System Safety Manager

Basic Function

Responsible for developing, implementing, and supporting the implementation of METRO’s Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Texas Department of Transportation regulations, standards, and guidance, and METRO’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP). Identifies, investigates, and analyzes hazards proactively and reactively through the creation, review, and approval of Preliminary Hazard Analyses (PHAs), Hazard Analyses (HAs), Verification Matrices (VM) and supporting documentation. Responsible for auditing HAs and VMs for appropriateness and effectiveness; evaluates if new hazards exist. Supports active failure investigations and works closely with METRO’s stakeholders to promote safety, quality, and efficiency. Performs duties in a safe, efficient manner and in compliance with applicable rules and safety procedures.

Responsibilities and Specific Duties

• Provides system safety engineering expertise and support for all METRO operations, functions, and projects of which require METRO’s Safety Departments review or approval, and/or auditing/monitoring.
• Assists with the development and successful implementation of SMS at METRO to reduce or eliminate risks. Works with METRO engineers, and other internal or external stakeholders/consultants to ensure METRO safety requirements are met and that project milestones and deliverables are met regarding safety.
• Responsible for system safety, including development and review for approval of: PHAs, HAs, VMs and supporting documentation such as: Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Bowtie models, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and/or others, as applicable. Reviews for approval of other technical/engineering documentation regarding system safety engineering.
• Responsible for hazard tracking, auditing, and reporting; overall system safety status reporting and associated Safety Certificates.
• Provides in-house system safety design reviews, and/or reviews system safety engineering work and project deliverables, in accordance with the contract and applicable system safety standards which are outsourced to engineering consultants or any combination of METRO in-house and/or external resources.
• Conducts in-depth system safety studies to identify, assess and resolve safety hazards that impact employee and customer safety. Studies may be inclusive of behavioral reviews, biomechanical injury analysis, trend analysis, root cause analysis, and origin investigation processes yielding an effective Risk Matrix in the format of Military Standard 882E.
• Performs safety and security certification in conjunction with planning, designing, procurement, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of transit operating systems and facilities.
• Provides direction and feedback to consultants and provides review findings and recommendations to the Director of Safety.
• Helps develop and approve METRO safety processes, procedures, and other governing documents (i.e. PTASP) in collaboration with many stakeholders and promotes adherence to these documents.
• Monitors performance/metrics of assigned projects; meeting schedules and ensure compliance with safety requirements.
• Organizes/chairs or supports meetings with internal or external stakeholders and oversite organizations, as required by the Director, Safety, and provides meeting summary reports/minutes to the Director, Safety.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with associated stakeholders from various municipalities and other government entities, including but not limited to TxDOT, City of Houston, FTA, TxDOT State Safety Oversight.
• Provides excellent customer service to METRO internal and external customers.
• Applies Safety Management System (SMS) methods and principles in daily routine and supports all aspects of the agency’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP).
• Promotes safety awareness and follows safety procedures to reduce or eliminate accidents.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned. 

Pay Range: $107,000 - $146,000

Education Requirement

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Engineering or a related technical field is required.

Years & Experience Required

Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in systems analysis for highly reliable or safety-critical activities including three (3) years implementing, managing, and enforcing System Safety/SMS. Experience in the transit/transportation industry is preferred.

Knowledge & Skills Required

State of Texas Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred. Certified Safety Professional (CSP), WSO – CSM, CSS, CHMT I or II, or RSD preferred. Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute preferred. A valid Class “C” Texas Driver’s license is required for the job and must meet METRO’s motor vehicle records requirements. Strong communications (written/verbal) skills are required. Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite.

Comprehensive experience and expertise related to the following is required:
• System Safety Analysis (creating, developing and reviewing detailed PHA’s, HA’s and VM’s, and supporting FMEA’s, FMECA’s, bowtie’s and/or FTA’s; MIL-STD-882 or equivalent; hazard, tracking, auditing and reporting)
• Familiarity with the following preferred:
• Rail Systems (AREMA C&S Manual, AREMA Manual of Railway Engineering, and/or other systems’ railway standards)
• Control Systems/Industrial Automation: knowledge of the principles of design for vital and fail-safe systems

Additional Information

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas has a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy for all employees. All internal and external applicants will be required to undergo drug testing before employment and will be subject to further drug and/or alcohol testing throughout their employment.

Further, employees who perform safety-sensitive functions will submit to drug and/or alcohol testing in accordance to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulatory requirements.

We provide equal opportunity to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, genetic information or disability.