Safety Assistant

North Carolina Jobs; United States; On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional educational institution is seeking a Safety Assistant responsible for transporting school bus passengers safely. A successful candidate must have a high school diploma and the ability to assist students effectively. Key responsibilities include ensuring passenger safety during transport, adhering to safety protocols, and maintaining effective communication with students and staff. This role demands physical capability to manage bus operations and student interactions professionally. Commitment to training and safety standards is essential.

Qualifications

• General knowledge of the county and school policies.
• Skill in operating school buses safely.
• Ability to follow directions and maintain conversations.
• Must be at least 18 years old and pass background checks.

Responsibilities

• Transport school bus passengers safely to assigned locations.
• Assist students in boarding and exiting the bus.
• Report any incidents or issues to the authorities.
• Inspect and report equipment or wheelchair defects and secure wheelchairs as required.
• Follow established bus routes and safety procedures; participate in drills and training.

Skills

Safe operation of a school bus

Ability to assist children

Effective communication

Ability to follow directions

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Details

• Position Type: Transportation / Safety Assistant
• Date Posted: 2/24/2026
• Location: Transportation
• District: Onslow County Public Schools

Position Title

Safety Assistant

Reports To

Transportation Director

Nature of Work

Assist with transporting school bus passengers between assigned stops and schools according to specified routes and time schedules. Maintains order during trip and adheres to safety rules when loading and unloading passengers.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

General knowledge of the county; skill in the safe operation of a school bus; ability to detect malfunctioning equipment; ability to assist children using patience and understanding; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school officials, parents, school personnel, and students. Must be able to follow oral and written directions and have the ability to get along well with others.

Education and Experience

• Candidate must possess any combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of high school

Special Requirements

• Candidate must be at least 18 years of age
• Candidate must submit to random and post accident drug testing and background checks
• Candidate must possess good moral character
• Must maintain a professional appearance and conduct oneself professionally at all times

Physical Demands / Requirements

Work requires climbing, sitting, stooping, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, and repetitive motions. Frequent walking and lifting, up to approximately 30 pounds and occasional lifting of equipment up to 50 pounds. From the front seat of the bus, a safety assistant must be able to exit the bus from the rear floor level emergency exit using the sit and slide method; climb and descend the bus steps three times within 30 seconds. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, and conveying detailed or important instructions to other accurately, loudly, or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, operation of motor vehicles or equipment, and observing general surroundings and activities. A field of vision of at least 70 in each eye is required. The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions, noise, vibration, road hazards, and atmospheric conditions. Attendance to training sessions and bus driver meetings beyond the normal assigned hours is necessary. Daily contact with students to provide an orderly and safe environment is required. Contact with parents and administrators is required.

A successful candidate must be able to climb and descend the bus stairs using only one hand rail or handle. You may not use your hands to lift your legs up or down the stairs. You may not skip or jump over steps and you must be able to turn around at the top of the stairs and exit the bus. You may not exit the bus backwards.

Evaluation

The immediate supervisor will evaluate performance on ability and effectiveness in carrying out the above responsibilities.

Salary

Salary Grade 50

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Essential Functions / Typical Tasks

• Exercises greatest care at all times in transportation of school children.
• Takes all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, employees, equipment, and property.
• Reports all student injuries, accidents, illnesses and discipline problems to the appropriate authority immediately or as soon as reasonable possible.
• Instructs pupils who ride buses in rider safety annually, and practices emergency exit drills at least twice annually.
• Adheres to provision of Motor Vehicle Code, Pupil Transportation Regulations of Board of Education and terms of the School Bus Driver Handbook.
• Checks to rear of inside bus after each run for students left on the bus before leaving the area in which they are driving, placing the empty bus sign in the REAR window.
• Assists students, as needed, to board and exit the bus, fasten seat belts, harnesses, and car seats.
• Secure wheelchairs as appropriate and report equipment or wheel chair defects to the supervisor.
• Cleans and sanitizes the interior of vehicles regularly.
• Assist the driver with backing the bus and observing the area around the bus.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the route in order to assist substitute drivers or to assume responsibility of driving in the absence of the regular driver.
• Attends in-service training to improve skills, attitudes, and knowledge of school bus driving and pupil control.
• Observes established and accepted work practices and procedures in accordance with School Board pupil transportation policy, particular school policy, and supplemental administrative directives.
• Models non-discriminatory practices in all activities.
• Complies with and supports school and division regulations and policies.
• Performs related duties as assigned by the building administrator(s) and/or the Supervisor in accordance with the school/system policies and practices.
• May operate a special ramp bus, loads and unloads students in wheelchairs on and off bus; inspecting wheelchair for operational safety and permitting only properly functioning wheelchairs to load; operates ramp, assuring seatbelts are fastened, positioning the wheelchairs in bus, and securing the wheelchair.
• Shall be seated behind the last occupied seat on the bus in order to observe the students behavior and safety. May be required to get out of the seat to observe or assist a student.
• Monitors students with special health problems while in bus; receiving written or oral instructions, being aware and alert to any signs of difficulty following prescribed instructions and procedures, administering first aid, and calling for emergency assistance.
• Takes all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, employees, equipment, and property.
• Files records, as requested.
• Operates a two-way radio as means of communication to supervisor and or transportation department only.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.

Interested individuals are to complete an online application which can be found at www.onslow.k12.nc.us .

Onslow County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities.