Sr Mgr System Safety - 90344553 - Wilmington, Philadelphia

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, System Safety supports the continuous improvement and effective implementation of Amtrak’s System Safety Program. The position leads human factors and human performance integration, System Safety Program Plan governance, state partner coordination, fatigue risk management oversight, safety recommendation management, and cross-functional program improvements. Serving as a System Safety subject matter expert, the role applies safety findings, trends, and human performance principles to strengthen safety culture, employee reporting, organizational change, technology implementation, corrective actions, investigations, and other safety programs. The position works across Amtrak departments and with regulators and external partners to clarify responsibilities, maintain required plans and agreements, and advance data-informed safety improvements.

Essential Functions

• Manage System Safety Program Plan and related safety-document governance, including revisions, approvals, version control, distribution, implementation tracking, state partner supplements and agreements, recurring reviews, regulatory submissions, and updates required by applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.
• Serve as Amtrak’s System Safety subject matter expert for human factors and human performance, applying relevant principles to fatigue management, safety culture, employee reporting, organizational change, technology implementation, corrective actions, investigations, risk mitigation, and other assigned safety matters; coordinate related research, initiatives, and pilot programs with the Federal Railroad Administration, Transport Canada, and other external organizations.
• Provide management oversight of Amtrak’s Fatigue Risk Management Programs and manage the coordination and tracking of National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration safety recommendations, including assigned actions, supporting documentation, regulatory plans and notifications, status reporting, follow-up, correspondence, and formal responses.
• Lead System Safety improvement initiatives, special projects, and emerging assignments that cross program areas or involve multiple departments or external partners; use safety data, findings, trends, and program information to support decisions, identify improvement opportunities, and monitor program effectiveness.
• Serve as a System Safety liaison for state-supported service partners and prepare reports, executive briefings, regulatory correspondence, and presentations; when assigned, serve in an acting capacity for the Director, System Safety Programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in safety, engineering, transportation, public administration, business, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience may be considered.
• Nine or more years of progressively responsible experience in system safety, Safety Management Systems, regulatory compliance, railroad operations, program management, or a related field.
• Experience interpreting and applying regulations, policies, agreements, and technical requirements in a regulated environment, including managing corrective actions, regulatory commitments, or complex action-tracking processes.
• Experience applying human factors or human performance principles within a safety-critical environment and using safety data, trends, findings, or other performance information to support decisions and evaluate safety-program effectiveness.
• Experience coordinating with regulators, public agencies, external partners, or other organizations with shared responsibilities and developing formal documents that define responsibilities between organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Eleven or more years of progressively responsible experience in system safety, Safety Management Systems, regulatory compliance, railroad operations, program management, or a related field.
• Formal education, training, certification, or demonstrated experience in Safety Management Systems, human factors, human performance, ergonomics, safety culture, organizational psychology, or a related discipline.
• Experience in passenger rail, freight rail, or public transportation and experience with document management.
• In-depth knowledge of 49 CFR Part 270 and applicable Transport Canada fatigue and Railway Safety Management System requirements.
• Experience leading projects, process improvements, organizational changes, or special assignments involving multiple departments or external partners.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of System Safety Programs, Safety Management Systems, human factors, human performance, fatigue risk management, corrective-action management, and safety-program governance.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, negotiation, technical writing, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory and technical information for executives, senior leaders, frontline employees, labor representatives, regulators, and external partners.
• Ability to work independently, manage changing priorities, coordinate multiple assignments, and lead cross-functional work requiring clear accountability and sustained follow-through.
• Ability to use safety data, findings, trends, and program information to identify risk, evaluate improvement opportunities, support decisions, and monitor program effectiveness.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.