Director - Safety Certification & Regulation - 20004571 (CDU911)

The Director, Safety Certification & Regulation leads the development and implementation of transport-specific safety regulatory strategies and processes across the Transport Business Unit (TBU) in support of TBU objectives, QIC’s HSW Policy and QIC’s ‘Safety First’ culture.

The role ensures that TBU portfolio safety authorization requirements are clearly defined and fully integrated into the planning, design and execution of all projects within TBU to reflect industry best practice and ensure compliance with Transport General Authority (TGA) and other third-party authorizing agency requirements.

The post holder works closely with TBU functions and project teams and QIC Districts to ensure alignment with broader QIC and TBU safety goals, objectives and stakeholder expectations.

Core responsibilities

• Develop and implement the strategy and supporting processes required to ensure TBU meets its statutory obligations for securing all necessary safety certifications and authorizations across the TBU portfolio in a timely and efficient manner, supporting designated project Duty Holders’ as required.
• Act a role model for TBU leadership behaviors, in line with Qiddiya values, leading by example as a positive and engaging presence within the TBU team
• Develop the TBU’s safety certification program, and supporting milestones, recommendations, analysis and any other required information for leadership, in conjunction with each TBU project’s requirements.
• Ensure TBU-specific safety regulatory requirements are effectively communicated to, and shared with, relevant QIC Corporate Departments (e.g. Security & Resilience, Fire & Life Safety etc.) and other relevant BUs and Districts to ensure robust cross-BU alignment and efficient and compliant project delivery.
• Act as TBU’s designated primary point of contact with the Transport General Authority (TGA) and other authorizing agencies (e.g. Civil Defense, SASO etc.) ensuring arrangements are in place for securing effective TBU-wide and project-specific liaison as appropriate.
• Develop and enhance as required TBU leadership and projects teams’ knowledge and understanding of external safety certification and regulatory requirements (e.g. the Railway Law, TGA Railway Guidance, industry standards and best practice etc.) to ensure effective and timely project delivery and legal compliance.
• Support project teams in securing engagement with authorizing agencies and the preparation, presentation and submission of the required phased submissions to TGA, and others as required, ensuring provision of sufficient advice to TBU project delivery teams and supply chain partners to enable them to discharge their corporate, TBU and regulatory obligations as required.
• Oversee the production of project-specific safety authorization and certification documentation (e.g. engineering Safety Cases, Operational Safety Cases etc.) and hold TBU project delivery teams and their delivery supervision consultants, supply-chain partners (e.g. TBU Duty Holders) to account for adherence to TBU and external regulatory requirements in the course of design, development and project delivery activities, including Operations & Maintenance (O&M). so as to ensure their production in a timely manner.
• Motivate and inspire a high-performance safety compliance culture through clear direction, providing continuous feedback, recognizing and rewarding exceptional performance and fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation, and accountability across TBU and QIC and throughout the supply-chain.
• Develop and implement TBU’s strategy and requirements for system-wide Independent Safety Assessment (ISA), including securing procurement, contract management and day-to-day management of system-wide safety engineering activities in accordance with industry standards (e.g. IEC 61508) and international best practice.
• Develop a TBU rail-specific Safety Risk Model (SRM) and supporting system-safety processes in accordance with industry best practice and international standards (e.g. EN 50126 etc.).
• Participate and contribute to national and industry-specific events, conferences and thought-leadership to ensure full immersion in sector best practice, keeping abreast of the latest trends and technologies.
• Plan and conduct TBU performance monitoring activities including audits and planned inspections and co-ordinate, and participate in, as required, third-party Duty Holder and authorizing agency activities (e.g. TGA site inspections, supplier FATs, emergency planning exercises etc.).
• Establish KSA (e.g. TGA) and international standard safety requirements and specifications are developed for inclusion in project-specific contract tender and other documentation etc., and participate in market engagement, tender preparation and evaluation exercises as required.
• Ensure TBU and suppliers (e.g. Duty Holders) meet their obligations with regard to the provision of mandatory independent assessment resources (e.g. Client’s Engineer, Product-level ISA, Approved Bodies (e.g. Notified Bodies etc.), TGA-approved Independent Competent Persons (ICP)) etc.
• Establish opportunities to contribute to E&S knowledge sharing, lessons learned working towards a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Provide help for new and young employees to broaden their skills.
• Ensure all aspects of those contracts for which they are responsible are effectively discharged in accordance with QIC’s business and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in system safety, systems engineering, occupational safety and health or recognized post-graduate/ NVQ Level 6 health and safety qualification (e.g. NEBOSH Diploma).

Professional Certifications (if required)

• Recognized professional membership(s) (e.g. Member of Institute of Occupational Health & Safety (CMIOSH), Member of Institute of Railway Operators (CMIRO), Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE etc.)).
• Recognized industry-specific certifications (e.g. Engineering Safety Management, Common Safety Methods (CSM) etc. are advantageous.

Experience

• 15 years’ minimum relevant transport-specific safety authorization and broader management experience within major, complex, land transport-related design and construction programs and Operations & Maintenance (O&M).
• Previous KSA /Middle East director-level experience required.
• Significant experience required in securing safety certification and regulatory approvals for comparable land transport (i.e. rail, bus etc.) major programs, including novel products and systems.
• In-depth knowledge of KSA Railway Law, TGA Railway Guidance and industry-specific regulations, standards and best practices (e.g. IEC 61508, EN 560126-9, CSM etc.).
• Working knowledge of novel mobility modes and solutions (e.g. S3 cableways, electric and autonomous vehicles etc.).
• Leverage exceptional written and verbal skills in English to effectively articulate ideas, strategies, and project performance to a range of audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership skills to set clear goals, motivate teams and deliver results.
• Ability to provide strategic oversight and guidance in managing and prioritizing workloads, deadline-driven and ability to optimize workload.
• Expert ability to negotiate and influence effectively with internal teams and external agencies etc.
• Lead team collaboration and cross department integration collaboratively in a team environment and across multiple departments.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and deliver challenging goals and objectives using industry knowledge to aid decision making.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and across multiple departments.
• Strong leadership skills with ability to inspire large, diverse teams and deliver results.
• Strategic thinker with excellent leadership skills and the ability to lead the HSW function's direction, specifically endorsing or opposing practices as needed.