Safety Operations Program Specialist

Overview

Are you interested in meaningful work that allows you to apply your rail or industrial experience while benefiting rail transit riders in the Washington Metropolitan Area? This specialist position requires a professional with at least 5 years of experience in a rail or similar industrial environment, with independent safety judgment, and the ability to identify hazards.

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) is the designated state safety oversight agency responsible for overseeing the safety of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail system, which operates rail transit in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The WMSC safety oversight program complies with the WMSC Compact, federal law, and other applicable safety standards.

This Safety Operations Program Specialist position is part of the WMSC Safety Operations team, which is supervised by the Safety Operations Program Manager and includes other rail specialists. The Safety Operations team conducts regular oversight activities of Metrorail through field observations, document and data reviews, and regular meetings with Metrorail. This position contributes to the overall safety of the Metrorail system primarily by assisting each of the WMSC’s oversight programs (Audits, Corrective Action Plans, Inspections, Investigations, and Safety Certification Oversight).

This position will collaborate and establish working relationships with internal WMSC personnel, WMSC contractors, and WMATA personnel.

The Safety Operations Program Specialist conducts inspections of Metrorail facilities, infrastructure, assets, and personnel. It collaborates across rail disciplines, including with operations experts, training experts, investigations experts, signals experts, program managers and executive managers to ensure system-wide safety.

• Evaluate safety concerns related to rail vehicles, track, structures, high-voltage electrical systems, and other functional areas that exist on the WMATA Rail System.
• Write, edit, and present technical reports, communications and presentations, safety assessments, and recommendations for various audiences.
• Perform on-site inspections of rail vehicles, maintenance facilities, rail maintenance machines, elevators and escalators, traction power, track infrastructure, and targeted training programs.
• Review and analyze relevant policies, program documents, training curricula and workbooks, records and forms, and similar documents and materials—written and electronic.
• Devise and implement methods to collect data that facilitate short-term and long-term tracking and analysis related to inspections and observations of the WMATA rail system.
• Support other WMSC oversight activities as needed, which include, but are not limited to, Audits, Corrective Action Plans, Inspections, Investigations, and Safety Certification Oversight.
• Coordinate with multiple internal teams, and external agencies including WMATA departments and local, state, and federal stakeholders.
• Exercise focus, discipline, organization, and close attention to detail for all tasks.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible work experience and understanding of rail transit systems, heavy infrastructure, transportation systems, or other industrial-type safety‑critical environments.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards.
• Writing on technical or other matters.
• Preferred:
  Knowledge or work experience with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) or Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-regulated entities. Knowledge or work experience evaluating technical aspects of safety programs to ensure effective application of rules, standards, or instructions.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is preferred. However, professional experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirements.

This position currently is primarily remote; however, given the nature of…