Director of Safety at TRANSIT MANAGEMENT OF CHARLOTTE INC – Charlotte, North Carolina

The Director of Bus System Safety is responsible for leading and managing the safety program for TMOC’s fixed-route bus operations, including bus operators, maintenance activities, stations and bus-related facilities. This role establishes and oversees safety policies, investigations, compliance programs, training oversight, and corrective action processes to ensure safe service delivery for employees and the riding public. The Director has authority to conduct and oversee safety investigations, recommend disciplinary action when warranted, and implement corrective measures. This position ensures alignment with federal, state, and contractual safety requirements and serves as the executive leader for bus system safety performance, risk mitigation, and safety culture development.

The following duties are standard for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.

Safety Program Leadership

• Develop and oversee TMOC’s bus system safety program
• Establish safety policies, procedures, and performance expectations
• Promote a culture of safety across operations and maintenance
• Provide executive-level leadership on safety strategy and initiatives
• Ensure alignment of safety practices with contractual and regulatory requirements

Accident and Incident Oversight

• Oversee investigations of bus collisions, employee injuries, and safety incidents
• Review findings and determine root causes
• Approve corrective action recommendations
• Recommend disciplinary action based on investigative findings
• Ensure timely documentation and reporting of safety events

Regulatory Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations
• Oversee required reporting to regulatory bodies and contracting agencies
• Maintain safety records and documentation
• Support audits and compliance reviews
• Monitor safety performance metrics and trends

Operator and Maintenance Safety Oversight

• Oversee ride checks and safety evaluations of bus operators
• Ensure compliance with CDL and operational safety standards
• Oversee safety training and retraining initiatives
• Monitor safe maintenance practices within bus garages
• Address recurring operational safety risks

Corrective Action and Risk Mitigation

• Develop corrective action plans in response to safety trends
• Monitor implementation of corrective measures
• Identify systemic safety risks and mitigation strategies
• Review performance indicators related to preventable accidents
• Collaborate with Operations leadership to reduce risk exposure

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, Dispatch, and HR on safety matters
• Participate in labor discussions involving safety-related discipline
• Represent TMOC in safety-related meetings with CATS
• Serve as a safety liaison during emergency response situations
• Provide executive briefings on safety performance

Emergency Response and Preparedness

• Support emergency response planning and coordination
• Participate in major incident command support
• Ensure safety staff readiness for incident response
• Review after-action reports and implement improvements

Safety Leadership
Ability to lead a comprehensive bus safety program in a high-risk operational environment.

Investigative Oversight
Ability to evaluate incident investigations and determine appropriate corrective action.

Regulatory Compliance
Ability to ensure adherence to safety regulations and contractual obligations.

Risk Management
Ability to identify and mitigate operational safety risks.

Operational Collaboration
Ability to coordinate safety initiatives with operations and maintenance leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in safety management, transportation, public administration, or a related field and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in transit or commercial vehicle safety, including supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in fixed-route bus safety leadership
• Experience conducting accident investigations
• Knowledge of transit labor environments
• Certification in safety management or accident investigation
• Experience in a contract-operated transit environment

Knowledge of:

• Fixed-route bus operations and safety practices
• Accident investigation methodologies
• CDL and commercial vehicle safety regulations
• Workplace safety standards and injury prevention practices
• Transit safety reporting requirements
• Collective bargaining agreement provisions related to discipline

Skill in:

• Conducting and overseeing safety investigations
• Analyzing accident trends and performance data
• Developing corrective action plans
• Recommending disciplinary actions based on findings
• Leading safety training initiatives
• Communicating safety expectations clearly
• Coordinating cross-functional safety initiatives
• Exercising independent judgment in high-risk situations
• Preparing safety reports and executive briefings
• Managing safety staff
• Work performed in office and field environments
• Frequent visits to bus facilities and operational sites
• May require on-scene response to accidents
• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions during field investigations
• Requires extended periods of standing, walking, and report preparation
• May require work outside normal business hours in response to incidents
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions