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Transportation Safety Administrator

King County
Temporary
On-site
Seattle, Washington, United States
$123,947.20 - $157,110.10 USD yearly

Summary





We are only accepting applications from current King County Metro employees who have completed the probationary period in their current Career Service position.

Metro Transit's Safety, Security & Quality Assurance (SSQA) division is seeking an experienced safety professional to join the Operations Safety workgroup in a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) as a Transportation Safety Administrator (TSA). Reporting to the Transit Safety Superintendents, TSAs help support Metro Transit safety functions across multi-modal transportation groups including Bus, Light Rail, Water Taxi, Streetcar, and Contracted Services. TSAs are required to support all modes and functional areas of safety, as determined by business needs.

Our Ideal candidate is detail-oriented with experience in public transportation and a proven history of providing services that ensure passenger and employee safety, mitigation of loss and risk to transit resources, and compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal codes and regulations. 

Operations Safety – The Operations Safety workgroup supports operations through hazard and collision/customer injury investigation, data collection, risk analysis, and employee engagement and oversees the training on policies/procedures for Supervisor- In- Training (SIT) operators, re-reads, Accident Review Boards, rail recertifications, and Superintendent/Chief accident training.

Safety, Security & Quality Assurance Mission: We provide leadership and the highest level of support and customer focus to continuously improve Metro’s safety culture and security practices in order to best protect Metro employees, patrons and the communities we serve from harm.

This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Special Duty Assignment position. This SDA is anticipated to last through December 31st, 2027, with the possibility of extension. In addition, this recruitment selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for any future Special Duty Assignment (SDA) positions that may occur in this classification. The eligibility pool will be retained for up to 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of this work. As a Transportation Safety Administrator (TSA), you will:

  • Develop and administer occupational and transportation/operational safety programs, policies, and procedures.
  • Conduct accident/incident investigations and analysis (including industrial and vehicular); function as lead in accident investigations; perform root cause analysis; conduct re-reads; chair accident review boards.
  • Conduct safety meetings; identify hazards and assist in corrective action development.
  • Perform or oversee safety training.
  • Monitor work sites for health and safety hazards; identify and assist in the development of mitigation for hazards.
  • Make recommendations for changes to maintain a low accident rate.
  • Perform job hazard analysis to determine appropriate personal protective equipment (hearing protection, respirators, etc.) necessary training, and/or procedural changes.
  • Evaluate and make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
  • Participate as a member of various committees involving safety issues.
  • Coordinate information related to accidents/incidents with NTSB, FTA, WSDOT, DOSH, City of Seattle, Sound Transit and/or public information staff.
  • Monitor and ensure organizational activities are conducted in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, rules, and guidelines and industry best practices for safety, including Washington DOSH standards.
  • Utilize Metro's safety data management systems to monitor safety performance to ensure safety mitigations are effective.
  • Write incident investigation reports for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Participate in on-call rotation for Bus, Light Rail and Streetcar incidents.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

We are looking for candidates who meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • Experience as a safety professional in transit, rail, or general transportation safety AND a bachelor's degree, preferably in a related field such as occupational safety, environmental health, industrial hygiene, engineering, or public health OR any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work.
  • Experience coordinating with internal and external stakeholders in order to comply with safety plans, programs and regulatory requirements such as the Agency Safety Plans, and the Accident Prevention Program.
  • Experience writing incident investigation reports for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Experience ensuring the effectiveness of safety programs and policies.
  • Experience supporting Safety Committees.
  • Experience analyzing safety data and compiling reports and presentations.
  • Experience with hazard management.
  • Experience investigating accidents, injuries and incidents, including traffic collision reconstruction, root cause analysis, recommendations for mitigation, and assistance in the development of corrective action plans.
  • Advanced technical knowledge and skill in specialty areas such as industrial hygiene, safety, engineering, ergonomics, fire protection, transportation and safety management systems.
  • Working knowledge of local, state and federal commercial vehicle safety and industrial safety regulations.
  • Ability to coordinate and monitor the work of outside agencies, contractors and vendors to ensure their compliance with established processes, protocols, and policies.
  • Ability to prepare technical reports and analysis.
  • Ability to effectively handle multiple competing priorities.
  • Skill in statistical, operational and trend analysis, and problem-solving. 
  • Skill in working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds and all levels of an organization.
  • Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and team building.
  • Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal and customer service skills.
  • Skill in accomplishing objectives through coordination, facilitation and negotiation; skill in recognizing and dealing with conflict.
  • Advanced Skill in the use of Windows programs such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word.
Highly competitive candidates will have the following desired (but not required) qualifications:
  • Possesses Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP) Certificate and/or Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) Certification.
  • Knowledge of the accepted approaches, protocols and technical investigation of mass transit accidents, injuries and critical incidents, including applying regulatory intent.
  • Strong working knowledge of Safety Management Systems, 49 CFR 673.
  • Strong knowledge of, and experience in, worker exposure monitoring for occupational health hazards.

