Van Driver

Bennington College; Town of Vermont (WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Bennington College in Vermont is seeking a full-time Van Driver within the Office of Campus Safety to transport students along established routes on campus and to/from campus. The role requires a clean driving record, valid license, and completion of driving courses, with strong communication for students, staff, and visitors.

The schedule is 40 hours per week with evening shifts; benefits include health, retirement, tuition exchange, and an on-site fitness center.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent; driving experience preferred; knowledge of local roads.
• Must possess a clean/valid driver’s license and pass road test plus Defensive Driving Course.
• Strong verbal communication; able to interact with students, staff and the public.
• Work with minimal supervision; maintain attention to detail and stay calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Operate a 15-passenger van on campus routes safely and professionally.
• Provide welcoming customer service and assist passengers as needed.
• Maintain vehicle: fuel, interior/exterior cleaning; report maintenance issues promptly.
• Communicate with Campus Safety and follow traffic laws at all times.
• Ensure smooth shift handoffs and accurate balance sheets with receipts.

Skills

Excellent communication

Customer service

Attention to detail

Ability to work under stress

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Defensive driving course

Job description

Bennington College seeks to hire a full-time Van Driver to work within the Office of Campus Safety. A Van Driver is responsible for providing safe transportation of students to and from campus based on established routes. Transportation services will also support various campus constituents including faculty, staff, and visitors/guests of the College. The hourly rate of pay is $20.81.

Bennington College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits including Tuition Exchange scholarships. The College also offers an on-site fitness center as well as generous time off benefits.

Available Schedule (40 hours/week)

Thursday 2pm-10pm

Friday 4pm-12am

Saturday 4pm-12am

Sunday 2pm-10pm

Monday 2pm-10pm

Bennington serves a diverse student population inclusive of members of ethnically/racially minoritized, international, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities as well as diverse gender identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse and intersecting backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building a community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness. Each individual (faculty, staff, and students) will be accountable for upholding these values. The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought and to invite the examination of access, value, power, and privilege through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest, backgrounds, experience, and accomplishment to apply.

General Responsibilities

1. Operate a 15-passenger van or other College vehicles in a safe and professional manner. Drive established van loop/route to/from campus. Drop off and pick up students along the route as requested.
2. Ensure that the customer service experience is welcoming, courteous and responsive. As appropriate, respond to inquiries and questions. Resolve issues quickly and appropriately. Where appropriate, educate the passenger and provide meaningful and resourceful recommendations that may enhance the student/visitor/guest experience with the College. Upon receiving specific direction, assist passengers with personal belongings. Advanced notice will be provided for these selected trips. Passengers are otherwise responsible for handling their personal belongings.
3. Maintain operation of vehicle; add fuel as needed and vehicle cleaning interior and exterior. Report suspected maintenance issues with the vehicle to the Assistant Director of Campus Safety in a timely manner.
4. Maintain regular and effective communication with Campus Safety Office for duration of shift.
5. Observe and abide by all Federal and State traffic regulations in the respective states in which operating.
6. Ensure the smooth transfer of duties when starting/ending shifts by sharing and accepting relevant shift information with other staff members; prioritize information to ensure an effective transfer of duties.
7. Assist passengers with placing and securing personal belongings safely in the vehicle.
8. Communicate to dispatch all pick ups and drop-offs including location.
9. Remain aware of surroundings/happenings at all time to be able to effectively respond to a variety of situations. Report concerning incidents to Officer on duty.
10. Submit accurate and timely Balance Sheets with reconciled cash and corresponding receipts at the conclusion of each driving shift.

Qualifications

1. High School Diploma or equivalent. Professional driving experience preferred. Knowledge of local and regional roads preferred.
2. Must possess and maintain a clean/valid driver’s license, free from infractions for 24 months. Must complete and pass both road test and on-line National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course and/or other College-required defensive driving course.
3. Superior oral and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to accept sensitive/confidential information/situations and to facilitate initial handling/processing. Able to interact, communicate and build/maintain effective working relationships with individuals at all levels of the College as well as guests/visitors and the general public.
4. Must have demonstrated ability to work with limited supervision. Work requires continual attention to detail, ability to use good judgment in decision-making and must be able to manage effectively under stress. Must be flexible to changing priorities, able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple, competing tasks and demands.

This position requires successful completion and acceptable results of a background check.

The College

Bennington College is a laboratory for innovation in higher education. At Bennington, learning and making—on campus and in the field—are inseparable, and its graduates are noted for their outsized impact on the world’s stage. This campus celebrates the ongoing making of work—shared on walls, in shows and performances, in lectures and readings, and in conversations—and believes that equity, diversity, and inclusivity are vital to a collaborative community. This position captures, contributes to, and reflects the ethos of this creative community.

Nestled at the foot of the Green Mountains in Vermont, the campus consists of approximately 370 acres. The College was named one of ten with the best architecture by Architectural Digest. From campus, it is a short drive to the cultural offerings of the northern Berkshires in Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and many of Vermont’s top recreational centers. New York City, Boston, and Burlington, Vermont are all within three and a half hours by car.