Dispatcher

First Student, Inc.; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 36,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and vacation time

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

First Student in Augusta, ME is seeking a Dispatcher to support the school transportation operation. The role involves coordinating routes, communicating with drivers and staff, and resolving service issues to keep daily operations running on time.

We offer a Monday–Friday schedule aligned with school operations, an hourly pay band of $26.00–$27.50, and benefits such as health coverage, retirement plans, paid holidays, and opportunities for career progression across North America.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience in dispatching, transportation or logistics preferred.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and monitor daily bus routes and schedules.
• Communicate with drivers, monitors, management and school personnel.
• Monitor route performance and address delays or service concerns.
• Handle phone and radio communications professionally.
• Document route changes and scheduling concerns.
• Provide guidance and support to drivers and transportation staff.
• Escalate service or safety concerns to Operations Leadership as needed.

Skills

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Calm under pressure

Basic computer skills

Scheduling/dispatch systems

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Scheduling systems

Job description

Dispatcher - Augusta School Department

Location: Augusta, ME
Pay: $26.00-$27.50 per hour, based on experience
Schedule: Monday-Friday | Split shift, approximately 5:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with an extended midday break

First Student is now hiring a Dispatcher to support our Augusta School Department operation.

Our Dispatchers help keep daily transportation running safely, efficiently, and on schedule. In this role, you will coordinate routes, communicate with drivers and staff, respond to service issues, and provide front-line operational support throughout the day.

What You'll Do

• Coordinate and monitor daily bus routes and schedules
• Communicate with drivers, monitors, management, and school personnel
• Monitor route performance and help address delays or service concerns
• Handle phone and radio communication professionally and efficiently
• Document route changes, scheduling concerns, and operational issues
• Provide guidance and support to drivers and transportation staff
• Escalate service or safety concerns to Operations Leadership as needed

What We're Looking For

• Previous dispatching, transportation, logistics, or related operational experience preferred
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with scheduling or dispatch systems
• High school diploma or equivalent

Why Join First Student?

• $26.00-$27.50 per hour, based on experience
• Monday-Friday schedule aligned with school operations
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• Paid holidays and vacation time
• Career advancement opportunities across North America
• Employee discounts on cell phone plans, vehicles, electronics, and more through PerkSpot
• Supportive, team-oriented work environment

At First Student, safety, dependability, and customer care are at the center of everything we do. Join a stable organization where your work directly supports students, families, schools, and the local community.

We aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce; therefore, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

First Student is committed to providing a drug-free workplace.

Language Requirement
This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications be conducted in English.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.