Program Manager, Technical Safety

Requisition ID: 22740

Department: Transit Services Dept.

Service: Safety, Regulatory, Training & Development Service

Employment Type: 1 Full-time Permanent

Work Hours: 35.00 hours per week

Affiliation: MPE

Salary Information: $113,700.86 - $143,798.20 annually (2025 rates of pay)

Location: Transit Service, 1500 St.Laurent

City: Ottawa, ON

Job Category: Management

Application Close: 17/06/2026

Job Summary

You are responsible for leading the development, implementation, and oversight of technical safety programs across transit for all modes. You ensure that transit assets, systems, and operations comply with applicable safety regulations, engineering standards, and industry best practices, and that safety risks and hazards are systematically identified, mitigated, and monitored. You work with leaders across the department to support Transit crisis occurrences that are technical in nature and provide professional recommendations to the Chief Safety Officer on safety orders, root cause, containment, mitigation and future technical safety requirements.

You provide subject matter leadership in system safety and engineering safety standards, including Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS), in alignment with the Safety Management System and Security Management System. You lead a team of subject-matter experts that bridges safety and engineering, providing technical systems safety expertise, professional analysis, and strategic guidance to support the safe and reliable delivery of public transit services across all transit modes, including:

• Technical Safety program: designing systems, processes, procedures, policies, assets and technologies to identify, investigate, control, and demonstrably manage safety risks and hazards.
• Technical Security program: oversight including identifying, analyzing and making recommendations on transit security systems, equipment and procedures to demonstrably manage security risks and threats.
• Safety Incidents: mobilizing and integrating cross-functional teams (internal and contracted), ensuring timely investigation, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and implementation of corrective actions to restore safe and reliable transit operations.
• Special Safety Projects: leading technical safety projects and initiatives which strengthen system safety, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management.

You are also responsible for managing the unit’s human and financial resources, and partner relationships.

Education And Experience

Completion of a 4 year university degree in Engineering, Science, Social Sciences, Health and Safety or related technical discipline.

Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in safety, risk management, fleet safety or safety assurance, preferably in a transportation environment, including a minimum of 2 years of leadership experience.

Experience in rail is an asset.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

Health & Safety certification such as Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), Certified Health & Safety Consultant (CHSC) or related certification is desirable

Rail & Bus System Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP) Certificate with Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) is desirable

Licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) is desirable

KNOWLEDGE

• Demonstrated knowledge of established risk management and safety management system standards, such as CSA Z1000, ISO 45001/31000, EN 50126 OHSAS 18001, and ANSI Z10
• Thorough knowledge of legislation, trends, policies, regulations, issues, principles and procedures related to regulatory compliance and governance including Transport Canada, Transportation Safety Board and Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
• Strong understanding of safety engineering principles and risk management methodologies in addition to transit systems (signaling, rolling stock, facilities, power, etc.)
• Planning and performance measurement theories and practices
• Knowledge of investigative methods, techniques and practices
• Knowledge of risk assessments (both technical and project), risk identification, analysis and mitigation controls
• Project management principles and techniques
• Understanding of the programs/services and operations of other City areas, and the inter-relationships between them and own work area
• Must be familiar with applicable health and safety legislation, have knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the work place, and have knowledge of appropriate actions to be taken in order to ensure the health and safety of staff in accordance with applicable legislation and City policies and procedures

Competencies, Skills And Abilities

Core Behaviours

Core behaviours define the City’s expectations of the behaviours employees should demonstrate in performing their work. They are reflective of the City’s culture and values and guide all our present and future activities. Every employee is encouraged to learn, embody and demonstrate these core behaviours.

Review the Core Behaviours .

Leadership Competencies

The City has defined key competencies that leaders are expected to embody and demonstrate to successfully move the organization towards achieving its strategic objectives and create an organizational culture that supports and empowers employees to excel, grow and reach their full potential. These leadership competencies and associated behaviours are expected to be demonstrated by leaders at all levels of the organization.

Review the Leadership Competencies.

What You Need To Know

• Language Requirement: English oral, reading, writing
• Experience and formal training combined with demonstrated performance and ability may substitute for stipulated academic requirements.
• Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The City of Ottawa promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and non-binary persons, persons of all ethnic origins, religions, sexual orientations, classes, gender identities and expressions.

Candidates are encouraged to self-identify as a member of one or more designated employment equity groups in the self-identification questionnaire.

The City of Ottawa provides accommodation to applicants during all parts of the hiring process, upon request. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Please contact the HR Service Centre (email: View email address on canada.jobradars.com) at View phone number on canada.jobradars.com Employee Service Centre at View phone number on canada.jobradars.com or via email at ***email_hidden*** .