Director of Compliance and Assurance

Job Description

This position can also be based in Fresno, CA

Under the general direction of the Chief of Safety and Security, the Director of Compliance and Assurance provides independent assurance to executive leadership that safety, security, and compliance systems are effective, implemented, and auditable across the Authority. The incumbent ensures adherence to federal and state grant requirements, regulatory obligations, internal policies, and industry best practices. The role provides executive-level expertise and leadership to promote a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the program.

Position Responsibilities

Systems Safety and Risk Management

• Establishes and maintains the Authority’s Safety Management System (SMS) framework aligned with governing regulatory bodies.
• Oversees hazard identification, risk assessment, and hazard log management across all project phases
• Ensures safety and security requirements are systematically integrated into design, construction, testing, pre-revenue service and operations
• Maintains processes for tracking nonconformances, design deviations, and risk mitigation through closure.
• Provides independent verification that system elements meet safety certification and acceptance requirements.

Compliance Monitoring and Regulatory Assurance

• Oversees compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and requirements relevant to transportation infrastructure, grant funding, safety, security, and project delivery.
• Leads independent oversight reviews, audits, inspections, and assessments across program areas.
• Ensures timely reporting to regulatory and oversight bodies, including adherence to Federal Railroad Administration and federal grant requirements.
• Provides independent oversight and verification of contractor compliance with Authority requirements, contract specifications, and regulatory standards, including validation of correction actions prior to closure.
• Identifies emerging risks and recommends strategies to strengthen compliance and minimize exposure to litigation, audit findings, or program delays.

Policies, Procedures, and Quality Assurance

• Develops, maintains, and updates compliance and assurance policies, guidelines, procedures, and internal controls that support continuous improvement.

• Establishes quality assurance processes for program management, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and completeness in documentation and reporting.

• Collaborates cross-functionally to ensure program decisions, designs, and operational activities comply with established criteria, regulatory obligations, and best practices.
• Supports development, implementation, and continued improvement of occupational health and safety management practices aligned with ISO 45001 principles

• Develops and maintains leading and lagging safety performance indicators, including SIF(p), exposure trends, and predictive analysis.

• Establishes enterprise dashboards to inform executive decision making and risk prioritization.
• Facilitates corrective action planning and tracks implementation of process improvements.
• Performs other job-related duties as required

Basic Job Requirements

• Accredited four (4) year degree or global equivalent in applicable field of study and sixteen (16) years or more years of work-related experience
• Ability to communicate effectively with audiences that include but are not limited to management, coworkers, clients, vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders
• Job related technical knowledge necessary to complete the job
• Ability to learn and apply knowledge of applicable local, state/province, and federal/national statutes and guidelines
• Ability to attend to detail and work in a time-conscious and time-effective manner

Other Job Requirements

• Minimum of 12 years of experience supporting major or mega infrastructure program
• Ability to travel up to 30%
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across organizational boundaries.
• Strong leadership, discretion, and professionalism.
• Ability to analyze complex compliance issues, develop solutions, and recommend effective courses of action.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, regulatory agencies, contractors, and internal staff.
• Ability to integrate and coordinate the work of multidisciplinary teams, exercise sound judgment, and operate under tight deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Principles, practices, and trends of public administration, regulatory compliance, risk management, program evaluation, and organizational management.
• Experience with Federal and state oversight requirements related to major transportation infrastructure projects.
• Experience with U.S. and international rail and transportation standards applicable to major infrastructure programs, including European railway standards such as EN 50126 – 50129 and 50159, where relevant to system design and safety assurance.
• Knowledge of federal grant management requirements, regulatory frameworks, and industry best practices.