Capital Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking an experienced and practical Director of Risk, Safety and Training to lead the agency’s safety, claims/risk coordination, and frontline training functions. This position is responsible for helping protect employees, passengers, vehicles, facilities, and the organization through strong safety leadership, accident prevention, regulatory compliance, workers’ compensation and claims coordination, and effective training for operations and maintenance employees.

This role oversees CATS’ safety programs, accident and incident review processes, workers’ compensation coordination, liability and insurance claims coordination, regulatory safety compliance, emergency preparedness planning, and training programs for bus operators and maintenance employees. The Director works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Human Resources, Finance, and executive leadership to strengthen safety performance, reduce organizational risk, and support reliable transit service.

Essential Functions:

Safety and Compliance:

• Lead the agency’s system safety and operational risk management efforts for transit operations and maintenance.

• Maintain and support implementation of the agency’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) and Safety Management System (SMS).

• Develop, update, and implement safety policies, procedures, and programs designed to reduce accidents, injuries, and unsafe conditions.

• Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements related to transit safety, CDL and safety-sensitive training, accident reporting, and workplace safety.

• Coordinate safety audits, inspections, corrective action plans, and follow-up activities.

 

Risk, Claims, and Workers’ Compensation Coordination:

• •          Oversee accident, incident, and injury reporting and investigation processes.

• Coordinate investigations involving vehicle accidents, employee injuries, passenger incidents, and property damage.

• Track corrective actions and recommend strategies to reduce repeat incidents and claims exposure.

• Coordinate workers’ compensation claims and return-to-work processes in partnership with Human Resources.

• Coordinate liability, vehicle, and other operational claims with insurance carriers, adjusters, brokers, and legal counsel, as assigned.

• Monitor claims, injuries, and loss trends and prepare reports and recommendations for leadership.

 

Training – Operations and Maintenance:

• •         Direct and oversee training programs for bus operators, maintenance employees, and other designated safety-sensitive operational staff.

• Oversee new operator training, refresher training, remedial training, accident prevention training, defensive driving, ADA and securement-related training, and other required operational safety training.

• Oversee maintenance-related safety and compliance training in coordination with maintenance leadership.

• Support CDL-related training requirements, operator readiness, and training documentation.

• Ensure required training records are maintained and available for compliance, audit, and operational purposes.

 

Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response:

• Support emergency response planning, severe weather preparation, and business continuity efforts related to transit operations.

• Participate in major incident response and post-incident review.

• Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, Human Resources, and executive leadership during serious accidents, employee injuries, and service disruptions.

Leadership and Administration:

• Supervise staff assigned to the Safety, Risk and Training functions.

• Prepare reports, dashboards, and recommendations related to accidents, claims, training completion and safety performance.

• Assist with departmental budgeting, vendor oversight, and procurement related to safety and training programs.

• Build effective working relationships with regulators, outside partners, insurers, and internal departments

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Risk Management, Transportation, Business, Public Administration, Occupational Safety, Emergency Management, or a related field.

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in safety, risk management, claims, training, transit operations, maintenance, regulatory compliance, or a closely related field.

• Three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.

• Experience conducting or overseeing accident, incident, injury, or claims reviews.

• Experience developing, coordinating, or delivering training in an operational, transportation, industrial, or safety-sensitive environment.

• Strong working knowledge of workplace safety, accident prevention, investigations, and regulatory compliance.

• Strong written, verbal, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in public transit, transportation, logistics, fleet operations, or another highly regulated operating environment.

• Experience with PTASP, SMS, DOT, FTA, FMCSA, OSHA, ADA, workers’ compensation, or safety-sensitive training requirements.

• Experience working in a unionized environment.

• Experience overseeing or coordinating operator and maintenance training.

• Professional certifications such as CSP, ASP, ARM, CRM, or similar credentials are preferred but not required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Clean driving record.
• Three years of experience as a vehicle mechanic in any area.
• Knowledge of vehicle mechanics, including: diesel and gasoline engines, mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Ability to independently or with minimal assistance provide repair service to engine and all mechanic parts of a bus or vehicle.
• Must be able to read, interpret and follow repair and installation instructions; perform repair and maintenance timely as assigned by Supervisors and Managers and must maintain required schedule 
• Possession or the ability to obtain within 30 days of employment, Valid Louisiana Commercial Driver’s License with passenger endorsement
• Must satisfactorily pass a background examination, physical examination, and drug/alcohol screening.

