Senior Rail Safety Officer

San Mateo County Transit District•Millbrae, CA

10d

About The Position

The Senior Rail Safety Officer reports to the Manager, Rail Safety & Compliance and supports safety program oversight for the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain). The role provides senior-level oversight of railroad operations, maintenance, capital projects, construction sites, and rail systems throughout the Caltrain system. It leads site-specific work plan reviews for complex capital projects; conducts inspections, audits, field observations, assessments, and investigations; and supports safety, risk-management, hazard-management, emergency-preparedness, and safety-certification programs. The officer reviews and tracks safety practices and corrective actions involving railroad systems such as dispatching, signals, positive train control (PTC), grade-crossing warning systems, communications, traction power, overhead contact systems (OCS), and related control systems. The position also serves as a technical liaison among District staff, operations and maintenance teams, engineering and capital-project personnel, the contract operator, contractors, consultants, regulators, and emergency-response partners. The role may require responding to service and operational emergencies on or around the active railroad at any time, in varied weather and road conditions.

Requirements

Sufficient experience, training, and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to perform the essential functions; relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
Typically, a bachelor’s degree in business administration, transportation planning, operations analysis, or a related field.
Four years of full-time experience supporting safety-related programs in commuter rail, railroad, transit, construction, occupational safety, or a comparable regulated environment.
Ability to respond to service and operational emergencies on and around the active railroad 24/7 and in a variety of weather and road conditions.
Valid California driver license with a safe driving record, or ability to obtain one within six months of hire.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations, including FRA, CPUC, Cal/OSHA, and DOT standards.
Familiarity with Safety Management System (SMS) frameworks and PTASP requirements.
National Incident Management System (NIMS) or Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP) certification.
Familiarity with railroad systems, including dispatching, signals, PTC, grade-crossing warning systems, communications, traction power, OCS, and related control systems.
Experience with safety certification for rail capital projects or system modifications.
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and safety management or compliance-tracking software.
Some supervisory experience.
Knowledge of the SharePoint Platform.
Effective written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

Lead Site-Specific Work Plan reviews for complex capital projects and conduct construction-site inspections, investigations, corrective-action reviews, and field and construction safety oversight throughout the Caltrain system.
Oversee railroad operations and maintenance safety, including conducting inspections, audits, field observations, and assessments of facilities, stations, and Right of Way work.
Provide safety oversight of railroad systems, including dispatching, signals, PTC, grade-crossing warning systems, communications, traction power, OCS, and related control systems.
Support assigned components of Caltrain’s System Safety Program Plan, System Safety and Security Certification Plan, Passenger Train Emergency Preparedness Plan, and related safety, risk-management, hazard-management, and emergency-preparedness programs.
Provide field and construction safety oversight at the Central Equipment Maintenance Operation Facility (CEMOF), including prioritizing coverage and reviewing safety documentation and corrective actions.
Provide senior-level oversight of accident, near-miss, hazardous-condition, and safety-critical incident investigations, including the investigation process, supporting documentation, contributing-factor evaluations, and corrective and preventive actions.
Prepare routine inspection reports, field observations, Site-Specific Work Plan comments, investigation materials, safety data, and corrective-action records.
Conduct weekly risk assessments and hazard analyses for operational, maintenance, facility, and construction activities.
Review railroad systems safety practices, identify hazards, and track corrective actions for dispatching, signals, PTC, grade crossings, communications, and traction power systems.
Address and escalate safety-critical conditions, recommend corrective measures, and prepare findings and reports.
Coach assistant Rail Safety Officers on inspection methods, hazard recognition, railroad right-of-way safety, documentation, incident response, and escalation procedures.
Analyze safety data and regulatory developments and recommend program, procedure, or training improvements.
Coordinate support for emergency exercises and regulatory audits, and track after-action corrective actions.
Participate in safety meetings and collaborate with District staff to identify and resolve safety-related problems and issues.
Participate in, plan, coordinate, and assist with emergency rail drills and exercises.
Prepare technical findings and recommendations for the Manager, Rail Safety & Regulatory Compliance.
Monitor compliance with FRA, OSHA, and Cal/OSHA requirements for Caltrain and SamTrans construction projects.
Assist with safety improvement programs and safety promotion activities, and promote a positive safety culture.
Perform duties safely to protect oneself, fellow employees, and the public; promote safety awareness and follow procedures intended to reduce or eliminate accidents.
Perform other duties as assigned.