Prevention and Mitigation Specialist

Location: New Carrollton Metro Building

WMATA Reference: 240125

On-Site Work Statement: This is an on-site/in-person work opportunity

Marketing Statement:
Join a team seeking to make big changes at the cutting edge of transit in North America. In Metro’s Department of Safety, the Office of Emergency Preparedness is expanding its staff to meet its redefined mission to participate in decision-making processes, assessing emergency conditions, and researching post-disaster capabilities to implement enhanced emergency preparedness within the Authority. We’re seeking experienced and skilled individuals in emergency management with a blend of technical, managerial and communication skills to manage disaster preparedness with stakeholder and support organizations.

Summary
The Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) mission is a 24/7/365 commitment to mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from planned and unplanned events. The office is a part of the Department of Safety’s Safety Management Oversight function.

A Prevention and Mitigation Specialist is a member of the Prevention and Mitigation team, which executes all activities necessary to gather, manage and analyze relevant data, to develop and respond to corrective actions, to continuously improve the Authority’s performance in relation to emergency preparedness, and ultimately reduce the likelihood and severity of emergency incidents in the future across the whole Authority, including rail, bus, paratransit and administration.

The incumbent has diverse skills and experience, such as data analysis, business system design and management, fire-life-safety inspection, risk prevention and mitigation, organizational change management, systems design and engineering, or program and project management.

The work relies on effective communication and liaison with senior management and frontline staff from both Metro and external partner agencies and is inextricably linked with the Authority’s Safety Management System. The incumbent has excellent written and verbal communication skills, is experienced building and running business systems, and is able to deliver multiple, complex projects and programs with administrative ease; the position requires a proven record of delivering results on time, within budget, and in collaboration with multiple departments and stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Responsible for the development, coordination, delivery and continuous improvement of OEP’s emergency management prevention and mitigation functions, including the policies, procedures, programs, processes, systems and other elements necessary to increase safety and reduce risk across the Authority, including rail, bus, paratransit and administration.
• Collects, organizes, analyzes, tracks and reports on the organization’s ability to safely and efficiently respond to emergencies and crises; develops and manages the management system (including data, metrics, tools, decisions) necessary to execute the emergency management prevention and mitigation functions. In doing so, plays a lead role in driving forward the corporate Safety Management System.
• Tracks and reviews the quality, effectiveness, impact and compliance of the prevention and mitigation activities and other functions delivered by the OEP team, seeking to continually improve and refine all team activities to reach or surpass global emergency preparedness best practices; develops and administers OEP’s system to manage regulatory oversight and audit findings, recommendations, Corrective Action Plans and related activities.
• Responsible for coordinating and tracking activities to ensure the Authority’s compliance with federal, regional, and local regulations and obligations regarding emergency management. This occurs in close coordination with other OEP teams and WMATA departments.
• Manages and cultivates multiple strategic and operational partnerships, not only internally with the Authority’s senior management teams (across all functions including rail, bus, paratransit, and administration), but also externally with local and regional agencies as necessary. Represents the Authority on internal and external emergency preparedness activities, committees, task forces, teams, and meetings.
• Performs other duties to support the Director, other OEP teams, the Chief Safety Officer and Department of Safety, or other operational departments on a temporary basis as operational requirements demand on a 24/7/365 basis.
• Plays a lead role in programs and projects to ensure the continuous improvement of OEP’s prevention and mitigation functions to attain the Authority’s goals for a comprehensive emergency preparedness and crisis management strategy that satisfies the highest standards, international best practices, and the business needs of one of the largest and high profile transit systems in the United States.

The essential duties listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Minimum Qualifications

Education
Bachelor’s degree in Systems Design/Engineering, Public Administration, Risk Management, Business, Emergency Management, or other related fields

In lieu of bachelor's degree, a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED) and four (4) years of experience performing operations system engineering, organizational risk management and compliance, or emergency management activities. In addition, the candidate will also need to satisfy the Experience requirement referenced below

Experience
Minimum four (4) years of experience in operations systems engineering or organizational risk management and compliance, or emergency management, working in an operationally complex organization.

Certification/Licensure
Valid motor vehicle operator’s license from the jurisdiction of residence

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Systems Design/Engineering, Public Administration, Risk Management, Business, Emergency Management, or other related fields
• Knowledge of transit operations and relevant organizational risk management and emergency management principles, risks and strategies in a transit or transportation operating environment
• Certification in Change Management (e.g. Prosci)
• Applied knowledge, experience or certification in Program Management, Safety Management Systems, Systems Design/Engineering, Change Management and Just Culture
• Certification in the field of Safety or Safety Management System (e.g. Transportation Safety Institute), Emergency Management (e.g. IAEM) or other related fields
• Certification or applied experience in implementation and management of data analysis, data science or data management

Medical Group:
Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Evaluation Criteria:
Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal background check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety-sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing:
WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.

Please apply before 4/29/2024

To apply for this position, visit WMATA's Career Center