident command support.
Ensure safety staff readiness for emergency response and incident investigation responsibilities.
Review after-action reports and ensure lessons learned are incorporated into safety programs and operational procedures.
Ability to provide executive leadership within a complex operational organization; establish performance expectations and accountability frameworks; and ensure leaders and staff understand their responsibilities for maintaining safe and reliable transit service.
Sets clear expectations for safety, operational discipline, and professional conduct across the organization.
Delegates authority appropriately while maintaining accountability for outcomes.
Encourages operational leaders to take ownership of safety performance within their teams.
Demonstrates consistency, fairness, and transparency when addressing operational or safety concerns.
Ability to understand how operational, regulatory, financial, and organizational factors interact within a large transit system and use that perspective to guide long-term safety strategy and operational decision-making.
Aligns safety priorities with organizational strategy and operational objectives.
Anticipates operational and regulatory risks that could affect service delivery.
Evaluates complex problems from multiple perspectives before determining appropriate actions.
Guides the organization toward sustainable improvements rather than short-term fixes.
Ability to interpret regulatory requirements, operational risks, and safety concerns within a highly regulated public transportation environment and apply sound professional judgment in determining appropriate responses.
Interprets regulatory expectations and translates them into practical operational policies and procedures.
Balances regulatory compliance, operational realities, and risk tolerance when evaluating safety issues.
Identifies potential areas of organizational exposure and ensures appropriate mitigation strategies are considered.
Maintains professional integrity and independence when evaluating safety risks or compliance concerns.
Ability to build productive working relationships with internal departments, labor representatives, regulatory agencies, and external partners in order to advance safety objectives and resolve complex operational issues.
Works constructively with leaders across departments to address operational and safety challenges.
Navigates differing perspectives and competing priorities in a constructive and professional manner.
Builds trust with operational personnel and leadership through consistent and credible engagement.
Encourages open communication and shared problem solving when addressing operational issues.
Ability to evaluate operational data, performance trends, and organizational indicators in order to guide decision-making, assess program effectiveness, and support continuous improvement.
Uses data and trend analysis to understand operational conditions and emerging issues.
Evaluates performance indicators to determine whether operational practices are producing desired results.
Encourages data-informed decision-making among leadership and staff.
Identifies opportunities for operational improvements based on objective analysis and observation.
Ability to communicate complex operational, regulatory, and safety information clearly to diverse audiences and influence decision-making at multiple levels of the organization.
Communicates expectations and organizational priorities clearly and consistently.
Tailors communication style to effectively reach executive leadership, operational staff, and external stakeholders.
Presents complex issues in a manner that supports informed decision-making.
Represents the organization professionally in internal and external forums.