Director - Construction & Employee Health & Safety

Salary range is $154k to $268k, with a midpoint of $211k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance discount.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Responsible for the activities and operations of construction safety and employee health and safety staff to meet and complete agency expectations to maintain safe work sites and associated facilities. Reports to and provides strategic partnership to the Chief Safety Officer; ensures the Employee and Construction Safety (ECS) Division successfully meets identified federal and state regulations. Responsible for each aspect of the Division, in collaboration with the ECS Division Managers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Plans, directs, and reviews the work of Division Managers and staff; assigns work activities; and provides timely and constructive feedback.
• Coaches, trains, and motivates staff. Measures the performance of assigned staff and takes appropriate corrective action when necessary; provides advice and counsel to Managers and staff; and oversees staff work plans.
• Allocates resources for safety oversight and monitoring for compliance with contract and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures that assigned personnel have the appropriate skills, experience, and training required for the assignment.
• Ensures that policies, procedures, and guidelines related to construction and employee health and safety are consistently applied and completed accordingly.
• Ensures staff compliance with Agency policies and procedures; and state and federal requirements.
• Oversees the entry, tracking, and reporting of occupational safety data in order to identify and share ongoing safety performance towards established Agency and Department/Division goals; analyzes safety data and reports for trends.
• Oversees the development and implementation of employee health and safety programs and trainings to ensure regulatory compliance and adherence to Agency policies and procedures.
• Coordinates with other divisions, departments, or outside entities relating to construction safety and employee health and safety.
• Verifies compliance of employee activities or contractor services with Job Hazard Analysis, project-specific safety plans and ensures employees are adequately trained for tasks, equipment operations, safety protection equipment, and to regulatory standards.
• Frequently reviews, revises, and/or updates the Agency Accident Prevention Program, Standard Operating Procedures, Standard Maintenance Procedures, contract specifications, agency safety programs, and employee safety procedures to ensure effectiveness, applicability, and continuous improvement.
• Responsible for and manages the Agency's Construction Safety Programs to promote and ensure safety and safe work practices at employee jobsites and construction sites.
• Assists in developing program-wide safety training and orientation programs.
• Develops and prepares the annual budget for the ECS Division. Manages the ECS Division budget throughout the year.
• Provides leadership for the Division. Serves as the ECS Division representative on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the transit, occupational safety, and construction fields.
• Promotes a positive safety culture.
• Promotes and exhibits to all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• Verifies that staff and consultants work safely, professionally and effectively.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, Occupational Health, Industrial Safety, Safety Engineering, or related field; Eight years of experience in construction safety, occupational health/safety, or construction management; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Six years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid state driver's license. This position is required to perform field work that may not be easily accessible through public transportation.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a Regional Transit System, construction management principles, occupational health and safety best practices, and regulatory standards and practices related to occupational safety, construction safety, and public transit operations.
• Senior professional and/or technical expert knowledge of business/industry principles and practices for large project management, safety culture development and adherence, and construction management skills.
• Methods and techniques used in the performance of duties and responsibilities specific to construction safety and personnel management.
• Standards and codes that govern construction and transit operations in Washington State, fire and life safety regulatory standards, construction safety regulations, contract plans and specifications, and general construction industry practices.
• Methods and techniques of negotiation and administration to resolve difficult issues or events that may have a substantial impact on transit operations and practices.
• Methods and techniques of incident investigation, root cause analysis, event reporting, and accident and incident statistics and trend analysis. Track and report Agency injury and incident information and statistics to executives, board members, and regulatory oversight personnel.
• Principles, methods, and techniques of developing and managing schedules.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations that apply to health and safety, construction safety, transit operations, and transit facility/station requirements.
• Principles of federal and state safety certification requirements and hazard identification and mitigation tracking.
• Techniques to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities.
• Principles of team leadership, including training, staff development, and equity and inclusion practices.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Advanced principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Driving an Agency safety culture that ensures the health and safety of employees and contractors, regardless of task or job site.
• Supervising, leading, and delegating tasks and authority.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, executive management, contractors, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.
• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.
• Applying principles and practices of health and safety. Understanding technical and/or industry concepts of safety management.
• Overseeing and managing comprehensive Agency process management programs that includes a series of inter-related projects or functional areas of significant depth and complexity.
• Negotiating and administering construction and consultant services contracts.
• Conceptualizing, influencing, developing, and administering goals, objectives, guidelines, and procedures for the Department/Division.
• Interpreting and applying applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Complaint resolution and problem solving.
• Critical and strategic problem solving.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.
• Responding to inquiries.
• Effective, clear, and concise verbal and written communication.
• Utilizing personal computer software programs for accomplishing assigned work (i.e. communications, preparing spreadsheets, schedules, reports, etc.).

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office, shop, warehouse and field environment.
• This position is reponsibe for monitoring, reporting on and performing inspections on various constuction sites; may be subject to bending, climbing, grasping, hearing, sitting, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and carrying and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.
• Position includes on call, and nights/weekend shifts as needed for incidents/events as they happen.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.