Safety Assurance Director

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Job Description:

Parsons are looking for a highly experienced and motivated Safety Assurance Director (Rail). The Safety Assurance Director (Rail) is the senior subject matter expert for rail safety assurance, accountable for establishing, leading, and continually improving the safety assurance framework across rail operations, projects, and assets.

The role provides strategic direction, governance, and oversight to ensure that:

• Safety is embedded in operational and investment decision‑making and in project delivery

• All rail activities comply with applicable KSA safety legislation, regulatory guidance, standards, and internal policies

• System safety risks are systematically identified, assessed, controlled, and monitored throughout the lifecycle of rail assets and are demonstrated to be both tolerable and as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP)

The post‑holder will work closely with multi‑disciplinary systems engineering, project delivery, and operations teams, as well as clients, regulators, and supply‑chain partners, to deliver safe, high‑performance, and sustainable transport systems that meet user needs and long‑term strategic goals.

What You'll Be Doing:

1. Strategy, Governance & Framework

• Develop and maintain the organization’s rail safety assurance strategy, policies, and management systems, aligned to regulatory requirements, client expectations, and international best practice (e.g. ISO 15288, IEC 61508, EN 50126/29, EN 50716, NFPA 130, Common Safety Method).

• Define and oversee the safety assurance framework for operations, maintenance, and capital projects (including upgrades, renewals, new lines, and multi‑modal interfaces).

• Ensure safety assurance requirements and processes are fully integrated into the rail system lifecycle (concept, design, construction, testing, commissioning, operations, modification, and decommissioning).

• Chair and/or participate in executive safety committees, safety review boards, and technical assurance panels, providing clear recommendations and formal advice on safety‑related decisions.

• Provide regular assurance reports, performance insights, and risk profiles to the executive team and Board, including status against safety plans, risk tolerability, and regulatory commitments.

2. System Safety, Risk & Lifecycle Assurance

• Design and implement robust safety assurance processes, including hazard identification, risk assessment, safety case development, safety justification, and change control.

• Ensure that safety, regulatory, RAM (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability) and operational requirements are captured, traceable, verified, and validated across the system lifecycle, in alignment with systems engineering practices (e.g. V&V strategies, requirements management, interface management).

• Lead the development and maintenance of safety cases and supporting documentation for infrastructure, rolling stock, signalling, telecommunications, power, control systems, and supporting technology/platforms.

• Support and oversee the application of systems engineering and system safety methodologies within projects and operations, working closely with Systems Engineering leadership to ensure coherence between engineering and safety assurance activities.

• Ensure that system safety risks are systematically managed to an acceptable level and demonstrably ALARP, with clear safety arguments, evidence frameworks, and assurance plans.

3. Regulatory Engagement, Certification & Approvals

• Act as the primary point of contact on rail safety assurance matters with safety regulators, authorizing agencies, accreditation bodies and other external stakeholders, such as Transport General Authority (TGA), Civil Defense, SASO and other relevant entities in KSA.

• Coordinate regulatory submissions, approvals, licences and certifications, including phased safety submissions, safety cases, technical dossiers, and supporting evidence.

• Support project teams and duty holders in planning and managing engagement with regulators and independent assessment bodies (e.g. Independent Safety Assessors, Notified Bodies, Client’s Engineer, TGA‑approved Independent Competent Persons).

• Monitor changes in legislation, standards, and regulatory guidance; assess impacts on operations and projects; and lead the implementation of necessary changes to processes, designs, and controls.

4. Project Safety Assurance & Technical Oversight

• Provide independent safety assurance for rail projects, including major renewals, enhancements, and new developments, from concept through to entry into service.

• Ensure safety is integrated into design decisions, procurement specifications, and contract requirements, and that suppliers and duty holders understand and meet their safety assurance obligations.

• Oversee safety verification and validation activities, including testing, commissioning, and entry‑into‑service readiness reviews, ensuring that acceptance criteria and safety requirements are fully satisfied.

• Hold project delivery teams, supervision consultants, and key supply‑chain partners to account for timely delivery of safety plans, analyses, evidence, and approvals.

• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead critical reviews such as HAZOP, FMEA and other system safety and RAM analyses, ensuring alignment with international standards (e.g. CSM, EN 50126).

5. Operational Safety Assurance & Performance

• Provide assurance that rail operations and maintenance activities are conducted safely and in line with approved processes, risk controls, and regulatory requirements.

• Oversee the safety assurance of timetable changes, new or modified routes, rolling stock introductions or modifications, signalling and control system changes, and infrastructure upgrades.

• Ensure robust management of operational risk, including safety risk assessments, route risk assessments, and safety validation of operational and timetable changes.

• Review and approve key safety‑related operational procedures, rules, and instructions, ensuring clarity, compliance, and usability for operational staff.

6. Audit, Incident Learning & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and manage a risk‑based safety audit, review, and inspection programme across operations, projects, and suppliers; ensure findings are addressed, tracked to closure, and used to drive improvements.

• Plan and conduct systems assurance audits, planned inspections, and participate in regulator and duty holder activities such as site inspections, factory acceptance tests, and emergency planning exercises.

• Oversee the investigation and analysis of significant incidents, near misses, and safety‑related events, ensuring that root causes are identified, corrective actions implemented, and effectiveness verified.

• Ensure that lessons learned are captured, shared, and embedded into standards, processes, training, and future designs, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

• Benchmark safety performance against international best practice (e.g. via COMET or comparable benchmarking programmes), and use insights to set and refine safety performance metrics and targets.

7. Leadership, Culture & Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide clear leadership and direction to the Safety Assurance team and related functions, setting expectations, priorities, and performance objectives.

• Promote and model a positive, proactive safety culture, aligned with values of Safety, Integrity, Innovation, Collaboration, Inclusion, and Quality.

• Encourage openness, reporting, and learning, and discourage blame; recognize and reward exemplary safety behaviours and performance.

• Mentor and develop safety professionals, building internal capability in rail safety assurance, system safety, and safety regulation.

• Work collaboratively with internal functions (e.g. systems engineering, operations, maintenance, HSWE, fire & life safety, security & resilience) and external partners (consultants, contractors, suppliers) to ensure alignment and effective delivery.

• Influence senior leaders, project directors, and external stakeholders to integrate safety considerations into strategic, financial, and operational decisions.

What required skills you'll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Rail Technology, Systems Engineering or a closely related discipline; Master’s degree preferred.

• Recognized professional registration (e.g. Chartered Engineer or equivalent) or eligibility for such registration.

• At least 20 years of relevant experience in rail, metro, or broader land transport sectors, covering design, construction, systems integration and/or operations & maintenance in safety‑critical environments.

• A minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role on major rail or mass transit programmes, with accountability for safety assurance, system safety, or safety certification.

• Demonstrable experience in developing and managing safety cases, safety management systems, and safety assurance frameworks for complex rail systems, including multi‑disciplinary and multi‑vendor environments.

• Proven track record of securing regulatory approvals and authorizations (e.g. from TGA, Civil Defense, SASO or equivalent authorities), including preparation and defence of safety submissions and technical dossiers.

• Strong understanding of rail safety legislation, regulation, and standards in KSA, and practical experience applying them in project and operational contexts.

• In‑depth knowledge of industry standards and methods such as ISO 15288, IEC 61508, EN 50126/29, EN 50716, NFPA 130, Common Safety Method, and associated RAMS practices.

• Experience with smart city frameworks, sustainable design principles, and integration of rail systems into wider urban and mobility ecosystems is advantageous.

• Previous Middle East / GCC experience is highly desirable.

• Expert ability to lead, influence, and negotiate with senior leaders, project teams, and suppliers to achieve safety outcomes in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex technical and safety information and present clear, concise recommendations to executive audiences.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to articulate safety strategies, risks, and performance to a wide range of stakeholders, including international teams and regulators.

• Proven capability to manage competing priorities, provide strategic oversight, and deliver against challenging deadlines in a fast‑paced major project environment.

• Demonstrated commitment to high professional and ethical standards, accountability, and continuous improvement in safety performance and culture.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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