[Donal Quinn]

chief Investigator

The Railway Safety Commission carries out the functions in relation to railway safety and is responsible for regulating railway safety in Ireland and has a wider statutory remit than the Railway Inspectorate (including responsibility for the Iarnrod Eireann Rail Network, LUAS and Heritage Railways). It also has wide-ranging powers of inspection, investigation and enforcement. In line with the requirements of the EU Railway Safety Directive the Railway Safety Commission incorporates a functionally independent Railway Incident Investigation Unit. The Railway Safety Commission also has responsibility for railway safety matters arising from EU Directives and legislation.

The principal functions of the Railway Safety Commission are to:

• assess the safety cases submitted by railway undertakings and issue safety certificates to those railways where the Commission is satisfied that the safety case demonstrates that a railway undertaking can, in so far reasonably practicable, ensure the safety of persons;

• carry out assessments of new works proposed by railway undertakings;

• carry out safety assessments of new rolling stock before allowing the commissioning and operation of that rolling stock;

• investigate railway accidents where the Commission deems it appropriate;

• audit the safety management system of individual railway undertakings where the Commission deems appropriate;

• prescribe standards, guidance, specifications, procedures etc to be used by railway undertakings, where this will advance railway safety;

• carry out inspections of railway infrastructure, operations and safety management systems and take enforcement proceedings where necessary.


Principal Duties of the Chief Investigator

The principal duties of the post may include, but may not be limited to:

Strategic Management and Planning
• Planning the annual work programme of the Investigation Unit and the resources required;
• Overseeing implementation of the work programme of the Investigation Unit and monitoring achievement of objectives;
• Setting the Investigation Unit’s overall policy and procedures in regard to investigation of railway incidents;
• Devising a contingency plan for the management of the site of a major railway incident and the ensuing investigation;




Human Resource Management and Development
• devising the investigation Unit’s element of the staff development and training programme of the Commission and monitoring its implementation;
• developing staff of the Investigation Unit;
• management of consultants and advisers retained by the Investigation Unit;

Incident Investigations and Tribunals of Inquiry
• acting as the lead investigator into a railway incident;
• overseeing the investigation of a railway incident by other staff of the Investigation
Unit, by consultants or by inspectors of the Commission temporarily assigned to you for the purposes of investigation of an incident;
• preparing the interim and final reports of an investigation;
• observing internal investigations by railway undertakings;
• chairing, or participating in the holding of a tribunal of inquiry, where directed by the Minister;
• acting as an assessor to assist a tribunal of inquiry, where directed by the Minister;

Coroner’s Inquests
• assisting a coroner in the holding of an inquest on the body of a person whose death may have been caused by a railway incident;
• reporting on a coroner’s inquest;

Representation and Advice
• representing the Commission or the State at working groups, committees, meetings, negotiations, conferences etc. at home and abroad;
• advising Ministers of the Government and officials on matters relating to railway incident investigation;

Contributing to work of the Commission
• providing input to the Annual Report and other reports of the Commission in respect of the functions of the Investigation Unit;
• performing other appropriate tasks to assist the smooth operation of the Commission.

Reporting to:
The Chief Investigator will have an independent role in the performance of incident investigations functions and will report to the Minister for Transport in respect of administrative issues.

Staff reporting to you:
All staff of the Investigation Unit of the Commission.
• Any Senior Inspectors or Inspectors temporarily assigned to you by the Commission for individual investigations.
• Consultants engaged by you in connection with an investigation.


QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential Requirements

Candidates must, on or before 14th September 2006

(a) have a proven record in the railway industry (in a senior position for at least five years),
preferably with accident investigation experience, and one or more of the following:

(i) a degree in an engineering or related discipline relevant to the railway industry or hold a qualification which would be acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as at least equivalent for the purpose of this competition;
(ii) a relevant academic qualification together with a proven record of continuous
professional development (CPD)
(iii) corporate membership of a relevant professional institution.

or have

(b) a proven record as an accident or forensic investigator, and

(i) an appropriate professional qualification as such together with a proven record of continuous professional development (CPD) or
(ii) corporate membership of a relevant professional institution.


In addition , you will have:

• a strong results focus and track record of previous achievements;
• the knowledge and experience required to lead the Investigation Unit;
• the ability to achieve esults as part of a team and to work effectively with others
• excellent communication and inter-personal skills;
• the ability to negotiate effectively and influence others.

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they're offering 88-110,000 for it
ot bad

they're also looking for 'inspectors' who need just 3 years rail experience and get 56 - 70,000
i think you lot should go for that