Driver Safety & Training Coordinator - School Bus

Driver Safety & Training Coordinator - School Bus

Company: First Student Canada
Location: Owen Sound, Ontario
Job Type: Full-Time

About the Role

First Student is seeking a dedicated Driver Safety & Training Coordinator - School Bus to lead and manage safety programs at our Owen Sound location. This hands‑on role ensures compliance with federal, provincial, and local regulations, supports driver training and qualification, and promotes a strong safety culture across all operations. This is an operational safety role-not a desk-only position-and requires experience in school bus operations and the ability to perform driver evaluations and training in the field.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee driver hiring and compliance processes (e.g., MVR checks, drug/alcohol testing, physicals, background checks).
• Manage and monitor location training programs, including onboarding, recertification, and enhancement training.
• Lead investigations of safety events using root cause analysis (e.g., 5-Why's), document incidents, and determine preventability.
• Maintain compliance with all safety-related regulations and company policies; ensure documentation is accurate and up to date.
• Conduct monthly safety meetings and provide training on safety-related topics.
• Monitor driver performance using telematics, road evaluations, and other tools.
• Develop and implement hazard control programs and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Analyze safety data and trends to create action plans and performance improvement strategies.
• Support operational safety leadership through BeSafe initiatives and coaching.
• Manage safety-related budgets and recommend cost-saving measures.

Qualifications

• Class B driver's licence (or willingness to obtain) required.
• Minimum 1 year in a safety-related role.
• School bus driving experience strongly preferred.
• Safety certifications (e.g., COR, WHMIS) and knowledge of Canadian OHS standards preferred.
• Strong knowledge of provincial safety regulations and transportation compliance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with dispatch, telematics, and compliance systems (e.g., DMO, SmartDrive) is an asset.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and organizational skills.

Why Join First Student?

• Annual salary of $43,000 - $45,000
• Industry leader in student transportation
• Commitment to safety and employee development
• Supportive team environment
• Opportunities for growth and advancement

Apply today and help us set the highest standards in safety and service!

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.

Company DescriptionAbout us
An industry leader famous for our yellow school buses and service and safety excellence, we've provided student transportation services to schools for over 100 years. Continually investing in the services of the future, we're proud to be part of FirstGroup America – the largest provider of safe, reliable and sustainable surface passenger transportation services in North America.
Industry leader
We safely operate more than one third of all contracted school buses in North America.
Together our 50,000 school buses travel nearly 600 million miles per year — the equivalent of 1,200 round trips to the moon.
We operate in around 550 locations throughout 38 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces.
Innovation
We were the first school bus company to utilize global positioning systems (GPS), so at any one time we know where all of our buses are and how fast they're travelling.
Passionate about safety, we've installed Safety Crossing Gates on the front of all of our school buses and use the Child Check-MateTM electronic reminder system to make sure no sleeping children remain inside a bus at the end of each route.
Awards & recognition
We won the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award from the National Safety Council two years in a row.
Dedicated to safety, FirstGroup received the National Safety Council's (NSC) Green Cross for Safety Medal - the highest award for safety in North America.
Teamwork and trust
It takes a diverse team of skilled professionals to provide a safe, effective and efficient student transportation system. From our school bus drivers and location managers to routers, dispatchers and fleet technician mechanics, the work we do every day makes a big impact on the daily lives of students, parents, local communities and school district partners.
We're very proud of our elite team of over 55,000 dedicated, caring and diverse professionals. And they are the #1 reason we're trusted by over 1,400 school districts - more than any other provider. Everybody here plays their part in creating a positive school bus experience.
Our culture
We live and breathe our vision and values. They are embedded in our culture and drive our commitment to our customers and communities. Our culture fosters growth and promotes respect, reliability, responsibility and safety. And we recruit people who share these values and will work together to build strong and trusting partnerships in the communities we serve.
Safety – Although our safety record is twice as safe as the industry average, we continually seek out opportunities to enhance our operational and safety initiatives.
Learning – Through our learning culture that spans over 550 locations, we receive and share insight from our people to enhance our service now and in the future.
Making a difference - By doing our job well, we make a positive impact on many lives – including the millions of students who travel with us every school day.
Careers for all – We're an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Employer of Choice.
By consistently encouraging and supporting an open dialogue with our people and partners, we're able to share new ideas and develop new ways to meet the needs of our customers and passengers. At First Student, you'll feel empowered to serve your community. So join the team and start to make a difference.Company DescriptionAbout usAn industry leader famous for our yellow school buses and service and safety excellence, we've provided student transportation services to schools for over 100 years. Continually investing in the services of the future, we're proud to be part of FirstGroup America – the largest provider of safe, reliable and sustainable surface passenger transportation services in North America.Industry leaderWe safely operate more than one third of all contracted school buses in North America.Together our 50,000 school buses travel nearly 600 million miles per year — the equivalent of 1,200 round trips to the moon.We operate in around 550 locations throughout 38 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces.InnovationWe were the first school bus company to utilize global positioning systems (GPS), so at any one time we know where all of our buses are and how fast they're travelling.Passionate about safety, we've installed Safety Crossing Gates on the front of all of our school buses and use the Child Check-MateTM electronic reminder system to make sure no sleeping children remain inside a bus at the end of each route.Awards & recognitionWe won the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award from the National Safety Council two years in a row.Dedicated to safety, FirstGroup received the National Safety Council's (NSC) Green Cross for Safety Medal - the highest award for safety in North America.Teamwork and trustIt takes a diverse team of skilled professionals to provide a safe, effective and efficient student transportation system. From our school bus drivers and location managers to routers, dispatchers and fleet technician mechanics, the work we do every day makes a big impact on the daily lives of students, parents, local communities and school district partners.We're very proud of our elite team of over 55,000 dedicated, caring and diverse professionals. And they are the #1 reason we're trusted by over 1,400 school districts - more than any other provider. Everybody here plays their part in creating a positive school bus experience.Our cultureWe live and breathe our vision and values. They are embedded in our culture and drive our commitment to our customers and communities. Our culture fosters growth and promotes respect, reliability, responsibility and safety. And we recruit people who share these values and will work together to build strong and trusting partnerships in the communities we serve.Safety – Although our safety record is twice as safe as the industry average, we continually seek out opportunities to enhance our operational and safety initiatives.Learning – Through our learning culture that spans over 550 locations, we receive and share insight from our people to enhance our service now and in the future.Making a difference - By doing our job well, we make a positive impact on many lives – including the millions of students who travel with us every school day.Careers for all – We're an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Employer of Choice.By consistently encouraging and supporting an open dialogue with our people and partners, we're able to share new ideas and develop new ways to meet the needs of our customers and passengers. At First Student, you'll feel empowered to serve your community. So join the team and start to make a difference.