Accident Investigator

Description

ABOUT THE AGENCY

MTA Metro-North Railroad is a dynamic organization, operating out of the jewel of New York City, Grand Central Terminal. We provide service to over 86.5 million customers, traveling in and out of New York and Connecticut. A subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North Railroad is one of the busiest commuter railroads in the nation. MTA Metro-North Railroad strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities   for   its employees.

Metro-North Railroad reserves the right to remove this posting before the Application Deadline.

JOB SUMMARY

This role is responsible for conducting systemwide incident investigations and conformance audits to identify root causes, hazards, and corrective actions that enhance employee, customer, and operational safety. Collaborate with operating departments and regulatory agencies, lead interdepartmental investigation committees, and ensure timely implementation of corrective measures. Analyze trends, prepare reports for senior leadership, oversee safety-related recordkeeping, and mentor field safety staff. Develop and manage programs aimed at reducing incidents and strengthening overall safety performance.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Investigate operational incidents in accordance with MNR policy, including, but not limited to, employee and customer fatalities, derailments, collisions, fires, near misses, and other unusual events involving MNR, contractor, and/or tenant railroad equipment, customers, personnel and/or property.
  • Respond on-site 24/7 as assigned to secure and analyze incident scenes in coordination with operating departments. Conduct witness interviews, collect and examine evidence, and perform all required investigative actions. Manage chain-of-custody processes and coordinate outside experts or contractors when needed .
  • Provide timely notifications to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Public Transportation Safety Board (PTSB), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Occupational Safety and Health Administration  (OSHA) and other required agencies and ensure accurate recordkeeping and reporting in collaboration with other Office of System Safety (OSS) teams to maintain compliance with all regulatory and MTA/MNR requirements.
  • Lead interdepartmental investigation committees to identify root causes, contributing factors, and corrective actions that reduce the likelihood of future incidents. Provide timely updates to operations staff throughout the investigation.
  • Coordinate detailed incident reviews with relevant departments, share key findings, and distribute resulting action items.
  • Prepare and present comprehensive accident/incident investigation reports addressing root causes, contributing factors, and corrective actions to executive and senior staff as required. Serve as an expert witness as required.
  • Lead/mentor MNR OSS Field Safety, Compliance, and/or other staff supporting/participating in investigations.  
• Develop, monitor, and support corrective actions and other programs, policies, and initiatives to enhance the safety of customers, employees, and overall operations.
  • Develop safety corrective actions/improvements, including policies, procedures, training, technologies, and partnerships, to address findings from investigations, audits, inspections, safety concerns, data trends, and other initiatives. Maintain a log of pending actions with Investigators and OSS staff, track progress, follow up to ensure implementation, evaluate effectiveness, and recommend changes as needed.
  • Direct and/or participate in conformance audits to ensure systemwide compliance with safety regulations, policies, procedures, Operating Rules, and training requirements, including verification of corrective action implementation.
  • Represent the Office of System Safety on the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) Peer Review Team, reviewing eligible cases, identifying causes, highlighting trends, and preparing corrective actions for senior staff consideration and implementation.
  • Monitor progress of safety-related recommendations provided by external agencies such as the FRA, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and NTSB; provide status updates; and represent MNR at PTSB Board Meetings and interactions with PTSB staff as required.
  • Collaborate with OSS teams and MNR operating departments to establish the framework and priorities for departmental Safety Action Plans based on analysis of departmental and agencywide data trends.
• Conduct audits, inspections, and data analyses in collaboration with other MNR OSS staff to identify and monitor safety trends. Monitor MNR accident and injury reports, safety concerns, and safety challenges; take the lead on addressing issues as required. Participate in customer and community safety outreach events. Support departments in planning and conducting employee safety outreach including Safety Focus events, stand-downs, and the like.
• Maintain operations and professional qualifications, safety certifications, and other continuing education requirements; remain current with state-of-the-art investigation methods, techniques, and technology.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies   with all policies and standards
• May be required to work hours outside regular work hours, as applicable
• Observes the work performed by contractors, as applicable
• Reviews invoices and   approves   them if the work has contractual standards, as applicable
• Addresses performance issues with the contractor when possible, as applicable
• Escalates issues to other parties when needed, as applicable
   

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Required:

• Demonstrated understanding of rail industry, equipment, technical standards, operations and organization; demonstrated understanding of these factors for another complex operating/industrial environment may be considered.
• Strong crisis management skills with the ability to react effectively to   emergency   and other stressful situations.
• Knowledge and ability to review incidents and develop corresponding root causes, contributing factors, and corrective a