Safety & Assurance Director

Job Functions:

Skill:

·       Deliver Safety & Assurance leadership to the business.

·       Implement and monitor a robust Safety and Assurance system that spans the organization.

·       Lead the fostering of a safety culture that prioritizes transparency, honesty, and continuous improvement.

·       Actively promote an open environment where safety concerns, risks, and issues can be reported without fear of blame or retribution and makes the safety of the patrons and staff on the networks our top priority.

·       Encourage proactive communication, collaboration, and accountability so that safety remains at the forefront of our operations.

Safety Management System:

·       Develop, implement, maintain and continuously develop the safety management system (SMS) for railway facilities, ensuring compliance with local and international regulations.

·       Continuously monitor, review, and improve safety performance and practices to promote high standards of safety in all areas of railway operations.

Safety Audits and Inspections:

·       Lead regular safety audits, inspections, monitoring, and review of railway facilities to ensure all systems, equipment, and procedures are compliant with safety standards.

·       Implement thorough audit and assurance activities that support bringing maintenance and inspection of safety critical systems to 100% compliance and reduce the number of safety incidents to ALARP.

Incident Investigation:

·       Oversee the investigation of safety incidents, accidents, and near-misses determine root causes, generate, and close corrective actions are taken.

·       Ensure thorough reporting and documentation of incidents, including adherence to all reporting requirements and deadlines.

Quality Assurance Planning:

·       Develop and implement QA plans, policies, and procedures tailored to the specific needs of the facilities being managed.

·       Define the quality standards for all work activities and services within the facility, including maintenance, repairs, and new installations

·       Assure, though a program of monitoring, audit and review the application and effectiveness of defined quality standards.

Performance Reporting:

·       Design a suite of appropriate Safety and Assurance KPIs (both leading and lagging).

·       Provide regular reports to senior management and other stakeholders on safety performance, incidents, and compliance.

·       Track metrics and trends to assess the effectiveness of initiatives and identify areas for improvement.

Safety Culture Development:

·       Foster a proactive safety culture across all levels of railway facility operations.

·       Champion safety initiatives, ensuring safety is a key priority in daily operations and decision-making processes.

·       Promote and support a just culture to support near miss and safety incident reporting

Regulatory Compliance:

·       Continually review, assess and adjust practices and procedures to assure the business that railway facilities comply with national safety standards, industry regulations, and international safety best practices.

·       Keep up to date with changes in safety regulations and standards

Non-Conformance Management:

·       Identify and document instances of non-compliance or deviations from quality standards, procedures, or specifications.

·       Work with relevant teams (maintenance, contractors, etc.) to develop corrective actions and preventive measures to address any non-conformance.

Risk Management:

·       Identify, assess, and mitigate safety risks associated with railway infrastructure and operations.

·       Conduct regular risk assessments, safety audits, and safety reviews to identify areas for improvement.

Responsibilities

·       Provide clear leadership and set the Safety & Assurance vision for the business, based on worldwide best practice.

·       Define and monitor the relevant KPRs and implement an action plan to drive and improve performance. Ensure proper data collection and analytical processes are in place.

·       Lead, monitor and manage the timely development, production and maintenance of all documentation, including department policies, plans, manuals and operational procedures, supported by technical experts as required.

·       Promote the company’s values, role modelling them within the business and with stakeholders at all levels.

·       Support and promote behaviors underpin high standards of ethics and social responsibility through all transactions.

·       Oversee adherence to all budgets.

·       Lead the planning, implementation, and review of activities to manage and monitor company compliance with Railway Safety, Occupational Health & Safety, Quality, Environmental Management, Business Continuity and Sustainability obligations and commitments.

·       Lead and support ACIFM teams through the processes / procedures for requirements management to inform and support business planning and delivery (contractual, commitments and obligations compliance).

·       Deliver processes for best practice investigations into accidents and serious near-misses.

·       Review and confirm processes are in place for best practice assurance including performance monitoring, audit and management system review.

·       Maintain oversight of System and Safety Assurance activity and evidence base, identifying commercial risk and mitigation options, supported by each functional director.

·       Develop and implement effective reporting to support awareness, clear responsibilities, effective decision making, and intervention plans.

·       Carry out any other mission or work assigned by the General Manager.

·       Promote a positive Quality, Health and Safety, Environment driven culture always in the workplace and attend any related meetings/briefings as required within the job role.

·       Comply with the Company Quality, Health and Safety, Environmental Policies and Management System Requirements.

·       Develop and implement processes that identify and record incidents, including near misses and subsequent prompt root cause analysis is conducted, lessons are learnt and any resultant changes to working practices are embedded.

·       Submission of Hazard observations in accordance with Hazard observation reporting guidelines

·       Identify risks that may come from performed activities, define the appropriate mitigation and communicate the risk and mitigation to all stakeholders.

·       Consider the Health and Safety of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

·       Be mindful that Health and Safety, Quality, Security and Environmental is everyone’s responsibility and as such all-staff members are accountable for reporting and intervening in Health and Safety, Quality, Security and Environmental violations.

Job Requirements:

·       University Degree, preferably in Operations Management / Engineering,

·       Tertiary Qualification in a relevant discipline (Risk, Quality, Safety, Health, Environment)

·       Minimum 10 years of experience with at least 5 years of experience in Railway Operations & Maintenance

·       GCC experience is a must.

·       Specialized trainings required (if any): Member of a Railway or Safety related professional body preferred

·       Relevant ‘Senior Leader’ director level experience in achieving and managing, business governance and assurance activities.

·       Proven experience of leading and managing teams effectively.

·       Commercially astute.

·       Ability to think strategically, motivate and lead teams.

·       Demonstrative ability to set standards and driving initiatives to meet customer expectations.

·       Strong people facing and communication skills.

·       Highly motivated team player with sound organizational and leadership skills.

·       Structured mind-set and action-oriented person.

·       Focused on safety and customer excellence.

·       Fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills, Arabic is desirable.