Community Outing and Transportation Specialist

Eisenhower Center; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

401(k) plan

Flexible Spending Account

Life Insurance

Long-Term Disability

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Eisenhower Center in Ann Arbor, MI seeks a Transportation Specialist to provide safe, compassionate transport for residents with brain injuries and complex medical needs. The role supports interdisciplinary care, adheres to trauma-informed practice, and promotes independence, dignity, and community integration during daily transportation and activities.

Responsibilities include operating wheelchair-accessible vehicles, conducting safety checks, and assisting with therapeutic programming and

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required.
• Ability to obtain driving credentials as per policy.
• Demonstrated commitment to resident safety and person-centered care.

Responsibilities

• Safely transport residents between Eisenhower Center locations and community activities.
• Operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles and lift-equipped buses in compliance with safety procedures.
• Perform vehicle inspections and report maintenance concerns promptly.
• Support resident engagement and participate in therapeutic programming as needed.
• Document incidents and safety concerns following organizational procedures.

Skills

Defensive driving

Customer service

Teamwork

Trauma-informed care

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Wheelchair-accessible vehicle operation

Job description

The Community Outing and Transportation Specialist plays a critical role in supporting Eisenhower Center's mission of delivering innovative, trauma-informed, evidence-based, and patient-centered rehabilitation services. This position provides safe, dependable, and compassionate transportation for individuals recovering from brain injury, behavioral health conditions, and other complex medical needs while promoting dignity, independence, community integration, and therapeutic engagement.

The Transportation Specialist is an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, ensuring transportation services support individualized care plans, rehabilitation goals, and organizational standards. In addition to transportation duties, this role assists with therapeutic programming, resident engagement, behavioral regulation, and environmental safety while maintaining compliance with CARF standards, CMS requirements, CMH expectations, LARA regulations, DOT requirements, and all applicable state and federal guidelines.

This position requires exceptional customer service, strong safety awareness, trauma-informed communication skills, and a commitment to creating a positive and supportive experience for every participant served.

Transportation and Community Access

• Safely transport residents and participants between Eisenhower Center locations, treatment programs, vocational opportunities, community activities, medical appointments, and therapeutic destinations.
• Operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles and lift‑equipped buses according to all safety regulations and organizational procedures.
• Ensure all wheelchairs, mobility devices, and adaptive equipment are properly secure prior to vehicle operation.
• Utilize defensive driving techniques and initiative‑taking risk management strategies to ensure the safety of passengers, staff, and community members.
• Conduct pre‑trip, post‑trip, and routine vehicle inspections and promptly report mechanical concerns.
• Monitor and maintain a safe, therapeutic, and respectful transportation environment.
• Support participant independence, autonomy, and community integration opportunities during transportation activities.
• Purposefully engage residents in meaningful, enjoyable activities that support healing, recovery, and overall well‑being.

Trauma‑Informed and Patient‑Centered Care

• Deliver transportation services using trauma‑informed, person‑centered, and culturally responsive approaches.
• Foster an environment that promotes psychological safety, emotional regulation, dignity, and respect.
• Respond calmly and effectively to behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and environmental challenges that may arise during transport.
• Utilize de‑escalation techniques and therapeutic communication consistent with organizational training and best practices.
• Encourage independence and participation while maintaining appropriate levels of supervision and support.

Program and Resident Support

• Participate in therapeutic, vocational, recreational, and community integration activities when transportation duties are completed.
• Assist program staff in supporting participant engagement, safety, and supervision during structured activities.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to support individualized rehabilitation goals.
• Observe and communicate any changes in participant status, behaviors, or safety concerns to appropriate clinical staff.

Safety, Compliance, and Quality Assurance

• Maintain compliance with CARF accreditation standards, CMS Conditions of Participation, CMH requirements, LARA regulations, DOT standards, HIPAA requirements, and organizational policies.
• Document incidents, accidents, safety concerns, and transportation‑related events in accordance with organizational procedures.
• Submit timely event reporting through Safety Zone and other designated reporting systems.
• Support organizational quality improvement initiatives, risk management practices, and performance metrics.
• Maintain required certifications, training, and competencies necessary to perform essential job functions.

Vehicle and Equipment Management

• Maintain cleanliness, sanitation, and operational readiness of assigned vehicles.
• Coordinate with maintenance personnel regarding vehicle repairs, preventive maintenance, and safety concerns.
• Ensure transportation equipment remains functional, compliant, and accessible.
• Assist with fleet safety initiatives and transportation quality improvement efforts.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma
• Valid Michigan Chauffeur License or Commercial Driver's License (CDL) as applicable.
• Ability to obtain and maintain all driving credentials required by organizational policy.
• Ability to safely operate wheelchair‑accessible vehicles and transportation equipment.
• Demonstrated commitment to resident safety, customer service, and person‑centered care.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience collaborating with individuals recovering from brain injury, behavioral health conditions, developmental disabilities, or complex medical needs.
• Experience in healthcare, rehabilitation, behavioral health, transportation services, or human services settings.
• Training in trauma‑informed care, crisis intervention, behavioral support, or de‑escalation techniques.
• Knowledge of CARF accreditation standards and healthcare regulatory requirements.

Clinical and Service Excellence

• Trauma‑Informed Care
• Person‑Centered Service Delivery
• Therapeutic Communication
• Resident Advocacy
• Community Integration Support
• Behavioral Observation and Reporting

Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Defensive Driving
• Emergency Response
• Vehicle Safety Operations
• Regulatory Compliance

Professional Effectiveness

• Communication Skills
• Problem Solving
• Accountability
• Professional Judgment

Physical Requirements

• The employee may be required to assist residents with daily activities, accompany residents to appointments and community outings, and support the implementation of individualized behavioral support plans. The employee must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds independently and greater weights with assistance or appropriate equipment when necessary.
• Work is performed in adult foster care, residential, and behavioral health treatment environments. The employee will have regular exposure to residents receiving behavioral health services and may interact with individuals exhibiting behavioral, emotional, psychiatric, developmental, or cognitive challenges. The employee must be able to maintain professionalism and effectively de‑escalate challenging situations while adhering to organizational policies and training.
• The position requires frequent movement throughout assigned facilities and may involve navigating stairs, transport residents, and traveling between organizational locations as needed. The employee must be able to respond appropriately to behavioral incidents, resident crises, and emergency situations.
• The employee may be exposed to communicable illnesses, bodily fluids, environmental hazards, and other conditions associated with providing direct resident care and behavioral support services. Evening, weekend, holiday, overtime, and on‑call hours may be required based on operational needs.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to assist individuals entering and exiting vehicles safely. Ability to secure wheelchairs and adaptive equipment. Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to organizationally established limits with or without reasonable accommodation. Ability to sit, stand, bend, walk, and perform vehicle inspections throughout the workday. Ability to safely operate transportation vehicles in varying weather and road conditions.

Eisenhower Center is committed to delivering innovative, evidence‑based, trauma‑informed, and person‑centered rehabilitation services that empower individuals to achieve their highest level of independence and quality of life. All team members are expected to uphold our core values of safety, dignity, collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement while supporting compliance with CARF accreditation standards and all applicable federal, state, and payer requirements.

Eisenhower Center Commitment

Eisenhower Center is committed to delivering innovative, evidence‑based, trauma‑informed, and person‑centered rehabilitation services that empower individuals to achieve their highest level of independence and quality of life. All team members are expected to uphold our core values of safety, dignity, collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement while supporting compliance with CARF accreditation standards and all applicable federal, state, and payer requirements.

Position Schedule / Breakdown

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Opportunity for up to 40 hours per week based on special events and program needs

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

• Review incident reports and prepare for the day

8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

• Assist residents with boarding transportation and ensure all necessary supplies are ready

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM

• Coordinate with Day Program staff and transport residents to the farm

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

• Support day program activities and resident engagement
• 30‑minute lunch break included

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Load residents and transport them back to Ann Arbor

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

• Vehicle clean‑up, documentation, and end‑of‑day responsibilities

Eisenhower Center is 100% employee owned and offers an excellent benefit package including:

• PTO
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• 401(k) plan eligible to participate after 1 year & 1,000 hours of employment
• Flexible Spending Account for Medical and Dependent Care
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long‑Term Disability
• Voluntary Life Insurance and Short‑Term Disability available
• Student Stipend
• Employee Discount Program
• Continuing professional development opportunities

Eisenhower Center is an EEO employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories – and is a 2019 Bronze Veteran‑Friendly Employer, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Eisenhower Center endeavors to make this website accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us at [phone]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do