Note*: The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities. Specific assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the agency.

Capital Area Transit System (CATS) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, CATS complies with applicable state and local laws
governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment,
including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  A high school diploma or equivalent and three years’ experience in transit with at least one year in supervisory/management capacity in any field and at least two years as an operator with CATS. A valid Louisiana Commercial Driver’s License & DOT Medical Card is required. 

SUMMARY:   Performs daily servicing, inspection, removal of vaults from fare boxes and cleans buses and other CATS Transit vehicles.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:  Knowledge of fleet training principles and practices, knowledge of operational and mechanical aspects of fleet equipment. Knowledge of federal, state, and local statutes, codes and standards of the policies and procedures that relate to bus, trolley and van operation. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to establish working relationships within department, agency, and external vendors. 

Essential Duties: 
Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): 
·        Perform daily service of buses such as; adding fuel, checking and adding fluids and coolants, cleaning interiors, washing exteriors, emptying vaults from fare boxes, checking tires for thread and pressure. 
·        Inspects for and reports torn seats, rotting floors, cracked windows, loose mirrors, worn or damaged tires, fluid leaks, improper or unusual odors, etc. 
·        Perform custodial building maintenance in the garage, such as sweeping and washing floors. 
·        Perform periodic maintenance work on service equipment such as the bus washer. 
·        Fully knowledgeable of and maintain compliance with all safety rules and regulations. 
·        Insure proper safety tools and equipment are used at all times and understand the requirement for reporting safety hazards and/or violations. 
·        Assist mechanics with minor maintenance, as requested. 
·        Other duties as assigned. 

Capital Area Transit System (CATS) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, CATS complies with applicable state and local laws
governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment,
including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

• Applicants must have a valid Commercial Driver's License with Passenger Endorsement for job consideration. 

• Examines bus to insure its proper mechanical operation, including review of all safety features.

• Safely operates transit buses in revenue service according to the State of Louisiana traffic regulations, transporting passengers over established city routes according to required time schedule.

• Collects bus fares, issues transfers, and answers passengers’ questions in a professional and congenial manner.

• Conduct ridership surveys, reports bus stop and bus shelter problems, delays due to accidents, street closures, and passenger misconduct incidents.

• Provides passengers with information regarding bus routes, answers service questions and announces major bus stops and transfer points.

• Enforce company policies regulating passenger conduct.

• Assists in loading, securing, and unloading wheelchairs and passengers based on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

• Reports any dangerous conditions that could jeopardize the safety of the passenger or other members of the public.

• Maintains contact with dispatch and reports current position and conditions effecting the operation of the route as required.

• Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours as necessary.

• Effective and respectful communication and interaction with other employees, supervisors, individuals from other organizations, and customers.

• Other duties as assigned or apparent.

DESIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Skilled in safe driving practices and great customer service skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively both oral and written including presentation abilities.

• Ability to establish and maintain an effective and cooperative working relationship with coworkers, supervisors, other company employees, city officials and the general public using courtesy, tact, and good judgment.

• Ability to deal with difficult situations and understand the views and concerns of others.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a diverse workforce.

• Ability to work in varying weather conditions.

• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices within 90 days of employment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent

• MUST be at least 21 years of age or older and possess a valid Commercial Driver's License with Passenger Endorsement

• MUST be available to work varying shifts to include days, nights, weekends and holidays. • MUST be able to pass physical agility tests with no limitations on upper or lower back.

• MUST be able to walk, kneel, bend, push and/or pull to complete moderate to heavy lifting when necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

How to apply:  Please visit www.brcats.com/apply to complete and submit online application or download, complete and submit application to catscareers@brcats.com.   

CATS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfers, leaves of absence, compensation and training. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.