Program Manager - Safety & Security Certification (7424)

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

• $125K — $157K *
Transportation
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field, with 5-7 years of experience in capital project planning or transportation safety and security certification.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills for engagement at all organizational levels.
  • Analytical skills to address complex project management and program management issues effectively.
  • Proficiency in business applications essential for transportation project management.
  • Valid driver's license and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the implementation and improvement of SEPTA's Safety and Security Certification (SSC) Program.
  • Monitor capital projects for compliance with SSC requirements and collaborate with internal committees.
  • Apply Safety Risk Management (SRM) processes to relevant capital projects.
  • Establish certification requirements for projects requiring SSC.
  • Report on project progress, risks, and certification status to management.
  • Coordinate SSC activities with various project stakeholders, including consultants and contractors.
  • Oversee documentation and scheduling processes related to SSC.
  • Deliver training on SSC requirements to staff and project stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive healthcare coverage with minimal or no employee premiums.
  • Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan for retirement security.
  • Generous paid parental leave and vacation time for work-life balance.
  • Access to wellness programs for holistic employee support.
  • Tuition reimbursement for education and career growth.
  • Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to assist with student debt.
  • Free SEPTA Transportation Pass for unlimited access to transit services.
Full Job Description
We are seeking to hire candidates for our Program Manager - Safety & Security Certification (7424). Opening Date: 09/24/2026 Closing Date: 10/08/2026 Job Grade: SAM 43 Salary Range: $125,762.00-$157,196.00 OVERALL DESCRIPTION The Program Manager, Safety and Security Certification, leads and manages SEPTA's organization-wide Safety and Security Certification (SSC) program to ensure compliance with federal, state, and agency-level SSC regulatory requirements. While overseeing the SSC Program, this critical role engages in the identification, assessment, and mitigation of safety risks and security vulnerabilities related to capital projects before those projects enter service. The execution of an effective SSC program requires coordination between SEPTA departments, design consultants, construction contractors, safety and security consultants, and state and federal regulators. The Program Manager of Safety and Security Certification provides overarching Program Management, coordinates cross-functional teams, advises stakeholders as a subject matter expert, and oversees the full lifecycle of safety certification for capital projects, from risk assessment through final verification. This includes training and advising internal and external partners on SSC, managing the development and review of certification deliverables, participating in design review, maintaining thorough and accurate records of certification activities, and supporting SSC administrative functions, including management of SSC committees. The Senior Program Manager of SSC also develops strong relationships with regulatory stakeholders and manages routine correspondence, updates, and required submissions and reviews. The Program Manager, SSC, has technical responsibility for the interpretation, organization, coordination and implementation of the SSC Program at SEPTA. This includes program management and oversight, further development, continuous improvement, and implementation of a standardized approach to multi-modal SSC activities. They must have knowledge of capital project planning, safety engineering, construction, operations, and good business practices, including project management and design and construction management practices. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 37Leads and program-manages the implementation and continuous improvement of SEPTA's Safety and Security Certification (SSC) Program and maintains the Safety and Security Certification Program Plan (SSCPP) and supporting procedures. 37Actively monitors active capital projects and system changes to identify works subject to SSC requirements; coordinates with SEPTA committees engaged in capital project management and design review / change review. 37Ensures SEPTA's Safety Risk Management (SRM) process is appropriately applied to capital projects subject to Safety and Security Certification. 37Manages the SSC project assessment process to determine SSC applicability and, when certification is required, establishes the scope and level of certification requirements for each applicable project. 37Reports project progress, certification status, significant hazards and security risks, open items, and other issues requiring management action to the Safety and Security Review Committee (SSRC). 37Leads the establishment and progress of project-level committees and coordinates SSC activities with Project Managers, consultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders. 37Oversees SSC program scheduling, documentation, and stakeholder coordination. 37Partners with SEPTA divisions to ensure implementation of SSC requirements for applicable capital projects in accordance with regulatory and program requirements 37Ensures safety and security design reviews are performed on projects subject to the SSC process. 