Area Safety Manager

The Area Safety Manager (ASM) plays a key role in ensuring the safety of designated locations across all operational, facility, and shop activities within the assigned geographic area. Reporting directly to the Area General Manager, the ASM is responsible for driving behavioral and organizational change through effective influence and change management strategies.

By analyzing data and implementing targeted risk mitigation strategies, the ASM fosters continuous improvement in safety practices. This role ensures the seamless integration of division safety initiatives and processes into area operations while monitoring compliance with strategic and program objectives. Additionally, the ASM upholds adherence to federal, and provincial regulations, as well as company policies. Coverage area for this position is the Greater Toronto Area.

Responsibilities

• Works with the Regional Safety Director (RSD), Location Safety Manager(LSM), Location Manager(LM) and the Maintenance Manager, to ensure safety provisions are developed and deployed in accordance to budget and guidance.
• Identifies underperforming locations to established targets, perform analysis and work with location team to develop, recommend, and implement continuous improvement processes.
• Conduct comprehensive incident investigations for all serious events. Assists to develop actions and ensures lessons learned are communicated and implemented.
• Share best practices and innovative approaches for problem solving at locations managed by the position.
• Provide support to RSD and Risk Management on claims management and in litigation. Complete Root Cause Analysis with operations and maintenance as required.
• Work closely with the workers' compensation third-party administrator to proactively manage claims.
• 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.
• Assist locations to determine and implement proper remedial actions for safety events and review disciplinary actions with HR and Operations.
• Multiple location oversight to guide locations on compliance with First Student policies and SOPs, as well as applicable laws and regulations, provide visibility of location compliance scores to regional and senior team.
• Prepare monthly reports and safety performance analysis for locations. Identify trends and corrective actions and communicate to AGM and management team.
• Assess location safety performance by utilizing Daily Dispatch, Driver Mobile Manager, and other applicable tools.
• In partnership with LM, will participate in the recruiting process for selection and on-boarding of new LSM's.
• Provide safety training for new LMs and LSMs; develop LSM competencies and skills and support Regional train the trainer workshops.
• Ensure operational efficiencies at a location level by utilizing Focus, Zonar, and the Safety Care database
• Perform location Safety Wellness Checks at least annually, at high risk locations this may require more frequent inspections and safety reviews.
• Assists HR/LM with driver recruitment, retention, and training activities
• Supplements the site safety review process by conducting safety audits. Additionally, the ASM works with the locations and RVPs/AGMs to properly close Site Safety Review actions.
• ASM manages the BeSafe process, including Safety Leadership course delivery, identifying and onboarding BeSafe Coaches and monitor debrief quality.
• Works with RVP, Area General Manager and LM regarding the communication and execution of divisional wide activities and actions. .
• Provides technical oversight to the LSM, as needed, while the requests from LM's will be prioritized and in partnership with the ASM to support the Operations and Safety function.
• Verification of location compliance with PDDP, EDTP, Non- Conforming Vehicles standards and conduct quality assurance by auditing elements of training programs being conducted at a location level. Ensures that all Training Standards are being carried per Company guidelines.
• Support the execution of kickoff/safety meetings by working closely with location staff.
• Provides the appropriate level of startup support.
• Other responsibilities as requested or required.
  
  

Minimum Education Or Certifications Required

• 2 years of College preferred or equivalent education/experience
• CCOHS , safety/transportation certifications, etc..
  
  

Minimum Experience Or Skills Required

• 7 Years of Safety/Transportation Experience
• Experience with MTO rules & regulations and OHSA
• Understands and applies Safety KPI's and Risk Assessment
• Strong commitment to Safety and incident investigation
• Strong proficiency in computer literacy essential with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Advanced skills in technology used to manage the operation to include but not limited to First Student approved Smart technology, Apps, encrypted drives, shared drives and other Smart technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to interpret data and perform root cause analysis and assist others
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with others in a team setting
• Union experience an asset
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach and provide leadership
• Collision Investigation training
• Provincial Instructor Certification in at least one province within the region.
• Certified Smith System Defensive Driving Instructor
  
  

First Student is a leading provider of school transportation services. We operate in 460 locations across the US and Canada, working with school districts to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation for five million students per school day. We employ more than 48,000 people and operate and maintain over 43,000 buses.

Apply today to join our team!

We aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce therefore all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We encourage applications from women, persons with a disability, Indigenous peoples and members of a visible minority. First is an equal opportunity employer and by doing so we will sustain and promote an inclusive culture that supports future growth for all. First is committed to providing reasonable accommodation at all stages of the hiring process and encourage all applicants who may require such accommodation to let us know.

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.