Accident Investigator

Accident Investigator

Job Title: Accident Investigator - Department: Safety

MTA Agency: Metro-North Railroad - Primary Location(s): New York, NY

Salary Range: $94,665-$121,791.32 - Regulated/Safety Sensitive: Non-DOT Regulated/Safety Sensitive

Union Affiliation: Non-agreement - Closing Date (if applicable): Until Filled

Shift (if applicable): - Title 55-a (yes or no): Not Applicable

Other: Not telework eligible

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.

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.
• 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 actions.
• Ability to develop, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of safety programs and initiatives.
• Demonstrated excellent oral and written presentation and communication skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to assimilate, organize, and convey pertinent information.
• Excellent project, team, and self-management skills, with the ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams as required, managing multiple projects while adhering to rapidly changing deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and communicate effectively with all departments and all levels of management Metro-North, other MTA agencies, and external stakeholders, including executive leadership.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to foster teamwork and effective working relationships, resolve conflicts, lead multidisciplinary teams, and make effective decisions in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Ability to oversee safety compliance and exercise the authority to stop work or rail operations if deem imminent hazard to life or property exists; ability to take responsibility to initiate and terminate an investigation, including approving movement of equipment so recovery efforts can begin.
• Demonstrated ability to foster cooperation among diverse groups in a complex operating environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and discretion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of audit/inspection principles and ability to establish audit/inspection plans. Ability to respond to incidents and emergencies 24/7, including working evenings and weekends as a normal course of business.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access and Outlook) or equivalent.
• Must be available to respond to emergencies on a 24/7 basis, remain reachable by cell phone for coverage as needed, and be able to travel to various work locations at any time.

The following is/are preferred:

• Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience in applying accident and incident investigation techniques, procedures, and policies.
• Knowledge of applicable regulations and practices including FRA, OSHA, EPA, NYS and/or NYC Health, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of and experience with FRA and NTSB investigation methodologies and procedures.
• Experience managing staff, projects, and/or processes.

Required Education And Experience

1. Associate's Degree (AA) in Business Administration, Safety, Public Administration, Emergency Management, or related field. Demonstrated equivalent experience, education and/or technical credentials to include an additional two years of related experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
2. Minimum 5 years of experience in the transportation industry related to the responsibilities of the position, at least two (2) years of which entail experience in one or more of the following: Transportation (train operations), Maintenance of Equipment, Maintenance of Way (Track, Structures, Communications & Signals, Power) and/or conducting safety-related investigations. Experience in another complex operating/industrial environment may be considered in lieu of experience in the transportation industry.
3. Minimum 3 years of experience managing a process and/or projects.