Transit Safety Officer

Overview

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is seeking a dedicated Transit System Safety Officer to help ensure the safety and reliability of public transportation throughout Silicon Valley. This role sits within VTA’s System Safety & Security Division and protects employees, passengers, facilities, and construction projects across bus, rail, and transit operations. If you’re driven by public service and take pride in building safer systems, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in your community.

In this position, you’ll lead and support in compliance activities while partnering closely with internal teams, contractors, and regulatory agencies. You’ll conduct accident/incident investigations, analyze data for trends, assist with audits, and recommend corrective actions to reduce risk and improve operational safety.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience in transportation, construction, or industrial safety. Candidates are expected to be comfortable working in dynamic operational environments and to have a certain level of self-autonomy.

• The ideal candidate is a safety professional with strong analytical and investigative skills who thrives in a regulated transit or construction environment. This individual demonstrates sound judgment, works independently, learns new skill sets quickly, and is comfortable responding to emergencies and leading safety initiatives across diverse operational settings.
• The successful candidate will bring experience in construction, industrial, or transportation safety; the ability to analyze safety data and trends; and excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively collaborate with employees, leadership, contractors, union representatives, and regulatory agencies. A strong commitment to advancing safety culture, continuous self-improvement, and regulatory compliance is essential.
• Possession of relevant certifications, such as the Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP), the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP), the Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or the Occupational Health and Safety Technician (OHST), is highly desirable.

• Performs internal and external safety auditing
• Conducts Fire Life & Safety planning and coordination as part of VTA’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
• Participates in the Safety Certification process and serves as a conduit for communication between agency and regulatory entities
• Conducts construction safety inspections including walkthroughs of active construction sites and coordination with VTA and contracted personnel
• Participates in transit system planning and construction review including review of engineering drawings, plans, and schematics
• Performs safety and regulatory compliance inspections
• Prepares required reports and correspondence
• Participates in various safety committees; engages in hazard identification, investigation and mitigation
• Analyzes safety data and performs trend analyses
• Participates in the development and promotion of VTA’s safety culture
• Communicates regulatory changes affecting agency business operations
• Coordinates VTA’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) and performs other emergency management duties
• Responds to and investigates accidents, injuries, and losses to identify causal factors
• Evaluates and participates in Request for Proposal (RFP) processes as assigned
• Develops and implements various safety programs
• Conducts and coordinates safety training as assigned
• Performs related duties as required

Sufficient education, training, and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the above tasks and possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Development of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a four-year degree in a related field, and three (3) years of experience in construction safety, industrial safety, transportation…