Director of Risk, Safety and Training

Position Summary:

Capital Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking an experienced and practical Director of Risk, Safety and Training to lead the agency’s safety, claims/risk coordination, and frontline training functions. This position is responsible for helping protect employees, passengers, vehicles, facilities, and the organization through strong safety leadership, accident prevention, regulatory compliance, workers’ compensation and claims coordination, and effective training for operations and maintenance employees.

This role oversees CATS’ safety programs, accident and incident review processes, workers’ compensation coordination, liability and insurance claims coordination, regulatory safety compliance, emergency preparedness planning, and training programs for bus operators and maintenance employees. The Director works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Human Resources, Finance, and executive leadership to strengthen safety performance, reduce organizational risk, and support reliable transit service.

Essential Functions:

Safety and Compliance:

• Lead the agency’s system safety and operational risk management efforts for transit operations and maintenance.

• Maintain and support implementation of the agency’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) and Safety Management System (SMS).

• Develop, update, and implement safety policies, procedures, and programs designed to reduce accidents, injuries, and unsafe conditions.

• Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements related to transit safety, CDL and safety-sensitive training, accident reporting, and workplace safety.

• Coordinate safety audits, inspections, corrective action plans, and follow-up activities.

 

Risk, Claims, and Workers’ Compensation Coordination:

• •          Oversee accident, incident, and injury reporting and investigation processes.

• Coordinate investigations involving vehicle accidents, employee injuries, passenger incidents, and property damage.

• Track corrective actions and recommend strategies to reduce repeat incidents and claims exposure.

• Coordinate workers’ compensation claims and return-to-work processes in partnership with Human Resources.

• Coordinate liability, vehicle, and other operational claims with insurance carriers, adjusters, brokers, and legal counsel, as assigned.

• Monitor claims, injuries, and loss trends and prepare reports and recommendations for leadership.

 

Training – Operations and Maintenance:

• •         Direct and oversee training programs for bus operators, maintenance employees, and other designated safety-sensitive operational staff.

• Oversee new operator training, refresher training, remedial training, accident prevention training, defensive driving, ADA and securement-related training, and other required operational safety training.

• Oversee maintenance-related safety and compliance training in coordination with maintenance leadership.

• Support CDL-related training requirements, operator readiness, and training documentation.

• Ensure required training records are maintained and available for compliance, audit, and operational purposes.

 

Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response:

• Support emergency response planning, severe weather preparation, and business continuity efforts related to transit operations.

• Participate in major incident response and post-incident review.

• Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, Human Resources, and executive leadership during serious accidents, employee injuries, and service disruptions.

Leadership and Administration:

• Supervise staff assigned to the Safety, Risk and Training functions.

• Prepare reports, dashboards, and recommendations related to accidents, claims, training completion and safety performance.

• Assist with departmental budgeting, vendor oversight, and procurement related to safety and training programs.

• Build effective working relationships with regulators, outside partners, insurers, and internal departments

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Risk Management, Transportation, Business, Public Administration, Occupational Safety, Emergency Management, or a related field.

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in safety, risk management, claims, training, transit operations, maintenance, regulatory compliance, or a closely related field.

• Three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.

• Experience conducting or overseeing accident, incident, injury, or claims reviews.

• Experience developing, coordinating, or delivering training in an operational, transportation, industrial, or safety-sensitive environment.

• Strong working knowledge of workplace safety, accident prevention, investigations, and regulatory compliance.

• Strong written, verbal, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in public transit, transportation, logistics, fleet operations, or another highly regulated operating environment.

• Experience with PTASP, SMS, DOT, FTA, FMCSA, OSHA, ADA, workers’ compensation, or safety-sensitive training requirements.

• Experience working in a unionized environment.

• Experience overseeing or coordinating operator and maintenance training.

• Professional certifications such as CSP, ASP, ARM, CRM, or similar credentials are preferred but not required.