Region Safety Director

First Student, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

First Student, Inc. seeks a Regional Safety and Compliance Manager to oversee safety and day-to-day operations within a defined area, ensuring reporting and regulatory compliance across the region. You will lead safety teams, coordinate training, monitor performance data, and collaborate with operations and HR to drive safety initiatives and staff development.

Travel up to 50% is required. The role demands strong leadership, data analysis, and the ability to implement corrective actions to

Qualifications

• 7 years proven experience in Safety/transportation or related field with multi-site responsibilities.
• College degree preferred.
• OSHA 10-hr./30-hr. course preferred.
• State/Provincial Instructor Certification in at least one State/Provincial region.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee safety and day-to-day operations within a defined region.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and federal/state regulations.
• Coordinate safety training and roll out new safety initiatives.
• Lead regional safety teams and staff development.
• Collect and report safety performance data monthly.
• Support risk management and incident investigations.

Skills

Safety leadership

Decision making

Team building

Analytical skills

Microsoft Office

Communication

Data interpretation

Education

College degree

Tools

Timekeeping systems

Payroll systems

MS Office

Smart technology tools

Job description

Provides safety oversight, day-to-day management, customer interface, and required reporting and compliance mandates (both internal and external) for a specific area within a region. Supports the safety/security of all operational, facility and workshop activities within the region. Provides the regional oversight to support compliance with all company, Federal, State, Provincial, Territorial and Client regulations. Serves as the conduit for the collection and reporting of all safety performance related data from the region.

Major Responsibilities

• Ensures the safe transportation of passengers to and from their destinations.
• Measures and monitors compliance with company policies procedures, FTA, FMCSA, DOT, OSHA/OHS, DHS or other applicable Federal, State, Provincial, Territorial and Client regulations. This will include ensuring the training being conducted meets all First Group America Guidelines and is in keeping with best practices.
• Coordinates the support, roll out and project management of all new safety initiatives, training and other safety activities within their region.
• Builds positive relationships with employees, local school officials, parents and the community. Resolves safety concerns with employees, local school officials, parents, and the community.
• In conjunction with the AGM and ASM, supports fair and consistent recognition and/or corrective discipline.
• Manages and collects all information and data from locations within the regions necessary to complete monthly safety reports in accordance with all deadlines. This includes the RSM preparing the actual reports.
• Leads by example. Builds and maintains a strong positive Area/Location Safety teams through effective recruiting, on-boarding, training, coaching, team building and succession planning. Prepare and participate in the preparation of staff development plans for each Safety employee who is a member of the Area/Location Safety team. Assess the skills and skill levels necessary to achieve Location Safety objectives. Ensures all on-line learning courses required have been completed by location Safety staff including their own individual completion.
• Works with the locations to ensure a proper analysis is conducted of each safety event occurring in the region which results in an injury to an employee, passenger, motorist, pedestrian etc. or any other serious safety event which may not have included an injury.
• Identifies safety trends within the regions/locations and using the trend information to recommend corrective actions.
• Trains the trainers, safety personnel and managers within the region on all safety programs.
• Supports the development and creation of any regional written materials including, procedures, safety posters, safety alerts, lesson plans, power point presentations, etc.
• Promotes new company initiatives and supports changes. Champions new changes or company initiatives within their region. Ensures all safety employees at the locations are supporting the changes or initiatives.
• Assists with the Risk Department with management and legal support for injuries and collisions within the region. Participate on region claims review calls.
• Has direct responsibility to ensure proper driving trainer staffing levels. Work closely with operations and HR to identify trainer needs and effectively administer driver onboarding.

Minimum Experience or Skills Required

• 7 years proven experience in Safety/transportation and/or student transportation or comparable service industry showing a consistent successful upward employment progression with multi-site responsibilities or 5+ years management experience
• College degree preferred
• Safety certifications, OSHA 10-hr./30-hr. course preferred
• Collision Investigation training.
• Demonstrate leadership, decision-making and team building skills
• Strong proficiency in computer literacy essential with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Experience with other software such as timekeeping and payroll systems is preferred.
• Advanced skills in technology used to manage the operation to include but not limited to FGA approved Smart technology, Apps, encrypted drives, shared drives and other Smart technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, analytical and time management skills
• Ability to interpret data and perform root cause analysis and assist others
• State/Provincial Instructor Certification in at least one of the States/Provincial in the Region.
• Certified Smith System Defensive Driving Instructor.
• Must be able to lead behavioral change by motivating others and inspiring them to become safety leaders.
• Incumbent must be able to move about the office and between floors; utilize standard office equipment; access filing system/cabinets; and communicate effectively and efficiently in person or by telephone.
• Ability to perform job functions in an office or field setting under adverse weather or working conditions.
• Travel required at least 50% of the time

Compensation ranges from $130,000 - $150,000 starting depending on experience. This role also receives a 20% bonus.

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.