Senior Director - Safety, Security & Sustainability - Community Transit

Overview

Are you a dynamic and engaged senior leader looking to join an expanding public agency? Community Transit in Everett, WA is searching nationwide for a Senior Director of Safety, Security & Sustainability. This individual will play a crucial role in helping Community Transit achieve its top priorities, including attracting and retaining riders, strengthening employee experience, and prioritizing sustainability.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior Director of Safety, Security, & Sustainability will be instrumental in directing our growing Operations department. This involves leading the agency's security and emergency management, environmental health, safety, and sustainability programs.

The ideal candidate should possess robust collaboration and people management skills, along with a demonstrated interest and experience in change management. These skills will be utilized to ensure success and compliance within their portfolio, aligning with the agency's established priorities. If this opportunity aligns with your capabilities, we'd love to chat!

About Community Transit: Community Transit is a rapidly growing public transit agency proactively looking to the future as it innovates and transforms to meet the community's diverse transit service needs. With over 40 years of service, the agency covers more than 20 communities in Snohomish County through fixed-route bus service, DART paratransit service, Swift bus rapid transit (BRT) lines, Vanpool program, and various innovative services.

Key initiatives in our six-year Transit Development Plan include: Reimagining service to connect to light rail in Snohomish County,  expanding our  Swift bus-rapid transit network, investing in innovative services, conducting a Zero Emissions fleet feasibility study, and launching a new Transit Security Officer program.

With approximately 800 employees and ongoing growth, our agency is currently undergoing exciting changes. During this period of transformation, we value and celebrate the diversity and unique perspectives each employee brings to the team.

Living in the Pacific Northwest: Community Transit is headquartered in beautiful Snohomish County, WA, just 40 minutes north of downtown Seattle. Nestled between the Puget Sound and the North Cascade mountains, Western Washington offers a plethora of highlights, including outdoor recreation, a mild climate, vibrant art and food scenes, and friendly communities.

Essential Duties

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead the agency’s security and emergency management, environmental health, safety, and sustainability programs. In accordance with Federal Transit Association requirements, you will have direct access to the CEO for safety matters.

Responsible for overall agency risk management, collaborating across the agency to identify and assess potential risks; develop strategies, policies, and procedures to mitigate and manage risk; and take advantage of opportunities as they arise.

• Advise the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer, and Board of Directors on safety and security.  Recommend courses of action impacting safety, security, emergency management, environmental safety, and sustainability programs.  Provide expertise and recommendations on technically complex issues or policies. 
• Have direct involvement with and provide briefings on sensitive information regarding agency policy decisions, criminal and internal investigations, legal matters, and threats to the agency.
• Develop performance standards, expectations and KPIs for the managers of all programs within span of control.  Evaluate performance and adjust as needed to ensure agency goals are met.
• Ensure strong cross-functional collaboration between team members and other agency representatives to ensure that safety, security, and sustainability are fully and transparently integrated with all appropriate agency functions and employees.
• Direct development of department budget, including programs, projects, and contracts, totaling over $11 million.  Prepare the annual budget for the department and supervise its implementation and maintenance.
• Maintain external partnerships for areas of responsibility including contractual relationships.

SAFETY

• Serve as the agency’s Chief Safety Officer/SMS Executive as recognized by the Federal Transit Administration with the authority and day-to-day responsibility for the direction and implementation of the Agency Safety Plan (ASP) using a Safety Management System (SMS) framework. 
• Provide direction and oversight of all agency safety programs, ensuring compliance at the federal, state, and local level to meet regulatory requirements.
• Using change management strategies, engage employees at all levels of the agency to develop and maintain a “safety first” culture. 
• Develop and recommend plans and procedures in support of safety policy to the Executive Leadership Team. 
• Serve as the safety liaison to external agencies.
• Oversee agency response to accidents.  Review investigation reports and other loss reports/claims, recommending corrective action as needed.  Coordinate with general counsel, insurance agencies, attorneys, claims administrators and others regarding claims, litigation, and other legal and contractual matters.
• Approve changes and updates to the agency accident policy to ensure legal compliance. 
• Responsible for the Accident Review Committee and National Safety Council appeals.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

• Provide guidance, advice, and direction to the Manager of Security and Emergency Management on development and implementation of the agency’s Security and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP), Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Multi-Year Training and Exercising Plan (TEP). 
• Accountable for the work of the agency’s Incident Commander / Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Manager during activations of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).  In this capacity, make rapid decisions that have impacts across the entire agency and involve significant risk / liability. 
• Maintain knowledge of best practices in emergency management, including current FEMA recommendations and training.

SECURITY

• Provide oversight and accountability for achieving agency goals for Transit Security Officers and the Snohomish County Sherriff’s Office Transit Police program. 

SUSTAINABILITY

• Provide guidance, advice, and direction for the agency’s sustainability program, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations at the federal, state, and local level. 
• Advise and make recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team and CEO in support of environmental regulations and the agency’s sustainability plan.
• Collaborate across the agency to facilitate support and compliance.

Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Business Management, Risk Management, Safety, Security, or a related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in safety, security, emergency management, risk management, or environmental compliance.
• Seven years of professional level experience in program management.
• Seven years of experience organizing, presenting, facilitating, and negotiating with diverse stakeholders and user groups.
• Seven years of experience in employee supervision.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license on or before hire date.

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job listed above may be considered.

Knowledge Requirements

• Effective management principles and techniques, including leading organizational change
• OSHA and WISHA Regulations, Loss Control, and Industrial Safety guidelines.
• General motor vehicle liability claims management.
• Management of confidential records and Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
• Union relations and contract administration.
• Principles of supervising staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; staff training; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary decisions.
• Strategic development principles and procedures.
• Project management principles, including change management principles.
• Budget principles.
• Crime prevention through environmental design.

Skill Requirements

• Fostering an inclusive workplace by valuing and leveraging diversity, equity, and inclusion to uphold Community Transit’s Core Values and achieve the organization’s vision and mission. Inspiring and fostering team commitment, pride, and trust. Facilitating cooperation and motivating team members to accomplish group goals while treating others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect.
• Leading organizational change.
• Leading in development of continual improvement strategies to promote efficient and effective work processes.
• Exhibiting a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism with demonstrated ability to maintain sensitive security information.
• Serving as an effective member of teams and working groups that can successfully communicate program areas and related concepts to a broad range of technical and non-technical staff.
• Research of documentation, law, rules, specifications, and other relevant technical matters.
• Investigation, writing, developing plans and policies.

• Excellent interpersonal skills for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, contractors, unions, and regional partners.

• Effective oral, written and computer-based communication in English
• Executive and Board level presentations.
• Use of personal computer and software applications.
• Decision making and problem solving.
• Analyzing, developing, and implementing policies and procedures.
• Supervision, direction, evaluation, and motivation of employees.

Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• Certifications in Safety, Security, Emergency Management or Environmental Compliance.
• Transit Safety and Security Program certificate from Transit Safety Institute United States Department of Transportation.
• Public transit, public agency, or regulated private industry experience.
• Experience with Federal Transit Administration regulations.
• Claims management databases, Origami.
• In depth knowledge of Federal Transit Administration regulations.
• Security and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP).
• Preliminary Hazard Assessment.
• Threat and Vulnerability Assessment.
• Successful completion of FEMA ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 courses.
• Ability to obtain Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) clearance within 90 days of hire.
• Ability to obtain the Washington State Fusion Center clearance within 90 days of hire.
• Contract negotiations.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, in varying weather conditions, including inclement weather.  You may be exposed to automotive fumes, odors, dusts, and may need to complete tasks in noisy environments.  You will be required to lift, push, or pull up to 20 pounds occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently. 

Application and Selection Process

• Only on-line applications accepted.  
• Applicants for this job may be considered for other openings up to six months after the date this position is filled.
• Applicants who meet the minimum requirements may be scheduled for an interview as well as a variety of tests to demonstrate knowledge, and skills for the position.  The evaluation process may include interviews, background check, reference checks and various performance tests. 

Employee Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are covered by medical, dental, vision, basic life and disability insurance.
• Employees participate in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and have the option to enroll in the agency’s deferred compensation plan.
• In addition to WA Paid Sick Leave, employees in this position, accrue of 24 days of Paid Time off (192 hours) in their first year and ten (10) paid holidays throughout the calendar year.
• Full list of all benefits and details can be found here.

If you are related to, or share the same living quarters of a current Community Transit employee, please let your Human Resources Recruiter know as your eligibility for this position may be affected.

Employees (and their families) are covered by medical, dental, vision, basic life and disability insurance. Employees participate in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and have the option to enroll in the agency’s deferred compensation plan. In addition to WA Paid Sick Leave, employees in this position, accrue 24 days of Paid Time off (192 hours) in their first year and ten (10) paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Full list of all benefits and details can be found here. 

Community Transit provides a tobacco-free and drug-free work environment.  As a recipient of federal funds, Community Transit is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on a basis prohibited by Federal, State or Local law.  We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.  EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, protected veteran status or disability.