Bus Operator

Halifax Regional Municipality; Halifax; On-site; CAD 37,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Halifax Transit, operated by Halifax Regional Municipality, seeks permanent full-time Bus Operators for the Transit Operations division. Operators will drive city buses, adhere to schedules, assist passengers, and handle fare collection, with shifts including nights and weekends.

The role requires strong customer service skills, a clean driving record, and ability to work in varying weather. Training and collective agreement terms apply, with locations in Dartmouth/ Halifax.

Qualifications

• Must have Grade 12 or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years driving experience.
• Clean driving record: no more than 2 demerit points and 1 at fault accident.
• 3 years customer service experience.
• Defensive driving course is an asset.
• Transit driving experience is an asset.
• Experience driving in adverse weather is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Report to dispatch at shift start and review notices.
• Conduct pre-trip vehicle inspection.
• Drive and follow safety policies and traffic laws.
• Greet passengers and assist with loads and transfers.
• Monitor fare collection and ensure passenger safety.

Skills

Safe driving record

Customer service experience

Defensive driving

Transit driving experience

Adverse weather driving

Education

Grade 12 or equivalent

Defensive driving course (asset)

Job description

Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting applications for permanent full-time Bus Operator positions with the Transit Operations division of Halifax Transit.

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their application.

This competition involves several phases. Due to the high volume of applications received, email will be the primary means of communication. Candidates are REQUIRED to monitor the email address they used to submit the application.

Bus Operators are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles and must follow schedule guidelines, sometimes under difficult circumstances. Customer service is a large part of the Bus Operator’s daily duties, they must be able to communicate effectively with all passengers and respond to their needs. Bus Operators must constantly monitor their passengers and other drivers and exercise a great deal of tact and diplomacy. Bus Operators deal with heavy traffic and congested streets, while monitoring fare collection and advising of the Fare Policy, issuing and receiving transfers, and checking passes. Bus Operators must be alert and manage their personal well-being as they can drive long hours with minimum breaks, operate during peak periods with split shifts and must cope with adverse weather, construction and traffic conditions. Bus Operators may be required to participate in emergency management operations as part of the municipality's emergency response.

Halifax Transit services the urban core of the municipality, namely the Halifax, Bedford, Dartmouth, and Sackville areas along with adjacent outlying communities with over 400 buses, over 70 routes, operating close to 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Halifax Transit is the largest transit system in Atlantic Canada, carrying over 19 million passengers a year.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Report to dispatch or start location at the beginning of shift and review operators’ notices
• Check and visually inspect vehicle for pre-trip
• Drive vehicle and practice defensive driving techniques while following the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle and Motor Carrier Acts and HRM policies at all times
• Assess and monitor vehicle operating conditions, and report issues
• Greet, acknowledge, and assist passengers and the public in a professional and courteous manner
• Monitor fare collection and passenger loads
• Anticipate potential problems, passenger emergencies and respond to medical emergencies
• Monitor the behavior of passengers to ensure the safety of others and contact the Communications Centre for assistance as needed
• Provide assistance to passengers as requested. All Halifax Transit buses have wheelchair accessible features, which require Bus Operators to assist passengers on and off the bus by operating ramps and securing wheelchairs
• Ensure passenger safety and comfort
• Secure and return items to Lost & Found
• Conduct post-operations procedures

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Grade 12, GED, or equivalent combination of related education and experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of recent driving experience
• A safe driving record (no more than 2 demerit points and no more than 1 at-fault accident)
• Three (3) years of experience working in a service occupation dealing directly with customers
• Completion of a defensive driving course is an asset
• Driving experience in a transit environment is an asset
• Driving experience in adverse weather conditions (such as rain, snow, and ice) is considered an asset

Technical / Job Specific Knowledge and Abilities

• Be capable of meeting the physical demands of the job such as sitting for prolonged periods of time, reaching, gripping, push/pull of steering wheel, twisting and turning of neck, sensory/perceptual demands along with good concentration
• Be able to demonstrate dependability and reliability
• Have strong problem-solving skills
• Be able to react quickly and remain calm in difficult and stressful situations
• Be able to understand, speak, read, write English in order to learn training materials, communicate effectively with the travelling public, and write reports
• Be able to work variable hours including weekends and statutory holidays

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet the following requirements for their application to be considered

You must attach a copy of the following documents, with your application:

• Grade 12, GED, or equivalent combination of related education and experience.
• Driver's License both front and back.

Security Clearance Requirements

Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.

Please note –

In-person testing will be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge. Candidates who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion.

Please Note

An Eligibility List will be established from this competition. Vacancies that are not filled internally will be filled from this Eligibility List. The list will be effective for 6 months and could be extended, as required.

COMPETENCIES

Analytical Thinking; Communication; Customer Service; Decision Making; Organization & Planning; Teamwork and Cooperation; Values & Ethics; Valuing Diversity.

WORK STATUS

Permanent, full-time.

HOURS OF WORK

Hours of work, vacation, and days off are determined by seniority and can impact a new Bus Operator's personal and family life. Below is what you might expect:

• Transit Services are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Bus Operators will be required to work weekends, both day and night shifts, at times changing from one to the other with little notice.
• Daily work assignments may be split shifts (example: begin work at 6 a.m. and work till 9 a.m., then another shift on the same day starting at 2 p.m. and working till 6 p.m.).
• Holidays and days off may not be consecutive or consistent.
• As seniority increases, so does your choice of hours and vacation dates.

SALARY

As per the ATU Collective agreement, successful candidates will be compensated $27.37 per hour within the first year of service while completing the mandatory training. Salary will increase incrementally up to a maximum of $32.20 per hour.

WORK LOCATION

200 Ilsley Avenue, Dartmouth or 80 Grassy Lake Drive, Halifax.

CLOSING DATE

Applications will be received up to 11:59 pm on January 3, 2027.

This is a bargaining unit position. External applicants will only be considered if there are no qualified bargaining unit candidates.

Please note

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those selected for interview/testing will be contacted.

To ensure a fair and equitable hiring process, candidates are expected to complete all parts of the recruitment process, including assessments, assignments, and interviews independently and without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools or other forms of external assistance. The use of AI to complete any component of the hiring process is not permitted and may result in disqualification from consideration.

During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as interview or testing) and who require an accommodation, should discuss their needs with the Talent Acquisition Advisor when invited to the assessment process. For more information on our accommodation process please click on the link; Accommodations | Hiring | Employment | Halifax