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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50702851 |
Description Activated On: 12/30/2025 2:35:22 PM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. This position is a highly specialized and responsible work located primarily in the Western Region PennDOT State Safety Oversight (SSO) Office for compliance with the SSOA Program Standard, federal and state laws, and regulations. Position is responsible for safety oversight of the development, implementation, and enforcement of public transportation rail transit systems, that are characterized as having diverse, complex, and highly technical systems, safety and security programs, The Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation (RFGPT) systems currently in the Western Regional Office are: The Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) • Light Rail Transit System – Blue, Red, and Silver Lines • Monongahela Inclined Plane • PRT’s private busways, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. (East) Busway, South Busway, and West Busway The Cambria County Transit Authority (CamTran) • Johnstown Inclined Plane |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Monitors and evaluates all aspects of SSO programs for the regional fixed guideway systems, including planning, compliance enforcement and certification, incident response, and fixed rail transit safety and security oversight enforcement. Conducts safety event and risk-based inspections and assessments and issuing findings and auditing the implementation and issuing approvals of corrective action plans to correct non-compliance with federal and state rail regulations, technical safety standards, and internal rail transit agency rules and regulations. Work includes participating in Federal Transit Administration and National Transportation Safety Board rail transit safety event investigations; participating in Regional Rail Transit Authority (RTA) safety committee meetings and providing technical guidance on federal and state compliance; and implementing SSO safety and awareness initiatives and training. Work is performed independently and reviewed by the SSO Regional Administrator through reports and conferences for adherence to program standards and objectives. Implements the SSO program the rail transit fixed guideway system in the western region, including budgetary and physical resources. Reviews and approves the initiation and completion of safety activities and the resulting work products by the SSOA Regional Office consultants, contractors, and other external Safety Officials; reviews and recommends statewide contractual safety activities. Provides technical and administrative evaluation of work products by contractors and consultants. Participates in rail transit training program for SSO staff and contractors to ensure that the Rail Transit Agency (RTA) designated safety officials are in compliance with all training requirements. Implements SSO program safety activities (i.e. Audits, inspections, investigations, etc.) for the Western Region’s rail fixed guideway system. Directs, enforces, and interprets regional procedures, policies, and standards that address federal and state safety and security requirements for RTA’s Safety Management System (SMS) for all components, sub-components, and operations of the rail transit fixed guideways systems. Evaluates and certifies Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan and Safety and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP) for compliance with state and federal regulations and recommends approval. Evaluates the adequacy of safety oversight and safety assurance program activities; accuracy of data; conformance to program standards and criteria; engineering practices; soundness of conclusions/findings; adherence to transportation safety practices; and arbitrates objections by the rail transit fixed guideway systems. Reviews and evaluates the Risk-Based Inspection Program in the Western Region. Oversees the RTA's Safety Promotion Program for conformance to state and regional program requirements, standards, and criteria; and arbitrates objections by the rail transit fixed guideway systems. Reviews and evaluates the Regional Office's Vehicle Maintenance and Testing Program requirements, standards, and criteria; and arbitrates objections by the rail transit fixed guideway systems. Implements and enforces the regional implementation for the certification, evaluation, and implementation of the electric mass transit vehicle inspection program. Adopts RTA lead safety event investigations. Participates or leads safety event investigations that may occur over multiple days on-site of the rail transit agency (RTA). Coordinates, participates, and represents the SSOA region in rail transit safety event investigations or other safety activities lead by federal agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) or FTA. Investigates reports of allegations of non-compliance with an RTA’s PTASP. Conducts regional inspections and investigations in compliance with 49 C.F.R. §673, §674, and the PennDOT SSOA Program Standard. Reviews, approves, and oversees the implementation of regional RTA corrective action plans. Identifies, escalates, and directs findings regarding RTA corrective action plan non-compliance. Implements the regional escalation and enforcement policies and actions resulting from safety oversight program non-compliance of the rail transit fixed guideway systems and all associated revenue and non-revenue equipment, operations, training, maintenance, and construction. Establishes, plans, organizes, and assigns work priorities and evaluates the work of assigned contractors. Provides technical guidance, training, and presentations to rail transit fixed guideway agencies, industry and government officials, advisory groups, and the general public. Develops and oversees the implementation of regional policies regarding safety and security certification requirements for system extensions and major capital projects and accepts the RTA’s safety and security certifications. Performs pre-revenue operational assessments for major capital projects. Oversees the RTA’s compliance with the implementation of their Safety Management System (SMS). Develops recommendations for updates to statewide SSO policies and Program Standard. Implements the goals, objectives, and priorities of the SSO strategic plan. Participates in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) triennial audits of Pennsylvania's SSO Program. Oversees RTAs drills, safety and security exercises, continuity of operations, disaster management, and special event planning. Reviews, approves, and participates in the RTA’s internal audit and safety risk management program activities. Travels to field sites to participate in investigations, audits, and inspections. Attends and participates in safety and security meetings with transit agency personnel, executive leadership, labor union leadership, and the general public. Participates and oversees RTA executive safety committee meetings and related work products, for compliance with all applicable SSO program requirements. Develops technical guidance and presentations for rail transit fixed guideway agencies, industry and governmental officials, advisory groups and the public regarding Departmental functions impacting regional and statewide, programs, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Analyzes national, state, and regional rail transit safety data to determine strategies to meet the regional and statewide safety goals, objectives, and priorities. Reviews and advises SSOA response to proposed legislation with possible impacts on the rail transit fixed guideway safety program and assists with the development of legislative proposals. Participates, leads, and initiates safety related meetings with the FTA, American Public Transportation Association, Transit Safety Oversight Association and other technical and professional agencies and organizations. Provides written and verbal communication and safety data analysis for use by external partners such as transit agencies and peer SSO agencies. Represents the SSO Office to federal officials, public transit industry representatives, the media, and the general public. Participates in local and national conferences and trainings related to rail transit safety, security, operations, and maintenance. Prepares briefings and other reports for PennDOT SSOA Director, PennDOT leadership, and other transportation leaders on matters of rail safety and security. Operates motor vehicles. An employee in this job may participate in the performance of the work in the Western Region that is consistent with operational or organizational requirements. Performs related work as required. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. - Determines procedures and assignment of work for consultants. - Approves RTA Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), safety event investigations, safety and security plans and manuals, etc. - Makes decisions for assigned functions within statewide policies and recommends actions to supervisor if outside the scope of existing regional policies. - Makes independent decisions that could have significant impact on program RTA system operations within the region. - Independently develops and implements safety assurance regional oversight plans to ensure compliance with safety and security State and Federal regulatory requirements. - Escalates safety issues as appropriate. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. Class C Driver's License 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. N/A 5. N/A 6. N/A |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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