Location Safety Manager

First Student; Springfield (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Company-paid life insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and vacation

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

First Student is hiring a Location Safety Manager in Springfield, MA, to lead safety initiatives across drivers, trainers, and maintenance staff. The role focuses on regulatory compliance, accident investigation, and proactive safety culture within the location and with Springfield Public Schools.

You will partner with multiple departments to promote safe operating practices, drive improvements, and ensure DOT and company standards are met while supporting a diverse, safety-focused team.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; college degree preferred.
• Working knowledge of federal and state transportation safety regulations.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Administer the driver hiring, qualification, and compliance process.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to location trainers.
• Investigate vehicle accidents, incidents, and workplace injuries while determining preventability.
• Prepare and submit accident documentation, regulatory reports, and compliance records.
• Maintain accurate safety documentation and enter information into company systems.
• Conduct driver observations, road checks, and performance evaluations.
• Coach drivers and attendants on passenger management and safe operating practices.
• Supervise employees responsible for safety, hiring, and driver training.
• Analyze safety trends and recommend corrective actions to improve performance.
• Partner with location leadership to strengthen the overall safety culture.
• Collaborate with drivers, dispatch, maintenance, and administrative staff to improve operational safety.
• Ensure compliance with all DOT, FMCSA, state, local, customer, and company safety regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Safety knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Coaching

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

College degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

$65,000 - $70,000 annually

At First Student, safety is at the heart of everything we do. As a

Now Hiring: Location Safety Manager

Springfield, MA

Salary:

$65,000 - $70,000 annually

At First Student, safety is at the heart of everything we do. As a Location Safety Manager, you'll play a vital leadership role by helping create and maintain a culture where safety comes first-for our employees, our customers, and the students we transport every day.

Supporting Springfield Public Schools, you'll have the opportunity to influence the overall safety culture by partnering with drivers, dispatchers, trainers, maintenance technicians, and location leadership to promote safe operating practices, ensure regulatory compliance, and continuously improve safety performance.

Why Join First Student?

At First Student, we're proud to offer:

• Competitive salary: $65,000 - $70,000 annually
• Tremendous career advancement opportunities across more than 540 locations throughout the U.S. & Canada
• Positive, collaborative, and rewarding work environment
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid $10,000 life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid holidays and paid vacation
• Comprehensive onboarding, training, and ongoing professional development
• Employee discounts on cell phone plans, vehicles, travel, entertainment, and more through the PerkSpot program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services for personal and work-related needs
• Long-term career stability with North America's leading school transportation provider

About the Location Safety Manager Position

As the Location Safety Manager, you'll serve as the local subject matter expert for safety, driver compliance, and regulatory requirements. You'll work closely with every department within the location—including drivers, dispatchers, trainers, maintenance technicians, and office staff—to foster a proactive safety culture while ensuring compliance with company, customer, federal, and state standards.

This is an outstanding opportunity to make a measurable impact by helping shape the safety culture supporting Springfield Public Schools while developing employees and partnering with leadership to drive operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer the driver hiring, qualification, and compliance process.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to location trainers.
• Investigate vehicle accidents, incidents, and workplace injuries while determining preventability.
• Prepare and submit accident documentation, regulatory reports, and compliance records.
• Maintain accurate safety documentation and enter information into company systems.
• Conduct driver observations, road checks, and performance evaluations.
• Coach drivers and attendants on passenger management and safe operating practices.
• Supervise employees responsible for safety, hiring, and driver training.
• Analyze safety trends and recommend corrective actions to improve performance.
• Partner with location leadership to strengthen the overall safety culture.
• Collaborate with drivers, dispatch, maintenance, and administrative staff to improve operational safety.
• Ensure compliance with all DOT, FMCSA, state, local, customer, and company safety regulations.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of transportation, safety, compliance, or related operational leadership experience.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; college degree preferred.
• Working knowledge of federal and state transportation safety regulations.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle for travel within the service area.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to coach and develop employees.

Note: This position is considered safety-sensitive and is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing. DOT Regulation 49 CFR Part 40 does not authorize the use of Schedule I drugs, including marijuana, for any reason.

Build a Safer Tomorrow

If you're passionate about safety, leadership, coaching others, and making a meaningful impact in your community, we'd love to hear from you. Join First Student and help ensure students, employees, and the communities we serve arrive safely every day.

First Student is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees are respected and valued. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. First Student maintains a drug-free workplace and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.

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.