Chief or Director, Transit Safety Officer-North

Employer:

Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)

The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), formerly the Regional Transportation Authority, was created by the Illinois General Assembly and Governor JB Pritzker to make transit across northeastern Illinois work for riders as one regional transit system. NITA is seeking to fill a critical role with the newly formed Chief or Director, Transit Safety Officer position for the Safety & Experience department.

The Chief or Director, Transit Safety Officer, Office of Transit Public Safety & Experience (OTPSE) provides strategic leadership and oversight for NITA’s region wide transit safety system. This senior leadership role reports to the Executive Director and ensures compliance with statutory obligations, establishes regional safety standards, and coordinates interagency partnerships. This role oversees programs that center the experiences and needs of transit riders and communities while also supporting both rider and worker safety.

This position is responsible for advancing a unified regional safety strategy in close collaboration with law enforcement, social service partners, and the Coordinated Safety Response Council.

NITA sets regional fares, service standards, and schedules across the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace; plans and funds regional capital investment; and oversees the performance and finances of the three Service Boards serving riders across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.

As of September 1, 2026, NITA has expanded authority under Public Act 104-0457. People who join NITA now will help build the systems, policies, and partnerships that shape regional transit for years to come.

Accountabilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the development and implementation of a regional transit safety strategy in partnership with the Service Boards (i.e., CTA/Pace/Metra) and Coordinated Safety Response Council.
• Assist with developing NITA’s strategic plan, annual budget, and five-year capital program by ensuring that safety and security priorities are accurately represented.
• Establish and maintain region wide safety standards for NITA and the individual service boards and oversee their consistent implementation and enforcement.
• Develop and oversee a region wide safety technology strategy that identifies operational needs, establishes investment priorities, and promotes interoperability across NITA and the Service Boards.
• Ensure safety standards for the design and maintenance of physical public facilities are maintained to promote safety.
• Develop and maintain accessible, user-friendly channels for transit riders to report safety matters or threats in real time for prompt notification to law enforcement or other appropriate emergency responders.

• Produce all legislatively required reports on rider and worker safety. Develop dashboards and publish public-facing updates on safety trends.
• Lead data collection and analysis to monitor safety performance and trends to guide decision making.

• Collaborate with regional law enforcement agencies, social service providers, and other relevant governmental and nongovernmental entities within the Coordinated Safety Response Council.
• Support and oversee intergovernmental agreements related to safety and crime prevention funding and cross-agency coordination.
• Manage partnerships with agencies specializing in health and human services including, but not limited to homelessness outreach, mental health support, substance abuse, and other rider assistance functions.
• De…