Area Safety Manager Toronto

First Student; Toronto; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid holiday/vacation

Job summary

First Student is seeking an Area Safety Manager (ASM) in Toronto, Ontario. The ASM supports the safety of operational activities across designated locations, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and company policies. The role is integral in driving continuous improvement and managing safety initiatives.

Candidates should have extensive safety and transportation experience, strong leadership skills, and the ability to analyze incidents and implement corrective actions. The position includes various benefits to support both physical and mental health.

Qualifications

• 7 years of Safety/Transportation experience required.
• 5 years of experience in fleet transportation management.
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach, and provide leadership.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety provisions are developed and deployed.
• Conduct comprehensive incident investigations.
• Prepare monthly reports and safety performance analysis.

Skills

Safety/Transportation experience

Fleet transportation management

Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office

Strong verbal and written communication

Ability to perform root cause analysis

Leadership and team-building skills

Education

2 years of college preferred or equivalent education/experience

CCOHS or safety/transportation certifications

Tools

Microsoft Office

Time-keeping and payroll systems

FGA approved smart technology

Job description

Area Safety Manager (ASM)

The Area Safety Manager supports the safety of designated locations for all operational, facility, and shop activities within the geographic area. The ASM works directly with the Area General Manager and leads behavioral and organizational change through influencing and change management strategies. The ASM drives continuous improvement by reviewing data and deploying strategies to mitigate risks, ensuring that division safety initiatives and processes are embedded into area operations and monitoring adherence to strategic and program initiatives. The ASM ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and company policy.

Major Responsibilities

• Works with the RSD, LSM, LM and the Maintenance Manager to ensure safety provisions are developed and deployed in accordance with budget and guidance.
• Identifies underperforming locations, performs analysis and works with the location team to develop, recommend, and implement continuous improvement processes.
• Conducts comprehensive incident investigations for all serious events, assists to develop actions and ensures lessons learned are communicated and implemented.
• Shares best practices and innovative approaches for problem solving at locations managed by the position.
• Provides support to RSD and Risk Management on claims management and litigation, completing Root Cause Analysis with operations and maintenance as required.
• Works closely with the workers’ compensation third‑party administrator to proactively manage claims.
• Has direct responsibility to ensure proper driving trainer staffing levels; works closely with operations and HR to identify trainer needs and administer driver onboarding.
• Assists locations to determine and implement proper remedial actions for safety events and reviews disciplinary actions with HR and Operations.
• Guides multiple locations on compliance with First Student policies and SOPs, as well as applicable laws and regulations, and provides visibility of location compliance scores to regional and senior teams.
• Prepares monthly reports and safety performance analysis for locations, identifying trends and corrective actions and communicating to AGM and management team.
• Assesses location safety performance by utilizing Daily Dispatch, Driver Mobile Manager, and other applicable tools.
• Participates in the recruiting process for selection and onboarding of new LSMs in partnership with LM.
• Provides safety training for new LMs and LSMs; develops LSM competencies and skills and supports Regional train‑the‑trainer workshops.
• Ensures operational efficiencies at a location level by utilizing Focus, Zonar, and the Safety Care database.
• Performs location Safety Wellness Checks at least annually, and at high‑risk locations more frequently.
• Assists HR/LM with driver recruitment, retention, and training activities.
• Conducts safety audits and works with locations and RVPs/AGMs to close Site Safety Review actions.
• Manages the BeSafe process, including Safety Leadership course delivery, identifying and onboarding BeSafe Coaches, and monitoring debrief quality.
• Works with RVP, AGM and LM regarding the communication and execution of divisional wide activities and actions.
• Provides technical oversight to the LSM as needed, while prioritizing LM requests in partnership with the ASM to support the Operations and Safety function.
• Verifies location compliance with PDDP, EDTP, and Non‑Conforming Vehicle standards, and conducts quality assurance by auditing elements of training programs at the location level. Ensures all Training Standards are carried per company guidelines.
• Supports the execution of kickoff/safety meetings by working closely with location staff.
• Provides appropriate startup support.
• Other responsibilities as requested or required.

Minimum Education or Certifications Required

• 2 years of college preferred or equivalent education/experience.
• CCOHS or safety/transportation certifications, etc.

Minimum Experience or Skills Required

• 7 years of Safety/Transportation experience.
• 5 years experience in fleet transportation management.
• Strong commitment to safety.
• Demonstrated leadership, decision‑making and team‑building skills.
• Strong proficiency in computer literacy with Microsoft Office products and experience with other software such as time‑keeping and payroll systems preferred.
• Advanced skills in technology used to manage the operation including but not limited to FGA approved smart technology, apps, encrypted drives, shared drives and other smart technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interpret data, perform root cause analysis and assist others.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with others in a team setting.
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach and provide leadership.
• Collision Investigation training.
• State/Provincial instructor certification in at least one of the states or provinces in the region.
• Certified Smith System Defensive Driving Instructor.

Benefits

We offer competitive compensation and benefits (which vary based on role, location, and business), including physical and mental health initiatives, medical/dental/vision, and paid holiday/vacation.