Directs the functions and activities within the Safety Department, which includes Transit System Safety, Occupational & Environmental Safety, Safety Programs & Culture, Construction Safety & Engineering and Safety Analytics & Regulatory Oversight. Leads Authority safety programs and objectives while promoting a culture of system safety among personnel providing the highest degree of workplace safety and safe transportation for the Authority and general riding public.
Qualifications
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provides direction for all departmental services and activities related to transit system safety.
- Plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates the Authority’s Bus and Rail System Safety and Investigations divisions.
- Administers management policies to ensure that employees within the department possess a comprehensive understanding of duties and responsibilities.
- Manages accident investigations and ensures proper accident investigation procedures are followed.
- Reviews and approves accident reports as submitted internally and externally to regulatory agencies.
- Oversees the Authority’s safety program with outside contractors and agencies on all Capital Projects and construction activities.
- Manages safety policies and procedures and evaluates effectiveness of safety programs. Develops methods of optimizing transit safety within the Authority as well as directs the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan mandated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)/Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA). Promotes a culture of the Authority's Safety Management System (SMS) to ensure CTA staff and the general riding public are provided safe transportation service. Responsible for initiating and implementing new safety initiatives and training programs throughout the Authority.
- Plans, directs, and coordinates, through subordinate level staff, strategic and tactical initiatives and department work plans. Assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility. Reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures. Meets with key staff to identify and resolve problems. Leads the formal, top-down, Authority-wide, data-driven approach to managing safety risk and assuring the effectiveness of safety risk mitigations
- Oversees activities to verify adherence to safety measures that are established by regulation and by the Authority’s programs, procedures and requirements. Identifies opportunities to improve the Authority safety programs, procedures, and requirements and collaborates with Authority management to lead safety improvement and injury prevention. Researches and makes recommendations on current trends and equipment related to transit safety to maintain and provide safety to the Authority's customers and employees. Participates and stays apprised of peer activities and benchmarks.
- Serves as subject matter expert for safety planning and reporting matters including acting as liaison for other internal departments as it relates to safety. Acts as subject matter expert regarding system safety topics as they relate to various Authority projects and issues.
- Manages division personnel.
o Hires, trains, develops, monitors, and evaluates staff. Reviews and recommends personnel actions for approval. Facilitates manager hiring and related personnel changes, such as promotions, transfers, discharges, salary adjustments, etc.
o Ensures ongoing professional development for all direct reports, including identifying pertinent training opportunities and encouraging active participation in safety professional societies.
o Evaluates and monitors performance for compliance with policies and procedures.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to this position are the following jobs:
Job Title
CHALLENGES
- Ensuring safety on all CTA-provided transportation in a large, fast-paced metropolitan city.
- Dealing with people who have suffered severe injury/death during accident investigations.
- Dealing with stress due to “24-hour on call” nature of the job.
- Keeping abreast of all CTA operations in connection with safety aspects.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Engineering, Business Administration, or Public Administration, plus ten (10) years of experience in Transit Operations, Transit Infrastructure, or System Safety, or a combination of education and experience relating to this position, plus five (5) years in a supervisory position developing, implementing, and administering workplace and system safety and accident mitigation programs.
- Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) training certifications (TSSP) preferred.
- Must maintain rail safety certification.
- Valid State of Illinois Driver’s License is required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Extensive walking (up to 3 miles at one time, sometimes on rocks and on narrow catwalks).
- Requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time and constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery.
- Climbing (including onto trains and up and down ladders).
- Must wear restrictive personal protective equipment.
Service Area Requirement: Exempt (Non-Union) employees must live within the boundaries of the CTA Statutory Service Area either at the time of employment or within 6 months of beginning employment at CTA.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Detailed knowledge of the application of all Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and regulatory compliance programs.
- Detailed knowledge of state and local fire codes and Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations.
- Detailed knowledge of National Incident Command Systems (NIMS) and emergency preparedness programs.
- Detailed knowledge of System Safety Engineering Practices.
- Detailed knowledge of rail transit operations.
- Detailed knowledge of state and federal codes and regulations and ability to apply knowledge pertaining to system safety operations.
- Working knowledge of accident investigation best practices.
- Working knowledge of transit operations, facilities, vehicles, rules and procedures desired.
- Working knowledge of the procedures and practices in emergency preparedness.
- Working knowledge of loss prevention, safety management, and/or occupational health principles, methods, and techniques.
- Strong in budget planning and administration skills.
- Strong computer and MS Office Suite skills.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Strong leadership, project management, analytical and decision-making abilities.
- Ability to interact with internal/external customers.
- Ability to lead, motivate, build consensus and organize all facets of job responsibilities.
- Ability to work with sensitive information while maintaining strict confidentiality.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other Departments.
- Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate emergency and disaster response plans.
- Ability to anticipate, identify and evaluate hazardous conditions and practices.
- Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate hazard control designs, methods, procedures and programs.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- General office environment.
- Reports to the scene of various security and safety situations
- May be required to travel to various CTA field locations
- Required to carry an agency issued cellular phone.
- Subject to varied weather conditions that include extreme cold, heat, rain, snow, ice, etc., when working outdoors.
- Required to work at extreme heights, near electrified third rail, and in subway tunnels with limited clearance, visibility, etc.
- Required to work various extended or irregular hours in order to meet project deadlines or respond to CTA emergencies.
EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED
- Standard office equipment.
Additional Details
Employees and/or union members will be given priority consideration in the hiring process, per the applicable labor contracts.
Final salary will be determined in part by the qualifications of the selected candidate and may be higher or lower than target.
Applicants, if hired,must comply with CTA's residency ordinance.
CTA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, unfavorable military discharge, disability or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws; except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for our workforce and supporting the communities we serve. CTA will make reasonable accommodations for the known disabilities of otherwise qualified applicants for employment as well as its employees, unless undue hardship would result. If you require an accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact
[email protected] prior to the submission of your application or upon notification of your actual test date. CTA will work with you to determine if an accommodation can be provided.
During the hiring process, CTA's Human Resources department will contact candidates with next steps . Failure to respond to these correspondences in a timely fashion may result in your application being closed out for non-responsiveness.
Please click link below to review the benefits offered at the CTA.
https://www.transitchicago.com/hrbenefits/
Primary Location: USA-Illinois-Chicago
Job: System Safety
Job Posting: Jun 14, 2026, 4:57:30 PM
Position Type: Full-time Permanent (FTP)
