SENIOR DIRECTOR, SAFETY CERTIFICATION & OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT (INDUSTRIAL HYGIEN

Overview

Provides direction, guidance, and support to Metro's health and safety programs, verifies safety readiness of major projects, and focuses on safety priorities on operating lines, as required by regulatory agencies such as Federal Transit Administration (FTA), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

The Senior Director will provide direction, guidance, and support to Metro's Industrial Hygiene Safety group and will manage and oversee health and safety programs as required by regulatory agencies such as OSHA, AQMD, and other applicable agencies.

Recruitment Timelines

Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of April 6, 2026 . These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

Responsibilities

• Directs, manages, and oversees the activities of Metro's Fire/Life Safety (FLS) Program for all operating rail and bus lines and capital/construction projects to ensure the safety of employees, passengers, contractors, and the public; manages staff to implement required safety functions on capital projects
• Serves as chair of Metro's Fire/Life Safety Committee and Joint Power Authority on Rail capital projects to ensure oversight and coordination of safety issues and readiness for a Certificate of Occupancy
• Identifies operational fire/life and system security issues and resolutions
• Ensures Metro's compliance to Fire/Life Safety Design Criteria, National Fire Protection Association standards, and other similar regulations
• Performs Design Reviews of engineering package and contractor submittals for code compliance and safety issues
• Oversees and manages the work of Fire Services Representative(s) assigned to Metro to coordinate fire/life safety issues
• Coordinates review and approval with Fire Services of fire/life safety Requests for Special Consideration
• Performs field inspections and witnesses tests to resolve outstanding fire/life and systems safety concerns
• Serves as principal liaison between project personnel and outside agencies, including fire departments, CPUC, APTA (American Public Transportation Association), etc.
• Coordinates emergency training drills with Fire Services
• Develops, maintains, enforces, and oversees the Safety Certification Program Plan on all Metro rail and applicable bus projects to ensure regulatory compliance
• Oversees operational system safety and certification on rail capital projects managed by Joint Powers Authority
• Manages the safety certification program to comply with CPUC general orders
• Manages consultants and contractors on projects to ensure safety requirements are met in finished projects
• Reviews, approves, and audits criteria conformance checklists prepared by consultants
• Reviews conformance certificates for contract design checklists
• Reviews safety requirements for construction conformance checklists
• Monitors safety certification training and testing requirements
• Supports integrated testing and oversees testing safety certifications
• Serves on project Change Control Board
• Plans, develops, and implements incident response protocols and activities
• Serves as Metro's representative to local, state, and federal agencies and other outside organizations, including participating on industry committees for safety and chairing task forces to coordinate efforts in planning, developing, and implementing operational procedures on response protocols to potential terrorist attacks, pandemic or avian flu outbreaks, and other disasters
• Directs and oversees Metro's Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Programs
• Ensures compliance to applicable regulatory standards imposed by OSHA, AQMD, and Fire Departments
• Supports Rail Activation/Start-Up team in safety certification, fire/life safety, and emergency response activities
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Safety, Engineering, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Five years of relevant management-level experience in transit system safety, facility engineering, safety certification, transit operations, or fire/life safety

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Completion of training courses provided by California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI), National Transit Institute (NTI), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience overseeing regulatory compliance with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and local fire and health departments, including hazardous materials compliance and response to regulatory investigations
• Experience leading investigations of industrial hygiene, safety, and environmental hazards—including asbestos, lead, mold, noise, and drinking water—ensuring regulatory compliance
• Experience conducting industrial hygiene, safety, and environmental investigations, delivering findings and actionable recommendations to executive leadership to guide strategic decisions and ensure compliance

Knowledge of

• Theories, principles, practices, and procedures of rail transit safety, engineering, design, and construction
• Applicable local, state, and federal, laws, rules, regulations, and standards governing rail transportation policies, fire/life safety, and occupational health and safety, including California Public Utilities Commission Codes and General Orders
• Transit operations and system design
• Rail systems design and operations
• Fire prevention and detection design criteria
• Emergency response
• Safety certification concepts and procedures
• Modern management theory

Skill in

• Managing and overseeing the operations and implementation of fire/life safety programs
• Determining strategies to achieve goals
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees and outside representatives
• Supervising, training, and motivating assigned staff
• Conducting meetings

Ability to

• Grasp overall perspective of issues as they arise and identify the most appropriate course of action
• Work well with others, including various agencies and contractors
• Lead others
• Multi-task
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
• Work on elevated surfaces or below ground level

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Standing
• Walking (distance 5' to 100')
• Communicating through speech in the English language required

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