Location Safety Manager — First Student

Salary: $85,000 annually

Why First Student?

At First Student, safety is at the center of everything we do. Our Location Safety Managers play a critical role in protecting our employees, passengers, and communities by leading local safety, training, and regulatory compliance programs.

This position combines hands-on safety leadership with driver training, compliance management, collision investigation, performance coaching, and operational support.

What We Offer

• $85,000 annual salary

• A leadership role with direct impact on employee and passenger safety

• Opportunity to lead safety and training initiatives at the location level

• Partnership with local operations and regional safety leadership

• A position that combines safety, compliance, training, and employee development

• Opportunities to improve safety performance through technology, data, and coaching

About the Role

The Location Safety Manager is responsible for managing the safety and training program for a First Student operating location. This position ensures compliance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations while supporting First Student's safety goals and performance standards.

You will work closely with location leadership, trainers, drivers, and regional safety partners to identify risks, improve driver performance, investigate safety events, maintain regulatory compliance, and build a strong safety culture.

What You’ll Do

• Manage driver hiring and qualification requirements, including interviews, drug and alcohol testing, fingerprinting, DOT physicals, motor vehicle record checks, required government documentation, and other compliance requirements.

• Provide leadership and oversight to location trainers, including monitoring training hours, scheduling certification and recertification activities, and ensuring training programs meet company and regulatory standards.

• Lead collision and safety-event investigations, complete required documentation, determine preventability with location leadership, manage follow-up activities, and provide post-event coaching and counseling.

• Maintain compliance with applicable FMCSA, FTA, federal, state, local, and company safety requirements while monitoring employee qualifications and documentation through company systems.

• Monitor driver safety performance using telematics, road evaluations, safety metrics, and other available technology; identify trends and partner with location leadership on corrective action and performance improvement plans.

• Plan and conduct monthly safety meetings, safety training, and other employee-development activities designed to reinforce safe operating practices.

• Identify hazardous conditions and operating practices, develop appropriate controls and corrective actions, and evaluate their effectiveness in reducing risk.

• Analyze safety data, prepare reports and location safety action plans, support Safety Committee activities, manage applicable safety and training expenses, and actively promote First Student's BeSafe principles.

What You’ll Bring

• Previous experience in transportation safety, operations, driver training, compliance, or a related field; experience as an Assistant Location Safety Manager or similar safety leadership role is preferred.

• Approximately five years of relevant operations experience, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

• Working knowledge of federal and state transportation safety regulations, including applicable FMCSA and/or FTA requirements.

• Experience with driver qualification, regulatory compliance, collision investigation, safety training, or fleet safety programs.

• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with drivers, employees, management, customers, union representatives, and community partners.

• Ability to analyze safety information, identify trends, prioritize competing responsibilities, and develop practical corrective actions.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, along with the ability to learn and effectively use operational and safety technology.

• Relevant safety certifications and OSHA 10-hour training are preferred.

• Valid driver's license and ability to drive a company or personal vehicle as needed for accident investigations, driver evaluations, and other business needs.

• Commitment to maintaining a strong safety culture and supporting First Student's Safety Lifestyle.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

This position works in both office and operational environments. The Location Safety Manager must be able to move throughout the office, vehicle areas, bus parking lots, and other areas of the facility; use standard office equipment and filing systems; enter and exit vehicles as needed; and communicate effectively in person and by telephone.

Some local driving is required to investigate safety events, evaluate driver performance, and support other company activities.

Why Join Our Team?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of safety at the local level while having the resources and support of a larger regional and national organization. You will have a direct role in developing employees, improving driver performance, reducing risk, and helping ensure that every passenger and employee gets home safely.

Apply Today

If you have a background in transportation safety, fleet operations, driver training, or regulatory compliance and are ready to take the next step into safety leadership, we encourage you to apply and help us continue building a stronger safety culture at First Student.

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.