Manages the activities and professional staff involved in complex in-depth investigations of serious bus, rail, and non-revenue vehicle collisions; determines the scope and direction of each investigation and coordinates team efforts; performs data analysis to help identify future risks and develop accident reduction strategies; and coordinates training at all levels of the organization to help ensure a traffic safety mindset and a reduction of accidents.

• Oversees a 24/7 on-call response team of investigators for all major Metro vehicle collisions and other safety related incidents organization wide

• Plans, organizes, and conducts complex in-depth bus, rail and vehicle collision investigations and reconstructions

• Works with appropriate law enforcement agencies at accident scenes and after an event to gather all pertinent evidence and information related to the accidents

• Determines the scope and direction of each investigation and coordinates all aspects of the investigations

• Oversees the activities of assigned team members and evaluates their activities and work product

• Prepares and oversees the preparation of comprehensive accident investigation reports that identify each element of the investigation process and delivers quality comprehensive accident reports within established timelines

• Reviews collision investigation reports prepared by Transit Operations Supervisors and Rail Transit Operations Supervisors, and recommends areas of improvement, including training

• Reviews and analyzes data relating to collisions and injuries, identifies trends, and provides recommendations, including measures to mitigate recurrences

• Manages, conducts research of, and implements demonstration projects to mitigate bus and rail transit collisions and injuries

• Conducts audits and evaluations of bus and rail operations to determine Bus and Train Operators′ compliance with established rules and procedures

• Provides technical support to various internal and external Committees, such as Operations Safety Steering Committee, Local Safety Committees, and Serious Accident Panels (SAP)

• Interacts with stakeholders at all levels of the organization, internally and externally, through training and outreach regarding traffic safety, accident reduction, risk management, and liability issues

• Coordinates training for organization staff at all levels in collision investigation and accident review practices

• Evaluates current Bus and Train Operator training programs, recommends and develops improvements, and collaborates with appropriate staff to implement changes

• Develops and implements state-of-the-art collision prevention programs that can be incorporated into Metro′s comprehensive accident reduction plan

• Evaluates existing policies, procedures, and techniques currently in use for bus and rail collision investigations and recommends enhancements

• Ensures staffs′ understanding and strict compliance with all confidentiality provisions under relevant California State codes

• Formulates or participates in the development of bus and rail operations safety rules, policies, and procedures and ensures their implementation

• Conducts intensive data reviews of information relating to bus and rail collisions to identify trends and recommend mitigating measures

• Participates in post-accident testing of bus braking systems and rail equipment to determine functionality and compliance with specifications

• Organizes and provides training and guidance to investigation staff regarding complex investigations and case development

• Identifies performance problems and takes remedial actions when necessary

• Keeps department management informed on investigative progress and sensitive issues regarding case

• Ensures timely and sound progress of complex investigations

• Prepares narrative, graphic, and statistical reports for executive and Board presentations, and internal review

• Presents investigative findings, both orally and in writing as required, to internal Metro departments

• Testifies as needed before internal Accident Review Boards, in courts, in arbitrations, or in administrative hearings on results of accident investigations

• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees

• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

  
  May be required to perform other related job duties

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of collision investigation and reconstruction, vehicle dynamics, and collision causation

• Nine-Cell (Haddon) Matrix and how it applies to causation analysis

• Specialized investigative principles, techniques, and best practices applicable to collision investigations and collision reconstruction

• Safety certifications, systems safety, and risk management

• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures governing bus and rail operations, vehicle maintenance, drivers, vehicles, and traffic

• Theories, principles, and practices of fleet maintenance

• Effective research and report preparation practices and presentation methods

• Innovative collaborative practices with inside and outside stakeholders

• Specialized software programs used in industry for accident reconstruction

• Current leadership and modern management practices

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Conducting complex and thorough collision investigations and reconstructions of collisions and safety-related incidents

• Collision scene safety

• Performing analysis to improve traffic safety

• Determining strategies to achieve goals

• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, and exercising good judgment in decision making

• Identifying, developing, and helping implement safety program plans and procedures

• Data retrieval, analyzing statistics, recognizing trends, and suggesting creative solutions

• Exercising sound judgment and executing appropriate administrative investigative action based on investigative developments

• Communicating effectively orally and in writing

• Interacting professionally with all levels of Metro team members, upper management, outside representatives, and stakeholders

• Utilizing applicable business software applications

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Conduct an investigation within a major injury related scene and or including death investigations where deceased bodies may be present

• Build a collaborative team that empowers others to develop innovative solutions to traffic safety issues

• Develop and promote positive working relations within the office, as well as with outside law enforcement agencies

• Operate a bus to recreate a collision scenario under controlled conditions or move a bus at a collision scene

• Use and apply software-based collision reconstruction programs to support investigation reports

• Present the physical data and completed findings in litigation or to an arbitrator

• Meet tight time constraints and deadlines

• Recognize sensitive issues

• Understand, analyze, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements

• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence

• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data

• Supervise, mentor, train, and motivate assigned staff

• Travel to accident scene or offsite locations

• Read, write, speak, and understand English

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a two-for-one year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Law, Public Administration, Business Administration, Political Science, or a related field; Master′s Degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Six years of relevant experience or three years of relevant supervisory-level experience in law enforcement traffic or collision investigation, collision reconstruction, and data retrieval and analysis

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Successfully completed training as a collision reconstruction expert by one of the nationally recognized schools in the field of Collision Reconstruction, e.g., Northwestern University's Center for Public Safety, University of North Florida's Institute of Police Technology and Management, or Texas A&M's Texas Engineering Extension Service, etc., or an accredited school with equivalent courses of training
• Certification in Collision Investigations provided by either the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstructionists (ACTAR) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration preferred
• Transit safety courses preferred
• Will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety shoes, safety vest, and safety goggles

• Positions in this classification are considered safety sensitive under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) drug and alcohol regulations

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation

• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

• High dust, dirt, and/or grease environment

• High noise environment

• Work on slippery or uneven surfaces

• Work in darkness or with poor lighting

• Exposure to bodily fluids and waste

• Exposure to hazardous chemicals, solvents, and/or gases

• Exposure to moving machinery and/or vehicles

• Exposure to radiant or electrical energy (e.g., ionizing radiation, overhead catenary or contact rail power distribution, etc.)

• Exposure to outdoor weather including extreme heat, cold, dampness and/or humidity

• Work irregular hours, split shifts, weekends, holidays, or 24-hour-a-day on-call assignments

• Work after designated regular hours in case of special assignments or emergencies

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table

• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions

• Standing

• Walking (distance 5' to 100')

• Crawling, crouching, squatting, stooping and/or kneeling

• Bending or twisting at the neck, waist and/or knees

• Intermittently sitting, standing, stooping

• Smelling

• Light lifting or carrying 25 lbs. or less

• Driving and/or operating heavy equipment

• Communicating through speech in the English language required

• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances

• Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.)