37Oversees the development of SSC program documents and records, including Safety and Security Certification Plans (SSCPs), Safety and Security Management Plans (SSMPs), safety and security design criteria, Certifiable Elements Lists (CELs), Preliminary Hazard Analyses (PHAs), Threat and Vulnerability Assessments (TVAs), Certifiable Items Lists (CILs), Operational Hazard Analyses (OHAs), Operational Readiness Conformance Checklists (ORCCs), Interim and Final Certificates of Conformance (COCs), and Safety and Security Certification Verification Reports (SSCVRs). SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES CONT'D 37Ensures identified safety hazards, security vulnerabilities, and open items are documented, tracked, verified in each project phase, and resolved prior to issuing the Certificate of Conformance. 37Maintains document control, storage, securement, and distribution of SSC documentation. 37Oversees the development, delivery, and monitoring of SEPTA's SSC Training Program for SEPTA staff and external project stakeholders; identifies training needs and serves as an instructor when required; provides technical assistance to project stakeholders as needed. 37Coordinates SSC Program status with SEPTA leadership and the PennDOT SSOA, including required reporting and SSC deliverable submissions. 37Serves as primary liaison for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and PennDOT State Safety Oversight Agency (SSOA) on SSC matters, under the direction of the Sr. Director, Safety Risk Management & Safety Culture. 37Maintains active communication and collaboration with other System Safety departments to integrate outputs of the SSC program, including lessons learned, risks that may apply to other projects or to current operations, mitigations that warrant close monitoring, and other information that reinforces the Safety Assurance function served by SSC. 37As directed by the Sr. Director, Safety Risk Management & Safety Culture, supports change management and configuration management processes for system modifications not requiring formal SSC, including management of records, participation in change reviews, and communication with other SEPTA divisions. 37Performs other duties as required by the Sr. Director, Safety Risk Management & Safety Culture. 37Duties may be required on a 24/7 basis and work schedule may vary. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 37Bachelor's Degree (or further degree) in Engineering, Safety Management, Operations Management, Emergency Management, Transportation, Business Management, Quality Management, Systems Management, City/Urban Planning or related field with five (5) - seven (7) years' experience in progressive and responsible experience in capital project planning, transportation strategic planning, engineering, transportation project management, and/or transportation safety & security certification. 37An equivalent combination of experience and education (one year of formal education equating to two years of work experience) may be considered in lieu of the above requirements. 37Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to deal effectively with a wide range of professional, supervisory and management personnel at all levels of the organization required. 37Strong analytical skills with a proven ability to handle and resolve complex problems related to project management, program management and contract administration duties required. 37Proven experience using computer business applications and systems essential to the field required. 37Must possess a valid driver's license. 37Must demonstrate the ability to pursue/perform multiple tasks simultaneously. 37Must have excellent verbal and technical writing skills. 37Prior experience with Transit Safety and Security Certification preferred. 37Capital Project management experience strongly preferred. 37Experience in the Transportation Industry preferred. IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 37Master's Degree in Engineering, Safety Management, City/Urban Planning and/or related discipline 37USDOT Transportation Institute Transit (TSI) Safety and Security Program (TSSP- Rail and/or TSSP-Bus) certificate. 37Federal Transit Administration Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program Certification (PTSCTP). 37Working knowledge of MIL-STD 882E, hazard identification, and mitigation. 37Significant experience in Transit Safety and Security Certification. 37Knowledge of the FTA Safety and Security Certification Handbook. 37Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage - Medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans with little to no employee premiums. 37Retirement Security - Participate in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan to build your financial future. 37Work-Life Balance - Enjoy paid parental leave, generous vacation time, and paid holidays to recharge and spend time with loved ones. 37Employee Wellness - Access wellness programs and resources to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 37Invest in Your Growth - We offer tuition reimbursement to support your education and career advancement. 37Student Loan Assistance - Our positions qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, helping you manage and reduce student debt. 37Free Travel Perks - Receive a FREE SEPTA Transportation Pass, giving you unlimited access to all SEPTA services! Join the Best in Transit! Apply Today Click Apply Now and take the next step in your career with SEPTA! Have Questions? For more information, please visit How We Hire Careers Page.

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