Director of Safety

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Salary: $126,009.00 - $181,137.64 Commensurate with Experience

Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.

 

This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.

 

Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.

 

The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

SUMMARY

The Director of Transit System Safety provides strategic and operational leadership for safety across all CATS modes, including bus, rail, paratransit, construction safety and construction code compliance. Reporting to the CSSO, this role ensures compliance with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), state, and local safety regulations, and oversees implementation of the Safety Management System (SMS) and CATS’ Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP).

This position leads the Safety Management team, including modal safety managers, supervisors, specialists, and training staff, and is responsible for accident and incident investigations, safety compliance, training, construction safety, and video support for investigations. The Director drives a culture of proactive hazard identification, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement across all CATS operations and facilities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Safety Program Leadership

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of CATS’ SMS and PTASP.
• Led preparation for FTA audits, SSOA reviews, corrective action plans (CAPs), triennial reviews, special investigations, and regulatory compliance activities.
• Ensure safety compliance for bus, rail, and construction operations in accordance with federal and state requirements.
• Coordinate official agency response to federal and state safety findings, recommendations, enforcement actions, and requests for information.
• Provide oversight of cross-functional safety initiatives and monitoring involving Operations, Maintenance, Capital Programs, Emergency Management, and Quality Assurance
• Establish policies, procedures, and reporting structures to strengthen safety performance.

Incident and Risk Management

• Direct investigations of accidents, incidents, and near-misses, ensuring timely root cause analysis and corrective action.
• Oversee hazard identification and risk assessment processes across all modes.
• Coordinate with Risk Management on hazardous materials management and incident reviews.

Training and Compliance Oversight

• Supervise safety training programs for operators, supervisors, and support staff.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA, fire codes, and environmental health and safety standards.
• Maintain documentation and certification processes for safety compliance.

Construction and Facility Safety and Code Compliance

• Oversee safety and code compliance for capital construction projects, facility improvements, and other construction-related work.
• Ensure contractors comply with applicable safety requirements, construction codes, permits, approved plans, and CATS standards.
• Conduct or oversee site audits, inspections, and compliance reviews for facilities and projects.
• Coordinate with project teams, contractors, inspectors, and code officials to address hazards, de