Bus Driver

$1,500 Sign on bonus after 90 days of employment

Summary: Transportation of children from their homes to our Child Care/Head Start Centers and Family Child Care homes in our communities, following established schedules. Established and maintain a safe environment for the children. This is a year-round position.

Why Work for SMOC?

• Paid Time Off: All full-time employees can accrue up to 3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks of sick time and are eligible for 12 paid holidays during their first year of employment.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance & AD&D and Long-Term Disability for full-time employees.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical Plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA Employer cost-sharing program, Dental Plans with Orthodontic Coverage, and EyeMed Vision Insurance available to full-time employees.
• 403(B) Retirement Plan with a company match starting on day one for all full-time and part-time employees.
• Additional voluntary benefits including; Term and Whole Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital indemnity, and Short-Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Follow all SMOC policies, EEC regulations and Head Start Standards.
• Follow SMOC’s Transportation Plan.
• Follow all safety rules as children board and exit the buses and for the release of children to authorized adults.
• Comply with all traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
• Conduct proper vehicle pre-trip inspection at the start of each day and inspection of bus at the start of each run.
• Promptly report all bus maintenance issues to the Transportation Manager for the program.
• Conduct proper vehicle inspection at the end of each run to ensure that all children have exited the bus.
• Additional reviewer must do the same and both will need to sign attendance acknowledging this.
• Although we will do our best to have a monitor, there must be a bus monitor on all runs with Head Start children. For childcare we must have a monitor if there are 8 or more children on the run. If there is not a bus monitor because there are less than 8 children and it is a childcare run the driver must call into the center upon arrival for an additional reviewer to come out to check the bus for any children and sign their attendance before they leave the bus. In the case of no monitor the driver must handle the monitor responsibilities as well for example, attendances with times, knowing how many children are on the bus at all times, signing children off, checking ID’s ETC.
• One person on every run must be certified in First Aid and CPR procedures.
• Attend all required staff meetings and training sessions.
• Do all annual trainings such as: Strong start and maintaining at least 8 hours per year.
• Participate in drug testing when called upon.
• Keep bus interiors clean and safe for the children.
• Promptly report delays, accidents, or other traffic and transportation issues using cell phone or two-way radio.
• Renew CDL license as needed, Bus Driver Certificate annually along with self-certification.
• Maintain confidentiality of client, employee and agency information in accordance with federal and state laws and funder requirements.
• Ensure compliance with program/department, agency and/or funder requirements, as well as, SMOC policies & procedures.
• Engage all families by understanding and addressing their needs whether within or outside the scope of work.
• In order to maintain the number of hours you are being paid for you may be asked to do other duties including but not limited to: driving the buses to help with regen, gassing up buses, picking up or dropping off buses for maintenance, repairs, picking up food for centers, bringing necessary items from on center to another, etc.
• The expectation is that you are working the number of hours you are paid for.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Valid MA CDL with “S” endorsement and School Bus Driver Certificate required.
• Must have excellent driving record. 
• Must be comfortable working with diverse backgrounds and able to effectively communicate with children, families and co-workers. 
• Bilingual Spanish or Portuguese skills a plus. 
• Priority given to past or present Head Start parents.
• Must be or become certified in CPR & First Aid within the time frame required by EEC licensing.

Organizational Relationship: 

• Directly reports to Transportation Manager.
• Indirectly reports to other Directors of other centers.
• Indirect reports of this position are: Bus monitors assigned to you

Physical Requirement: 

• Must be able to handle the physical aspects of the position including the lifting of a child during bus evacuations.
• Recent physical exam determining good health and meeting all EEC and DOT requirements. Must submit proof of physical exam every 2 years thereafter.
• Random drug and alcohol testing of drivers.

Working Conditions: As part of the responsibilities of this position, the School Bus Driver will have direct or incidental contact with clients served by SMOC in various programs funded or administered through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. A successful background check is required.