Supplemental Information

Who may apply: We are only accepting applications from current King County Metro employees who have completed the probationary period in their current Career Service position.

How to apply: If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request an accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have questions, please contact: Talent Advisor Sarah Ottele at sottele@kingcounty.gov.


The following application materials are required:
  1. An online King County application updated with accurate contact information and relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more, if necessary) with all job duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
  2. Completed supplemental questions.
  3. A cover letter no longer than two pages describing how you meet the qualifications for this position, highlighting your experience investigating accidents, injuries, near-miss incidents, preparing incident investigation reports, analyzing safety data, and supporting Safety Committees.

Selection Process: Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet the minimum qualifications, as well as for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Applications submitted without the required application materials may be deemed incomplete and be removed from consideration. The most competitive applicants may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and/or other selection process elements. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as internal record reviews or reference checks, drug and alcohol screening, driver’s abstract review, background check, etc.

Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. Typical work hours are between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Employees may be required to work extended hours, weekend, and holidays. 

Work Location: The work associated with this position will primarily be performed or conducted onsite three to five days a week. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County work site to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

On-Call Requirement: All Transportation Safety Administrators are required to participate in the 24/7/365 on-call rotation. Typical duties include taking calls from control centers, responding to incidents, assisting operations with determining reportability, coordinating after incident evidence collection, and the development of initial notifications.

Union/Job Code/Grade: Professional and Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17 – C4) / 245201 / 68

Necessary Special Requirements:

Driver’s Abstract Review: Applicants must possess a valid driver's license with acceptable five-year driving record (to be verified via a Driver’s Abstract review prior to employment). Any of the following violations in the last five years will automatically disqualify candidates under consideration:
  • Reckless or negligent driving
  • Driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated 
  • Hit and run accident citation
  • Vehicular homicide or vehicular assault 
  • Open container citation
  • More than one at-fault accident (does not include non at-fault accidents) 
  • Any 1 suspension for a moving violation
  • 3 or more moving violations
  • Any license suspension, revocation, cancellation or disqualification based on a traffic or moving violation 
  • License restrictions (such as an ignition interlock device requirement)
  • Any convictions for reckless or negligent driving, hit and run, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, vehicular assault or homicide
  • Any alcohol, drug or test refusal related occurrences
  • Any other driving record incidents or occurrences that provide a reasonable basis to question the applicant's ability to provide safe and public transportation
Employees must possess a Washington State driver’s license within 30 days of hire.

Safety-Sensitive Position: Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post- accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

Background Check Requirement: Where the criminal conviction relates reasonably to the fitness to perform the job duties, Metro Transit has a responsibility to ensure a safe and reliable public transportation system for its passengers and its employees. The following criminal convictions may establish an impermissible nexus with positions that require interaction with the general public and/or, unsupervised access to other employees or the general public and/or, responsibility for the maintenance and safety of Metro Transit property:
  • Crimes of a sexual nature committed against an individual including, but not limited to, rape, child molestation, and unlawful sexual acts.
  • Any crime of a sexual nature that results in inclusion on the national sex offender registry.
  • Crimes involving violent or assaultive behavior including, but not limited to, murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, assault, battery, kidnapping, extortion, carrying or use of a deadly weapon.
  • Crimes involving the physical control, sale, use, transportation of controlled substances, and/or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Note – the nexus of prior misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor convictions related to marijuana should be evaluated carefully in light of SB 5605, Misdemeanor Vacating for Marijuana.
  • Crimes involving dishonesty such as fraud, embezzlement, the mishandling, theft, and/or the misappropriation of funds or property, or possession of stolen property.
  • Crimes involving serious or repeated discrimination or harassment based on race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation (municipal law applies in Seattle).
The above do not constitute a comprehensive list of convictions with a potential nexus to Metro Transit classifications, nor do they automatically disqualify an applicant from further employment consideration. For additional information please refer to: RCW 43.43.830.

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Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention are how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native Americans and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans. 

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.