Area Safety Fleet Manager

First Student • Poughkeepsie, NY

3d

About The Position

First Student is hiring an Area Safety Manager based in Poughkeepsie, New York, covering Eastern New York. Travel is required. The role supports safety across designated locations, including operational, facility, and shop activities. Working directly with the Area General Manager and other regional and location leaders, the Area Safety Manager leads behavioral and organizational change, drives continuous improvement through data review and risk mitigation, and ensures division safety initiatives are embedded in operations. The role monitors adherence to company programs and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and company policies.

The Area Safety Manager oversees safety performance and compliance across multiple locations; investigates serious incidents; supports claims and litigation; manages corrective actions and training standards; and provides safety leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to location teams. The role also supports driver onboarding and trainer staffing, safety audits and reviews, recruiting and retention activities, and communication and execution of division-wide safety initiatives. The position requires English proficiency for training, safety communications, policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications.

Requirements

• Seven years of safety or transportation experience.
• Five years of fleet transportation management experience.
• Strong commitment to safety.
• Demonstrated leadership, decision-making, and team-building skills.
• Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Advanced proficiency with technology used to manage operations, including FGA-approved smart technology, apps, encrypted drives, shared drives, and other smart technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interpret data, perform root cause analysis, and assist others with these activities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach, and provide leadership.
• Collision Investigation training.
• State or Provincial Instructor Certification in at least one state or province in the region.
• Certified Smith System Defensive Driving Instructor.
• English proficiency for job-related training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other communications.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with software such as timekeeping and payroll systems.
• Two years of college or equivalent education/experience is preferred.
• OSHA 10-hour certification and safety or transportation certifications.

Responsibilities

• Work with regional and location leaders, including the RSD, LSM, LM, and Maintenance Manager, to develop and deploy safety provisions in accordance with budget and guidance.
• Identify locations underperforming against established targets, analyze performance, and work with location teams to develop, recommend, and implement continuous improvement processes.
• Conduct comprehensive investigations of serious incidents, develop actions, communicate lessons learned, and ensure they are implemented.
• Share best practices and innovative approaches to problem-solving across managed locations.
• Support the RSD and Risk Management with claims management and litigation, and complete root cause analyses with operations and maintenance as required.
• Work with the workers’ compensation third-party administrator to proactively manage claims.
• Ensure appropriate driving-trainer staffing levels and work with operations and HR to identify trainer needs and administer driver onboarding.
• Help locations determine and implement remedial actions for safety events, and review disciplinary actions with HR and Operations.
• Guide multiple locations on compliance with company policies, SOPs, and applicable laws and regulations; provide visibility into compliance scores to regional and senior teams.
• Prepare monthly safety reports and performance analyses, identify trends and corrective actions, and communicate findings to the AGM and management team.
• Assess location safety performance using Daily Dispatch, Driver Mobile Manager, and other applicable tools.
• Partner with the LM in recruiting and onboarding new LSMs; provide safety training for new LMs and LSMs; develop LSM competencies and support regional train-the-trainer workshops.
• Use Focus, Zonar, and the Safety Care database to support location-level operational efficiencies.
• Conduct Safety Wellness Checks at least annually at high-risk locations, with more frequent inspections and safety reviews as needed.
• Assist HR and LMs with driver recruitment, retention, and training activities.
• Conduct safety audits to supplement site safety reviews and work with locations and RVPs/AGMs to close Site Safety Review actions.
• Manage the BeSafe process, including delivering the Safety Leadership course, identifying and onboarding BeSafe Coaches, and monitoring debrief quality.
• Work with RVPs, AGMs, and LMs on communication and execution of division-wide activities and actions.
• Provide technical oversight to LSMs as needed, prioritizing LM requests in partnership with the ASM to support Operations and Safety.
• Verify location compliance with PDDP, EDTP, and Non-Conforming Vehicles standards; audit training-program elements for quality assurance and ensure training standards are followed.
• Support kickoff and safety meetings with location staff and provide appropriate startup support.
• Perform other responsibilities as requested or required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k).
• Paid holidays and vacation.
• Physical and mental health initiatives.
• Professional advancement opportunities, including promotion from within.
• A 3-to-5-month Manager-In-Development program to prepare future leaders.
• Extensive training in safety and security, injury prevention, technology and equipment, and job efficiency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed