Safety Management Systems (SMS) Program Specialist

Safety Management System (SMS) Program Specialist

Help drive safety excellence at VTA. VTA is seeking a Safety Management System (SMS) Program Specialist to play a critical role in advancing the agency's commitment to safety, risk reduction, and continuous improvement. This position serves as a key contributor to VTA's Safety Management System by coordinating hazard management activities, facilitating safety risk assessments, monitoring corrective actions, analyzing safety performance data, and supporting compliance with federal, state, and agency safety requirements. The Safety Management System Program Specialist works collaboratively with operational departments, project teams, and safety professionals across the organization to identify hazards, evaluate risks, develop mitigation strategies, and strengthen VTA's safety culture. This position also supports quality review of safety investigations and documentation, safety performance monitoring, training initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts that help ensure the safety of employees, passengers, contractors, and the communities we serve. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced safety professional who enjoys problem-solving, data analysis, regulatory compliance, and partnering with stakeholders to proactively identify and address safety risks in a dynamic public transportation environment.

About the Safety & Security Department

This division oversees VTA's safety and transit system security and law enforcement functions, which include oversight of the Transit Security Department, management of contracted security services provided by Allied Universal Security, administration of VTA's contract with the Sheriff's Department for sworn law enforcement personnel and Cyber Security.

Definition

Under general direction, performs advanced-level professional work in the implementation of VTA's Safety Management System (SMS), with lead responsibility for coordinating and administering assigned safety programs, including the Hazard Management Program (HMP), quality review of safety documentation and investigation reports, and support training, onboarding, and related safety compliance activities.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is an advanced-level professional classification. Incumbents exercise independent judgment and apply specialized knowledge of Safety Management System principles, practices, and regulatory requirements in the administration and oversight of VTA's SMS. This class is characterized by responsibility for hazard management, safety risk management, corrective action oversight, and accountability for the identification, evaluation, mitigation, and verification of closure of safety risks across the organization. Positions in this class may provide lead direction and technical guidance to other staff, as assigned.

The Ideal Candidate

The Ideal candidate is an experienced Safety Management System (SMS) professional with demonstrated expertise administering hazard management programs, facilitating safety risk assessments, overseeing corrective actions, and supporting regulatory compliance within a transit, transportation, construction, industrial, or other highly regulated environment. The successful candidate possesses hands-on experience identifying hazards, evaluating risk, developing mitigation strategies, tracking corrective actions, and validating the effectiveness of implemented solutions. They have a proven ability to analyze safety performance data, identify trends, and recommend improvements that strengthen organizational safety performance and support continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate is skilled at reviewing accident and incident investigations for quality, completeness, regulatory compliance, and root cause identification. They are highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities while working collaboratively with operational departments, project teams, management, and regulatory agencies. Additionally, the ideal candidate demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to facilitate meetings and risk discussions, and a commitment to promoting accountability, transparency, and a proactive safety culture throughout the organization.

About VTA

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County's authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation-related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.

VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participates as a funding partner in regional rail service including Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.

As the county's congestion management agency, VTA is responsible for countywide transportation planning, including congestion management, design and construction of specific highway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvement projects, as well as promotion of transit-oriented development.

VTA provides these services throughout the county, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County. As we continue to implement our VTA Forward Plan, we aim to strengthen and increase our workforce to take on future opportunities and challenges by elevating our people and our services.

Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program (FFWCP)

The County of Santa Clara FFWCP recognizes VTA as a business that creates supportive workplaces for employees and their families.

Family-friendly workplaces improve health outcomes and job satisfaction for employees and increase work productivity and retention for employers. Employers can create a family-friendly workplace by meeting and exceeding state and federal employment laws relating to parental leave, lactation accommodation, and work/family balance.

Essential Job Functions

Typical Tasks

• Administers and oversees the agency's Hazard Management Program (HMP), including hazard identification, classification, prioritization, tracking, and closure of corrective actions;
• Monitors the status of corrective actions; validates completion and effectiveness of mitigations; and escalates overdue or non-compliant actions, as appropriate;
• Validates closure and effectiveness of corrective actions to ensure compliance with agency procedures and applicable regulatory requirements;
• Coordinates and facilitates Safety Risk Assessments (SRAs) for operational changes, capital projects, and procedural modifications, including hazard identification, risk evaluation, mitigation development, and risk acceptance;
• Coordinates with internal department, operational units, project teams, and subject matter experts to support hazard mitigation, risk analysis, corrective action implementation, and regulatory compliance;
• Conducts technical and quality review of accident/event investigation reports and other safety documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, root cause identification, and regulatory compliance;
• Identifies systemic safety issues, trends, and recurring causal factors, and drives corrective actions and continuous program improvements;
• Monitors and analyzes safety performance data in accordance with Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) requirements, including fatalities, injuries, safety events, system reliability, and prepares related reports, dashboards, and trend analyses;
• Monitors, analyzes, and reports safety performance data and trends related to hazard management, investigations, corrective actions, and other Safety Management System activities;
• Oversees safety reporting processes and data integrity, monitors the accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of safety records and reporting, and identifies opportunities for process improvement;
• Facilitates meetings related to hazards, risk assessments, corrective actions, promoting accountability and transparency across departments;
• May provide lead direction, training, and technical guidance to staff in assigned program areas;
• Maintains safety records, risk assessments, corrective action documentation, and related files to support regulatory compliance and audit readiness;
• Prepares and presents regulatory responses, status reports, presentations, and related documentation pertaining to hazard management, safety risk management, and safety and compliance activities;
• Develops and supports SMS training, onboarding, and continuous improvement initiatives, enhancing program effectiveness, efficiency, and organizational safety culture;
• Ensures continuity of safety program operations in the absence of the Transit System Safety Supervisor;
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Development of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of education and progressively responsible experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in safety, occupational health and safety, safety engineering, industrial hygiene, or a related field; and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in transportation safety, construction safety, industrial safety, safety program administration, and/or regulatory compliance. Two (2) years of the aforementioned experience must have included directly applying SMS principles, including Hazard identification and risk assessment, corrective action tracking and closure, and safety data analysis and performance monitoring. Possession of, or the ability to obtain and maintain, a valid California Class C driver's license is required. The ability to obtain Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) credentials per CFR 49 Part 672 and the ability and willingness to travel, including overnight and out-of-state travel, is required. Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP), Construction Health and Safety Technician (