Transportation Associate (CASUAL)

Parkland School Division; Stony Plain; On-site; CAD 61,992,000 - 71,635,000; Part time

Job summary

Parkland School Division in Stony Plain, Alberta, is seeking a Casual Transportation Associate to serve as the front-line dispatch hub for student transport. You will handle inquiries, coordinate routes, and support drivers and contractors with GPS and telematics tools.

The role focuses on timely information, safety, and responsive service to families and schools. This casual position does not include benefits or leave entitlements, and requires readiness for varied shift patterns.

Qualifications

• Completion of a recognized office/administrative support program or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years in dispatch, real-time operations coordination, or high-volume customer service.
• Experience using transportation software and student information systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Dispatch buses and support drivers using two-way radio, phone, and transportation software tools.
• Coordinate response to daily operational exceptions, including breakdowns, road closures, adverse weather, and “student not at stop” events.
• Maintain situational awareness across active routes using GPS platforms and standardized dispatch checklists.
• Escalate safety-related or high-risk incidents immediately to the Operations Lead and/or Safety and Compliance Lead.
• Provide Tier-1 triage for operational equipment (GPS/telematics, camera systems, bus pass scanners, and radios) by logging, tracking, and creating work order tickets.

Skills

Dispatch / operations coordination

Customer Service

Crisis communication

Documentation accuracy

GPS/telematics

Education

Office/administrative support program

Tools

Microsoft Office / Google Workspace

VersaTrans

GPS/telematics

School Messenger

PowerSchool

Rycor

Job description

Are you interested in working with our dynamic and progressive school division to pursue excellence in education for students, professional learning opportunities, a flexible health benefits package, and a workplace that embraces diversity? Then we are the place for you!

Who We Are And What We Value

Parkland School Division (PSD) is a large progressive school jurisdiction serving Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, and Parkland County. PSD meets the diverse educational needs of over 12,000 rural and urban students among 23 sites, including outreach schools and alternative education programs.

Our values are what guide us. We strive for learning opportunities that are purposeful, essential, relevant, authentic and responsive while aiming for excellence in achievement. PSD also values trustworthy, respectful relationships that promote resilience as students and staff work towards our Ultimate Goal: Student Success & Well-being.

The Parkland School Division currently has a Casual position for a Transportation Associate (School Bus Transportation) available at our Centre for Education in Stony Plain, Alberta with a possible extension. This role serves as the department’s front-line command centre, owning the customer experience and real-time dispatch support to ensure student safety and operational continuity.

This casual position does not include benefits or leave entitlements.

Core Accountabilities

• Customer Service and Case Management
• Serve as the first point of contact for transportation inquiries via phone, email, and online forms.
• Use a structured intake and documentation process (ticketing or case logs) to capture concerns, assign ownership, and track to closure within defined response timelines.
• Provide clear, consistent information to parents/guardians and schools regarding stops, schedules, eligibility, and escalation pathways.
• Receive and investigate operational concerns (late buses, missed stops, driver conduct) by reviewing GPS data, dispatch logs, and contractor communications.
• Apply conflict de-escalation and service recovery practices to manage frustrated callers while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.

School Bus Dispatch and Real-Time Operational Support

• Dispatch buses and support drivers/contractors using two-way radio, phone, and transportation software tools.
• Coordinate response to daily operational exceptions, including breakdowns, road closures, adverse weather impacts, and “student not at stop” events.
• Maintain situational awareness across active routes using GPS platforms and standardized dispatch checklists.
• Escalate safety-related or high-risk incidents immediately to the Operations Lead and/or Safety and Compliance Lead.

Driver and Equipment Operational Support

• Provide front-line support to drivers regarding route directions, stop sequencing, and clarifying expectations for transfer sites.
• Provide guidance on simple student management concerns, including support for seating plans.
• Support operational requests related to video review and escalation in accordance with privacy procedures.
• Provide Tier-1 triage for operational equipment (GPS/telematics, camera systems, bus pass scanners, and radios) by logging, tracking, and creating work order tickets.

Communication and Stakeholder Coordination

• Issue time-sensitive service alerts to schools and families using approved channels and templates.
• Liaise with contractors to confirm driver and vehicle readiness, route coverage, and incident details in real time.
• Ensure communication is complete, documented, and closed-loop so stakeholders receive confirmation and next steps.

Rycor and Transportation Fee Support (Tier-1 Execution)

• Provide Tier-1 support regarding transportation fees, eligibility, and payment processes using approved fee schedules.
• Complete standard fee transactions in Rycor, including adding/correcting student fees and ensuring accurate account notes for audit readiness.
• Review account status (outstanding balances/NSFs) and provide appropriate next-step guidance.
• Escalate disputes, refunds, waivers, and complex eligibility cases to the Operations Lead.

Data Quality and Administrative Processing

• Maintain accurate student and route contact information and operational notes in the transportation database.
• Support peak-volume tasks including bus pass issuance, start-up package preparation, and basic data validation.
• Prepare simple operational reports such as call volumes, top issue types, and disruption log summaries.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Completion of a recognized office/administrative support program (certificate or diploma) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in dispatch, real-time operations coordination, or a high-volume customer service environment.
• Software: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace. Ability to learn specialized platforms (VersaTrans, GPS/telematics, School Messenger, PowerSchool, and Rycor) is required.
• Knowledge/Abilities: Demonstrated ability to coordinate real-time operational responses under pressure. Sound judgment regarding when to escal….
• Attributes: Strong crisis communication skills, documentation rigor, and the ability to maintain professionalism during difficult conversations with stressed stakeholders.

Working Conditions

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, shift-based to ensure service continuity. Standard shifts include 6:00 AM–2:30 PM, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, and 9:00 AM–5:30 PM.

Rate of Pay

$21.85 per hour

Requirements

Current clean Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector and Child Intervention Record Check; ability to obtain and maintain Emergency First Aid certification.