Project Safety Specialist

Position Overview

The position is responsible to support the integration of new projects in a live operational rail environment. It is a key role in the identification and management of safety assurance throughout the life cycle of the project, ensuring compliance with UAE railway regulations. The position also supports the development of operational safety cases for the UAE rail network.

This role requires an engineering or safety professional with a strong understanding of rail safety regulations, project safety in design processes, risk assessment, as well as expertise in updating hazard logs and maintaining risk registers. Be a critical thinker with a keen interest in improving the organisation’s internal control structure and to promote an organisational safety culture that puts safety at the foundation of everything we do.

Roles and Responsibility

• Input to hazard workshops and reviews to consider rail safety in design, construction, testing, operations, and maintenance phases
• Provide safety assurance principles from a systems engineering approach on projects
• Identify interfaces between disciplines and look at applying proven processes to provide assurance that risks have been identified and managed as low as reasonably practicable
• Conduct reviews of projects from the perspective of reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS)
• Involved in interdisciplinary design reviews to identify safety issues, or those pertaining to RAMS
• Monitor changes to operating conditions, limitations, and restrictions from assets
• Liaise with internal Etihad Rail teams to manage the safety assurance approach on projects
• Work effectively and efficiently within project teams and with individuals
• Act as the technical liaison between project teams and the HSEQ department
• Participate in the development and delivery of safety training programs and initiatives to promote a strong safety culture within the organization, in line with the operations safety case
• Stay current on industry best practices, regulations, and standards related to railway safety, and assist in updating Etihad Rail Infrastructure’s safety procedures accordingly
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of safety inspections, audits, incident investigations, hazard logs, and risk registers

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Safety Management, Risk or related field.

Professional Qualifications:

• Certification in risk management techniques
• Professional membership in audit, health and safety, risk, environmental management or engineering is highly desirable
• Full Driving licence is essential

Experience:

• 5+ years in safety or risk related roles, preferably rail
• Experience in conducting risk analyses; PHA, HAZID, HAZOP, OSHA, FMEA, SIL, RAMS
• Experience in updating hazard logs and maintaining risk register
• Possession of previous international experience in a high hazard industry
• Knowledge of local and international railway safety regulations and standards
• Experience in writing reports, processes and procedures
• Experience in rail operations / rail infrastructure is desirable.

Other Skills:

• Excellent communication skills are necessary in all forms with a proven ability to speak publicly and present in a professional manner.
• Excellent English language skill both written and verbal. Knowledge of Arabic is preferable.
• Able to manage cultural diversity in the workplace and recognise the sensitivities between different cultures.
• Adaptability and resilience to work in a harsh environment with most of the time being employed in desert locations.
• Be a person of trust and integrity and a people person who possesses the ability to influence, coach and mentor others. Be a safety role model and lead by example.