Program Manager - Safety & Security Certification (7424)

Septa • Philadelphia, PA

34d • $125,762 - $157,196

About The Position

The Program Manager, Safety and Security Certification (SSC), leads and manages SEPTA’s organization-wide SSC program to ensure compliance with federal, state, and agency requirements. The position identifies, assesses, and mitigates safety risks and security vulnerabilities associated with capital projects before they enter service. It provides program management across the full certification lifecycle, from risk assessment through final verification, coordinating SEPTA departments, consultants, contractors, and regulators.

The role has technical responsibility for interpreting, organizing, coordinating, and implementing SEPTA’s SSC Program. It oversees program development and continuous improvement, training, certification deliverables and records, design reviews, committee administration, and regulatory communications and submissions. The position requires knowledge of capital project planning, safety engineering, construction, operations, project management, and design and construction management practices. Duties may be required on a 24/7 basis, and the work schedule may vary.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Safety Management, Operations Management, Emergency Management, Transportation, Business Management, Quality Management, Systems Management, City/Urban Planning, or a related field, with five to seven years of progressive, responsible experience in relevant capital project planning, transportation planning, engineering, transportation project management, and/or transportation safety and security certification; an equivalent education and experience combination may be considered, with one year of formal education equating to two years of work experience.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with professional, supervisory, and management personnel at all organizational levels.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to handle and resolve complex project management, program management, and contract administration problems.
• Experience using computer business applications and systems relevant to the field.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and technical writing skills.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with Transit Safety and Security Certification.
• Capital project management experience.
• Experience in the transportation industry.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Safety Management, City/Urban Planning, or a related discipline.
• USDOT Transportation Institute Transit Safety and Security Program certificate (TSSP-Rail and/or TSSP-Bus).
• Federal Transit Administration Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program certification (PTSCTP).
• Working knowledge of MIL-STD 882E, hazard identification, and mitigation.
• Significant experience in Transit Safety and Security Certification.
• Knowledge of the FTA Safety and Security Certification Handbook.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage implementation and continuous improvement of SEPTA’s Safety and Security Certification Program; maintain the Safety and Security Certification Program Plan and supporting procedures.
• Monitor capital projects and system changes to identify those subject to SSC requirements, and coordinate with capital project, design review, and change review committees.
• Ensure the Safety Risk Management process is appropriately applied to capital projects subject to SSC.
• Manage project assessments to determine SSC applicability and establish certification scope and requirements where applicable.
• Report project progress, certification status, hazards, security risks, open items, and issues requiring management action to the Safety and Security Review Committee.
• Establish and advance project-level committees; coordinate SSC activities with project managers, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee SSC scheduling, documentation, and stakeholder coordination.
• Partner with SEPTA divisions to implement SSC requirements for applicable capital projects in accordance with regulatory and program requirements.
• Ensure safety and security design reviews are performed for projects subject to SSC.
• Oversee development of SSC plans, analyses, lists, checklists, certificates, verification reports, and other program documents and records.
• Ensure hazards, vulnerabilities, and open items are documented, tracked, verified through each project phase, and resolved before a Certificate of Conformance is issued.
• Maintain control, storage, security, and distribution of SSC documentation.
• Oversee development, delivery, and monitoring of SSC training for SEPTA staff and external project stakeholders; identify training needs, instruct when required, and provide technical assistance.
• Coordinate program status, reporting, and deliverable submissions with SEPTA leadership and PennDOT’s State Safety Oversight Agency.
• Serve as primary SSC liaison to the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and PennDOT State Safety Oversight Agency, under the direction of the Sr. Director, Safety Risk Management & Safety Culture.
• Collaborate with System Safety departments to integrate SSC outputs, lessons learned, risks, mitigations, and other information supporting Safety Assurance.
• As directed, support change and configuration management for system modifications not requiring formal SSC, including records, change reviews, and communication with SEPTA divisions.
• Perform other duties as required by the Sr. Director, Safety Risk Management & Safety Culture.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans with little to no employee premiums.
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan and 457B Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Paid parental leave, vacation time, and paid holidays.
• Employee wellness programs and resources.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Free SEPTA Transportation Pass with unlimited access to SEPTA services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager