Dispatcher

South-Orange-Maplewood-School-District; Maplewood (NJ); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

South Orange - Maplewood Public Schools seeks a dispatcher to coordinate bus and van routes, oversee daily dispatch of district and vendor-operated buses, and ensure safe, efficient transportation for students to curricular and extracurricular activities.

The role requires CDL B with Airbrakes endorsements, experience in dispatch, proficiency with Transfinder and Microsoft 365 tools, and Rutgers Supervisor Training. The position includes internal career pathways and 12-month terms.

Qualifications

• CDL B with Airbrakes endorsements required.
• Pre-trip safety inspections experience required.
• Dispatcher or driver experience required.
• Excellent knowledge of transportation routing software (Transfinder).
• Computer literate: Google, Word, Excel.

Responsibilities

• Maintain timely communications with schools to maximize efficiency.
• Receive, review, and follow up with correspondence promptly.
• Coordinate trip requests for field trips, athletics and other trips.
• Maintain a destinations database and update directions.
• Assist in assigning drivers for routes and trips.
• Maintain confidential driver/transportation files as required.
• Maintain staff attendance records.
• Maintain vehicle records and maintenance orders.
• Maintain maintenance and state vehicle inspection records.
• Prepare requisitions for department purchases.
• Coordinate with parents, staff and non-public schools for Aide in Lieu paperwork.
• Liaise with district and contracted vendors for scheduling/ contracting.
• Assist with DRTRS submission for NJ.
• Assist in maintaining and developing routes.
• Assist with state, county, local reports including accidents.
• Drive an assigned route when needed.
• Perform other duties for transportation operations.
• Be available by phone at 6:00am for substitutes.
• In Coordinator’s absence, supervise the Transportation Department.
• Inform leadership about emergencies.

Skills

CDL B with Airbrakes

P & S endorsements

Dispatcher experience

Transfinder

Google Suite

MS Word

MS Excel

Background check

Citizenship eligibility

Education

Rutgers Supervisor Training

Tools

Transfinder

Job description

Frontline Applicant Tracking - South Orange - Maplewood Public Schools

THE POSITION

The dispatcher will work closely with the Transportation Coordinator and all Educational Service Commissions in the development and implementation of all bus and van routes for the district. The dispatcher will oversee the daily dispatch of buses, both in district and vendor operated. To enable each student through safe and efficient transportation to take full advantage of the complete range of curricular and extracurricular activities offered by the district's schools. To ensure the district complies with all federal and state laws concerning transportation and compliance.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• 1. Hold a CDL class B with Airbrakes, P & S endorsements
• 2. Ability to perform pre-trip safety inspections
• 3. Experience as a dispatcher or driver.
• 5. Excellent knowledge of Transfinder (or other transportation routing software).
• 6. Computer literate-Experience with Google, Microsoft Word, & Excel.
• 7. Must have or be willing to obtain the Rutgers Supervisor training certificate.
• 8. Working knowledge of the filing of the DRTRS.
• 9. Required criminal history background check and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal resident/immigrant status.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• 1. Maintain timely and effective communications with all schools to maximize operational efficiency.
• 2. Receive, review, and follow up with all correspondence in a timely and effective manner.
• 3. Act as point of contact for both in-district and out of district school personnel for the scheduling of all trip requests for field trips, athletics, and any other extra-curricular trips.
• 4. Maintain a database of all trip destinations, updating directions from each school as necessary.
• 5. Assist in assigning drivers for routes and trips.
• 6. Collect all confidential documentation related to drivers/bus aides Transportation related files as required in accordance with statutory requirements.
• 7. Maintain Transportation staff attendance records.
• 8. Maintain detailed records for each of the district-owned vehicles, from daily inspection sheets submitted by the drivers, through maintenance requests, to complete repair orders as necessary.
• 9. Maintain vehicle records pertaining to periodic maintenance and bi-annual state vehicle inspections.
• 10. Prepare requisitions for purchases made by the Transportation Department.
• 11. Communicate with parents, district staff, and non-public schools to process all necessary paperwork to complete Aide in Lieu payments.
• 12. Act as a liaison between the district and contracted vendors for scheduling/contracting
• 13. Assist in gathering information to complete the DRTRS submission for the State of New Jersey
• 14. Assist in maintaining existing routes as well as developing new routes.
• 15. Assist with State, County, and local reports, including accident reports
• 16. Drive an assigned route as warranted.
• 17. Performs other duties as assigned for efficient operation of the transportation office.
• 18. Be available by telephone from 6:00am for drivers and aides needing emergency substitutes on school days and at hours necessary to accommodate district needs.
• 19. In the absence of the Transportation Coordinator and Assistant Transportation Coordinator, supervise the district's Transportation Department and all transportation department personnel.
• 20. Performs all other duties assigned by the Transportation Coordinator.
• 21. Inform the Transportation Coordinator, the Business Administrator, and the Superintendent about all emergency situations.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

12 Months

Salary to be determined by the Board

Internal applicants only.

Please note: Substitutes, coaches, and consultants are not internal applicants.

Need Help?

We're here to help! For questions regarding position qualifications or application procedures, please contact South Orange - Maplewood Public Schools directly.

For technical questions regarding the Applicant Tracking system, please contact the Applicant Tracking help desk using the Request Technical Help link below.