Safety Specialist - Operational Safety (Contract Position)

Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

Our Engineering and Safety Division is seeking to hire two (2) Safety Specialists – Operational Safety. The Safety Specialist provides an integral function in the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of the safety management system for GO, UP Express and Rapid Transit Operations in a way that maintains alignment with Metrolinx’ Safety Management System (SMS), contributing to the prevention of injuries and the reduction of operational safety risks.

The Safety Specialist will help ensure that operational safety management plans, policies, procedures, and systems required for the protection of the operation, the public, passengers, employees, and contractors are developed and implemented in a manner that is consistent with best practices and continuous improvement for the management and mitigation of safety risks at Metrolinx.

This is a Contract up to 12.5 months. 

What Will I be Doing?

• Accountable to monitor the continuous improvement of safety through the analysis of leading and lagging indicators of performance and risk, and the application of rigorous root cause analysis and recommendations for improvement.

• Collaborate with business units and external stakeholders in the implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of safety management plans and actions to protect the operation, public, passengers, employees and contractors against safety hazards and risks.

• Possesses strong analytical and communication skills to improve health and safety knowledge / skills and maintain a strong safety culture amongst the safety team and the business units.

• Deliver safety management system guidance, training, and advice to business units and external stakeholders to build awareness and to demonstrate due diligence with respect to health and safety within Metrolinx. Works to promote a culture of safety with the safety division and business units and ensures that business units meet legislative and regulatory compliance requirements and effectively manage risk.

• Provides subject matter expertise in the development, management and maintenance of the safety management programs, procedures and policies to eliminate hazards, mitigate risk, and align with the Metrolinx Safety Management Systems

• Participates in the implementation and ongoing monitoring of the SMS in Rail. Assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the program’s elements and associated risk controls, on the basis of the demonstrated improvement in safety and risk outcomes within the business and collaterally across the broader enterprise.

• Ensures that the SMS and business unit processes are always compliant with Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Environmental Protection Act, Privacy Act, and applicable regulations or policies. Ensures processes and procedures are capable of certification to ISO 45001 standards.

• Implements improvements to risk management and safety management plans, procedures, systems, and policies related to health and safety based on existing, new and upcoming health and safety legislation/regulations.

• Audit health and safety management plans, policies, procedures, and systems to ensure alignment with best practices and continuous improvement for the management and mitigation of health and safety risks at Metrolinx.

• Participate in the investigation of safety related incidents, identify roots causes, report on trends and potential hazards; make recommendations on corrective actions to ensure adequate mitigation strategies.

• Collaborates with business units and external stakeholders with respect to the enterprise-wide safety management system.

• Collaborates with business units and external stakeholders on the development and implementation of programs, procedures and policies to demonstrate due diligence, maximize safety awareness and improve safety.

• Collaborates with business units and external stakeholders to promote a strong safety culture.

• Collaborates with business units and external stakeholders to implement safety objectives and track performance indicators; to develop safety goals, objectives, safety initiatives, and corrective actions plans.

• Provides occupational health and safety advice to stakeholders as required

• Fosters the development and maintenance of a safe and supportive workplace for staff

• Works collaboratively with the broader safety division and business units with respect to hazard identification and control, contractor monitoring, regulatory requirements, accident investigation, and notifications to external authorities.

• Actively participates in various meetings, conferences, committees, presentations, or other events to represents the passenger and public safety group (rail or bus)

• Identifies and implements effective risk management strategies, processes and practices to address safety risk within the business units.

• Identifies industry best practices and lessons learned in health and safety management and communicates these to the business units.

• Review safety issues, trends, systemic safety risks, and safety policy/process concerns

• Contributes to the development of policies, reporting tools, directives, procedures, and program implementation to identify improved methods / techniques related to health and safety management.

• Advises other employees on topics related to the incumbent’s area of expertise but does not guide employees in their day-to day activities.

• Guides and influences others in performance of their day-to-day activities, without direct supervisory responsibility.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• University degree in Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, Bachelor of Science or Business Administration, or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent.

• A Masters in a related field would also be beneficial for this role.

• Canadian Registered Safety Professional designation is an asset

• Demonstrated years of related health and safety experience

• Demonstrated experience with operational safety experience, ideally in a regulated transportation industry

• Knowledge of legislative and regulatory requirements governing occupational health and safety including but not limited to Workers Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA), Human Rights Code of Ontario, Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA)

• Maintains knowledge and compliance with occupational health and safety legislation

• Recognized SMS training would be an asset, as would experience in Customer Service Delivery and/or Station Facilities would be an asset.

• Effective oral communication, presentation, and consultation skills to provide expertise/advice to colleagues and management.

• Effective written communication skills to provide internal and external reports, briefings, and memoranda.

• Active listening skills in order to understand the full extent of issues, concentration to analyze issues, and resolve issues.

• Agile and demonstrated flexibility to multitask and deal with interruptions for urgent requests for information.

• Proficiency in computer applications, including MS Office (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Experience producing data visualizations with Power BI, Tableau, or similar products an asset, as are experience with R, Python, SAS, JMP or other statistical analysis tools.

• Experience with system and databases that support the collection, analysis, and reporting of safety observations and incidents.

• Analytical and problem-solving skills to analyze problems, detect root causes, and resolve issues.

• Effective project management skills to support the delivery of inter-dependent projects with high complexity, risk, and organizational impact.

• Knowledge of Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR), front-line transit operations, safety programs, transportation planning, and policy development would be an asset. 

• Normal physical effort is required.

• Work requires normal concentration and attention.

• The role may require working evenings and/or weekends for emergencies and to conduct incident investigations.

• The job requires working for periods of time outdoors and being subject to variations in weather conditions and seasonal weather patterns.

• The job requires working for periods of time wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses and hard hats.

• A valid Ontario "G" class driver’s license is required. A Driver’s Abstract (within the last 3 Years) will be required of the successful candidate reflecting a valid Ontario “G” license.

Don’t Meet Every Requirement? 

If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation:
Metrolinx is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are also committed to offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants in accordance with applicable legislation. If you require assistance or an accommodation at any point during the hiring process, please contact us at: 416-202-5601 or email hr.recruitment@metrolinx.com.

Application Process:

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time-sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate.

Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.

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