Director - Systems Engineering & Safety Assurance (CDU 11) 20004453

The Director, Systems Engineering & Safety Assurance (SESA), leads the development and implementation of SESA strategies, plans, systems and processes for infrastructure, the built environment and related assets (e.g. rolling stock etc.) across Qiddiya's Transport Business Unit (TBU) portfolio of projects.

This strategic leadership role involves working closely with multi-disciplinary project teams and their supply chains to ensure systems engineering and safety and technical requirements and outputs support TBU's objectives and ensure compliance with regulatory and industry standards frameworks.

The post holder works closely with TBU functions and project teams and QIC Districts to ensure alignment QIC's "Safety First" culture, and TBU safety goals, objectives and internal and external stakeholder expectations.

The role ensures that TBU portfolio SESA requirements (e.g. meeting statutory obligations, complying with industry standards and codes, adopting international best-practice etc.) 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 third-party authorizing agency requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement systems engineering and safety assurance strategies, plans and supporting processes and tools required to ensure TBU meets its statutory obligations for securing all necessary transport system safety and technical approvals 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 project lifecycle systems engineering and safety and technical assurance program and supporting processes, milestones, recommendations, analysis and any other required information for leadership, in conjunction with each TBU project's requirements and industry best practice (e.g. ISO15288, EN50126/29, EN50716)
• Ensure TBU-specific system assurance 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
• Work closely with the Director, Safety Certification & Regulation to ensure arrangements are in place for securing effective TBU-wide and project-specific liaison as appropriate with relevant authorizing agencies (e.g. Transport General Authority (TGA), Civil Defense, SASO etc.)
• 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
• Develop and enhance as required TBU leadership and projects teams' knowledge and understanding of systems engineering and safety requirements (e.g. TGA Railway Guidance, industry standards (e.g. ISO15288, IEC61508, NFPA 130 etc.) and industry best practice (e.g. through COMET benchmarking) 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, Civil Defense 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 TBU project whole-lifecycle (Concept to System Acceptance) systems engineering documentation (e.g. Systems Engineering Management Plans, Engineering Safety Plans and Cases, Testing & Commissioning Plans, Systems Acceptance and Project Handover submissions (PHO) etc.)
• 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). 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
• Support the development of TBU safety risk tools and techniques (e.g. HAZOPs, FMEAs etc.) and conduct TBU-wide and project specific workshops as required in accordance with industry best practice and international standards (e.g. Common Safety Method (CSM), 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 systems assurance 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.).
• Ensure appropriate international standard SESA requirements and specifications are specified in project-specific contract tender and other documentation etc., and participate in market engagement, tender preparation and evaluation exercises as required
• Establish opportunities to contribute to SESA 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

• Bachelor's degree in civil, Structural, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering or similar relevant discipline (Master's preferred)
• 20+ years of experience in infrastructure design, with five+ years in a senior leadership role in a major project environment
• Chartered Engineer (CEng, PE) or equivalent relevant professional registration (IMechE, IET, ICE, IRSE etc.)
• Transport sector and KSA/regional experience preferred: familiarity with Transport General Authority (TGA) railway guidance, relevant international industry and functional standards (e.g. EN50126, NFPA 130 etc.), Saudi building codes and GCC infrastructure standards
• Proven track record in delivering major land transport projects
• Strong understanding of smart city frameworks and sustainable design principles
• Proven background delivering systems engineering and safety assurance with the safety-critical transport sector
• 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, supply chain contractors and external agencies etc
• Lead team collaboration and cross department integration collaboratively in a team environment and across multiple departments.