Safety and Security Analyst/Advisor

Job Title: Safety & Security Analyst/Advisor

Department / Division: Office of Safety & Security

Reports To: Chief Safety & Security Officer / Manager of Safety & Security

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Non-Bargaining Unit: No

Safety Sensitive Position (49 CFR Part 655): No

Pay Rate / Range: $70,000 – $75,000

JOB FUNCTION:

The Safety & Security Analyst/Advisor serves as a technical and analytical resource to executive leadership, managers, supervisors, employees, contractors, and operational departments. The position analyzes safety and security data, incidents, hazards, risks, threats, vulnerabilities, audit findings, corrective actions, and operational trends to identify areas requiring intervention and to support informed decision-making.

The incumbent works on complex safety and security issues and develops practical recommendations designed to improve safety performance, reduce operational risk, strengthen regulatory compliance, and enhance the overall safety and security of MATA’s transit system.

The position collaborates closely with Operations, Maintenance, Trolley, Communications, Training, Human Resources, Capital Development, Procurement, Customer Experience, Emergency Management, Security, and other departments to ensure safety and security considerations are incorporated into organizational planning, operations, projects, and decision-making.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze safety, security, operational, incident, accident, near-miss, injury, inspection, audit, and other performance data to identify trends, patterns, deficiencies, and emerging risks.
• Develop analytical reports, dashboards, trend analyses, performance measures, and management briefings to communicate safety and security conditions and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Conduct and support hazard identification, risk assessments, threat assessments, vulnerability assessments, and root-cause analyses involving transit operations, facilities, vehicles, equipment, infrastructure, employees, contractors, passengers, and other stakeholders.
• Review accident, incident, and near-miss reports for completeness, accuracy, contributing factors, corrective actions, and potential systemic safety or security concerns.
• Assist with and, when assigned, conduct safety and security investigations and prepare professional investigative reports, findings, recommendations, and corrective-action plans.
• Monitor corrective and preventive actions resulting from investigations, audits, inspections, assessments, regulatory findings, and other safety and security activities to ensure timely resolution and documented closure.
• Support the administration and execution of MATA’s Internal Safety and Security Audit Program, including preparation, fieldwork, documentation, findings, corrective actions, follow-up, and closeout.
• Evaluate departmental and contractor compliance with applicable MATA policies, procedures, safety plans, security programs, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Research applicable federal, state, and local safety, security, emergency management, and transportation requirements and provide recommendations regarding their impact on MATA operations.
• Support compliance activities involving applicable agencies and organizations, including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Transit Database (NTD), and other regulatory or oversight entities.
• Assist in preparing required safety, security, regulatory, audit, incident, performance, and compliance reports and supporting documentation.
• Monitor safety and security performance indicators and establish data-driven measures to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Work collaboratively with Operations, Maintenance, Trolley, Communications, Capital Development, Procurement, Training, Human Resources, Customer Experience, and other departments to identify and address safety and security risks.
• Support safety and security reviews of new and existing vehicles, infrastructure, facilities, equipment, systems, construction projects, operational changes, and other initiatives.
• Participate in safety and security committees, task forces, working groups, tabletop exercises, emergency preparedness activities, and other organizational initiatives.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of emergency management, business continuity, emergency response, and service disruption plans from a safety and security perspective.
• Support the development and delivery of safety, security, emergency management, and regulatory compliance training and educational materials.
• Serve as a technical resource to managers and supervisors regarding safety reporting, incident documentation, hazard identification, risk mitigation, corrective actions, and regulatory requirements.
• Review safety and security complaints, concerns, reports, and inquiries from employees, passengers, contractors, vendors, and other stakeholders and assist with appropriate follow-up and resolution.
• Identify recurring safety and security issues and recommend systemic corrective actions rather than relying solely on individual incident responses.
• Assist the Chief Safety & Security Officer and Manager of Safety & Security with executive-level reports, presentations, briefings, special projects, and strategic safety and security initiatives.
• Maintain confidential and sensitive safety, security, investigative, and regulatory information in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and MATA policies.
• Represent the Office of Safety & Security at meetings with internal departments, contractors, regulatory agencies, law enforcement, emergency management organizations, and other external partners as assigned.
• Maintain current knowledge of transit safety, security, emergency management, risk management, regulatory requirements, industry practices, and emerging safety and security issues.
• Perform other related duties, responsibilities, special assignments, and projects as assigned by the Chief Safety & Security Officer or Manager of Safety & Security.

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Safety Management, Occupational Safety, Transportation, Transit Management, Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Business Administration, Risk Management, Security Management, Data Analytics, or a closely related field is preferred.

A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in safety, security, emergency management, transit operations, transportation, public safety, regulatory compliance, risk management, investigations, auditing, data analysis, or a closely related field is preferred.

Experience analyzing operational or safety data, conducting investigations or assessments, preparing technical reports, monitoring corrective actions, or supporting regulatory compliance is highly desirable.

Experience in a public transportation environment, including bus, rail, paratransit, facilities, maintenance, operations, communications, or transit security, is preferred.

Equivalent combinations of education, training, certifications, and relevant professional experience that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of the position may be considered.

Degree Equivalency

Bachelor’s Degree = Four (4) years of education plus the required professional experience.

Master’s Degree = Two (2) additional years of education beyond a bachelor’s degree plus the required professional experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Public transportation safety and security principles and practices.
• Safety Management Systems and risk-based decision-making.
• Accident and incident investigation methodologies.
• Hazard identification, risk assessment, threat assessment, vulnerability assessment, and root-cause analysis.
• Federal, state, and local safety, security, transportation, and occupational safety requirements.
• Emergency management, emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity-of-operations principles.
• Safety and security auditing, inspection, compliance monitoring, and corrective-action processes.
• Safety performance measurement, data analysis, trend analysis, and reporting.
• Transit operations, maintenance, facilities, communications, security, and passenger service

Skills and Abilities:

• Analyze complex safety and security information and identify significant trends and risks.
• Develop clear, accurate, and defensible reports and recommendations.
• Translate technical and analytical information into practical recommendations for management.
• Conduct professional investigations, assessments, audits, and reviews.
• Work independently while coordinating effectively with multiple departments and stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with employees, management, executives, contractors, regulatory agencies, law enforcement, and emergency management partners.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• Manage multiple assignments, deadlines, investigations, and projects simultaneously.
• Exercise sound judgment when evaluating safety, security, and operational risks.
• Identify systemic issues and recommend sustainab