Location Safety Manager II

First Student, Inc.; Middle Island (NY); On-site; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Safety programs

Direct collaboration with leadership

Impact on safety

Training and development

Shape local safety performance

Job summary

First Student, Inc. is seeking a Safety Manager to oversee the location's day-to-day safety and training programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, local, and company requirements.

You will monitor safety performance, investigate incidents, coach employees, oversee training and qualification requirements, and use safety data to identify trends and develop action plans, while partnering with regional safety leaders.

Qualifications

• Three years of safety‑related experience or a combination of relevant education and experience.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, provincial, and local safety regulations.
• Working knowledge of FMCSA and/or FTA regulations.
• Relevant safety certifications and OSHA 10‑hour training preferred.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Fluent English communication skills.
• Regular and dependable attendance and punctuality.

Responsibilities

• Manage location safety programs and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, provincial, local, and company safety requirements.
• Support driver hiring and qualification processes, including motor vehicle record reviews, drug and alcohol testing, fingerprinting, DOT physicals, and required regulatory documentation, as applicable.
• Provide direction and oversight to location trainers and ensure required training, recertification, and enhancement programs are completed accurately and on time.
• Lead investigations of collisions and other safety events using established investigation methods, maintain required documentation, determine preventability in partnership with location leadership, and provide post-event coaching.
• Monitor driver and employee safety performance using road evaluations, telematics, safety dashboards, and other available technology.
• Identify hazards and unsafe practices, develop appropriate controls, and evaluate the effectiveness of corrective actions and safety programs.
• Analyze safety data and trends, prepare safety reports and location action plans, and support performance improvement plans with location management.
• Plan and conduct safety meetings, employee training, safety conversations, BeSafe activities, and other company safety initiatives.
• Manage safety and training‑related costs within established budget requirements and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Perform additional safety and operational responsibilities as needed.

Skills

Safety regulations knowledge

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Fluent English

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Safety Manager - $80,000 annually

Why First Student?

At First Student, safety is at the center of everything we do. Our Safety Managers play a critical role in supporting employees, strengthening local safety performance, and ensuring our operations meet company standards and regulatory requirements.

This position provides hands‑on safety leadership for a First Student location, working closely with local operations leadership, trainers, drivers, and regional safety partners to identify risk, improve performance, and build a strong safety culture.

What We Offer

• A safety-focused organization with established programs, systems, and resources
• Opportunities to work directly with operations and regional leadership
• A role with a direct impact on employee and passenger safety
• Training and professional development opportunities
• The opportunity to help shape safety performance at the local level

About the Role

The Safety Manager oversees the location's day‑to‑day safety and training programs while ensuring compliance with federal, state, provincial, local, and company requirements.

You will monitor safety performance, investigate incidents, coach employees, oversee training and qualification requirements, and use safety data and technology to identify trends and develop action plans.

You will also support company safety initiatives and work closely with the Region Safety Manager and other safety leaders to implement consistent best practices.

What You'll Do

• Manage location safety programs and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, provincial, local, and company safety requirements.
• Support driver hiring and qualification processes, including motor vehicle record reviews, drug and alcohol testing, fingerprinting, DOT physicals, and required regulatory documentation, as applicable.
• Provide direction and oversight to location trainers and ensure required training, recertification, and enhancement programs are completed accurately and on time.
• Lead investigations of collisions and other safety events using established investigation methods, maintain required documentation, determine preventability in partnership with location leadership, and provide post-event coaching.
• Monitor driver and employee safety performance using road evaluations, telematics, safety dashboards, and other available technology.
• Identify hazards and unsafe practices, develop appropriate controls, and evaluate the effectiveness of corrective actions and safety programs.
• Analyze safety data and trends, prepare safety reports and location action plans, and support performance improvement plans with location management.
• Plan and conduct safety meetings, employee training, safety conversations, BeSafe activities, and other company safety initiatives.
• Manage safety and training‑related costs within established budget requirements and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Perform additional safety and operational responsibilities as needed.

What You'll Bring

• Three years of safety‑related experience or a combination of relevant education and experience.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, provincial, and local safety regulations.
• Working knowledge of FMCSA and/or FTA regulations.
• Relevant safety certifications and OSHA 10‑hour training preferred.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to learn and effectively use operational systems, mobile applications, telematics, shared drives, and other safety technology.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with drivers, employees, customers, management, client representatives, union representatives, and the public.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to analyze safety concerns and develop practical solutions and improvement strategies.
• Fluent English communication skills.
• Regular and dependable attendance and punctuality.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Must be able to move throughout office areas, company vehicles, parking areas, and other areas of the facility.
• Must be able to use standard office equipment and access files and records as needed.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in person and by telephone.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license and be able to operate a company or personal vehicle when required for accident investigations, driver evaluations, or other company business.
• Position may require work both indoors and outdoors depending on operational and safety needs.

Why Join Our Team?

This role is an opportunity to directly influence safety performance at the location level. You'll work alongside operations leaders and employees to identify risk, strengthen training, improve driver performance, and help ensure every employee and passenger gets home safely.

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time. This description reflects the primary functions of the role and does not prescribe or restrict all tasks that may be assigned.

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.