Safety Specialist

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume,

and a completed application.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Rock Region METRO is the public transit system serving central Arkansas, providing more than 2.5 million passenger trips each year. We are looking for a Safety Specialist who is passionate about protecting employees, passengers, and the community while supporting a strong culture of safety across our operations.

Job Summary

The purpose of this position is to support the safety department through conducting investigations, observations, entering accident, incident and hazard information into spreadsheets and programs, analyzing safety data and sharing safety performance and safety hazard information with all levels of METRO management and staff. This is accomplished by understanding, interpreting, and communicating state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, and METRO policies; supporting the planning and implementing new safety programs, supporting the development of processes, and policies and procedures across the agency, providing support to internal programs and policies and safety record keeping, ensuring METRO compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal rules and regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead or support cross-functional projects and initiatives
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to team members
• Coordinate with internal teams, contractors, and external partners
• Support safety reviews and operational improvements
• Handle sensitive situations with professionalism and sound judgment
• Represent the organization in meetings, presentations, and community interactions
  
  

Essential Functions

• Identifies potential safety hazards and assesses risks associated with transit operations; conducts safety rule inspections and observations; coordinates with training staff to correct deficiencies in operator performance and safety; collects and analyzes safety data, including incident reports, customer service reports, accident statistics and safety performance metrics; uses data to analyze trends, assess safety performance, identify root causes and make data-driven decisions; assist department leadership to continuously evaluate and improve safety programs and initiatives based on lessons learned and best practices, and communicates safety information to staff.
• Leads or assists in investigating accidents, incidents, and safety-related concerns to determine root causes and recommend corrective actions; conducts safety training programs for transit staff, including operators, maintenance personnel and administrative staff; retrieves, downloads and reviews vehicle video to assist with investigations; conducts Safety and Health facility inspections to maintain compliance with OSHA regulations
• Maintain METRO compliance with 49 CFR Parts 659/674 (State Safety Oversight Program) and Part 673 (Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan.)
• Achieve and maintain certification under the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Plan (PTSCTP) for Rail within three years of hire.
• Acts as the main liaison between the Safety Department and the METRO Operations and Maintenance personnel, ensuring excellent communications and cooperation on all matters related to risk mitigation, hazard identification and safety compliance.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Business, Environmental Health, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• 3 years of experience in safety, investigations, compliance, or transit operations
• Strong ability to analyze data and identify trends
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across departments
• Ability to handle sensitive situations and difficult interactions professionally
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record
• Ability to obtain a Class B CDL with Passenger endorsement
  
  

KNOWLEDGE

• Safety program development and management.
• Training resources and equipment.
• Principles and practices of employee training and development
• Use of visual delivery media and public speaking in classroom setting.
• DMV commercial testing regulations.
• Customer service, defensive driving, drug and alcohol testing programs, and emergency procedures.
• Local, State, and Federal laws and regulations applicable to public transportation operations.
• Policies, procedures, and functions of METRO.
• Public speaking and presentation techniques and methods
  
  

Skills & Abilities

• Advanced word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database software.
• Specialized software related to functional area.
• Interpret and apply established policies and procedures.
• Effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects and assignments simultaneously.
• Learn METRO’s Transit bus and light rail routes and schedules.
• Prepare written reports and training presentations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Organize information clearly and precisely, and effectively communicate messages to appropriate individuals.
• Learn system processes related to department and job.
• Organize information clearly and precisely.
• Learn agency and departmental operating policies, procedures, systems, methods and tasks.
• Deal with difficult people and situations.
• Ability to read literature, books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in at the college level or above. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.
• Ability to deal with a system of real numbers; and practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in high school up to college. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.
• Ability to write editorials, journals, speeches, manuals, or critiques. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in at the college level or above. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.
  
  

DIRECT REPORTS

None

SALARY

Starting $16.83-$21.63 per hour

Benefits

Eligible for employer paid health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, employer paid life and disability insurance, paid sick, paid vacation, paid holidays, 457(b) deferred compensation.

WHY JOIN METRO?

• Work that directly impacts community safety and service
• Collaborative, mission-driven environment
• Opportunities to grow within a public service organization
  
  

EMPLOYER STATEMENT

METRO is firmly committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and will administer its candidate evaluation and hiring, personnel policies, and conduct employment practices in a manner that results in treatment based upon merit, experience, and other work-related criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

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