Safety and Training Manager

Safety and Training Manager

Under general supervision by the Assistant Transit Director – Fleet and Facilities, the Safety and Training Manager supervises the day-to-day operations of the safety and training programs for the City of Fargo Transit Department. Incumbents draw upon training, experience and guidelines established by the Department and state and federal transportation agencies to ensure that the department meets all safety and training requirements. Scope of Responsibility: The Safety and Training Manager is responsible for shaping safety and training programs, policies, and strategies. The Safety and Training Manager is also responsible for managing and operation of continuing education programs, including translating newly identified safety solutions and strategies into development programs and practices. This position provides oversight and supervision to Training Specialist. During work hours, the Safety and Training Manager is also responsible for performing general administrative support, investigating, and responding to incidents and accidents, helping to resolve operational issues, and assisting with transit passengers as necessary.

Primary Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Develops and implements proactive strategies, practices, and resource allocation methodologies to ensure safety and security of City customers, employees and, and the general public as they interact with the transit system.
2. Designs and implements change management strategies to engage employees at all levels of the organization to develop and maintain a "safety first" culture.
3. In conjunction with the City of Fargo Safety Manager, ensures that safety system and security practices and protocols are in compliance with federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the requirements of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and all other applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
   1. Schedules and coordinates FTA required random drug and alcohol testing for 80+ safety-sensitive Transit staff, including Bus Operators, Technicians, Road Supervisors and Dispatchers.
4. Applies new business approaches to direct the development, updates, and implementation of comprehensive development programs for technical proficiency, professional development, and to ensure that statutory training requirements are met. Works with other Departments within Transit to ensure their training programs meet statutory compliance training requirements and proper documentation of training is kept.
5. Leads the development, administration, implementation, and integration of system-wide safety, security and training plans, procedures and practices, while addressing complex departmental strategic challenges and recommending new alternatives to general safety practices.
6. Responsible for applying managerial principles and judgement in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating safety and security related plans, risk assessments and loss prevention programs under the direction of the Transit Director.
7. Maintains complete and up-to-date Driver Qualification Files for all safety-sensitive employees, including records of Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL), driving histories, training certifications, and valid Department of Transportation (DOT) medical cards, in conjunction with the City of Fargo Safety Manager, and in full compliance with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements under 49 CFR Parts 40 and 655.
8. Provides direction and guidance to the Training Specialist. Develops and monitors contents of classroom and behind-the-wheel training to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and agency standards. Teaches classes and perform behind-the-wheel training as required. Schedules and conducts recertifications and retraining.
9. Performs and/or coordinates one-on-one driver evaluations at 30-day, 60-day, 90-day, and annual intervals, including assessments of safe driving practices, compliance with transit operating procedures, and wheelchair securement proficiency. Ensures all evaluations are properly documented and that any identified deficiencies are addressed through corrective action plans, coaching, or retraining, in alignment with FTA safety and training requirements.
10. Investigates accidents, incidents, and work-related injuries, including accident investigation, accident reports, accident files, and accident register, and follows up with the claim's office and adjustors as necessary. Determines preventability based on the facts identified at the scene. Provides post-accident counseling to drivers and retraining as necessary.
11. Prepares and submits accident-related compliance forms, maintains files, or otherwise submits data to the appropriate person or organization.
12. Plans, schedules, and conducts monthly safety meetings based on safety training goals and objectives.
13. Serves as the Transit Department Chief Safety Officer as required by the Federal Transit Administration.
14. Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
    1. Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;
    2. Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;
    3. When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
15. Performs other duties and activities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

The Safety and Training Manager must possess an associate's degree in occupational health and safety, organization development, business, public safety management, or other related field, five years of related work experience and/or any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties of this position. Experience in public transit is preferred. This position requires a Commercial Driver's License with Air Brake and Passenger endorsement within 30 days of hire. Training will be provided to individuals who do not have this when hired. Knowledge, skills, and ability include:

• Knowledge of federal, state and local industrial safety and health regulations;
• Knowledge of program development, implementation, management and evaluation practices;
• Skill in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Skill in operating computer terminals sufficient to enter, retrieve and manipulate data;
• Skill in English, both written and spoken;
• Ability to work extended or flexible schedules as needed;
• Ability to pay high attention to detail and deadlines;
• Ability to manage and coordinate the work of professional and technical personnel; select, lead, train, and evaluate staff;
• Ability to interpret and explain DOT safety policies and procedures;
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, and others, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands & Working Conditions: The physical demands listed here are requirements that must be met by the Safety and Training Manager to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential functions include:

• A majority of work is done indoors and in air-conditioned facilities;
• Some work is done outside in varying temperatures, weather, and humidity conditions;
• Ability to frequently stand or walk; ability to sit for up to three hours; walk for long distances and on possibly sloped group and slippery or uneven surfaces; demonstrates normal annual dexterity and hand-eye coordination; ability to lift material weighing 25lbs.; ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crawl and crouch; and demonstrates a normal range of hearing and vision;
• Exposure to heavy traffic areas while performing duties of the job;
• Exposure to various amounts of vehicle fumes and noise.

Light Work: Physical demands are normally those associated with light work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.