Paratransit Dispatcher – Transportation Operations

First Student•New York City, NY

8d•Onsite

About The Position

First Student is hiring a Paratransit Dispatcher to support daily transportation operations, route coverage, driver communication, and on-time service performance. The Dispatcher plays a critical role in coordinating paratransit vehicles, drivers, schedules, passenger pick-ups, drop-offs, and real-time service updates. This position requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to make quick decisions in a fast-paced transportation environment. The ideal candidate has experience in dispatch, paratransit, transportation, logistics, customer service, or terminal operations.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required
Basic knowledge of radio dispatch equipment preferred
Strong communication and customer service skills
Ability to work under time constraints and meet deadlines
Strong problem-solving skills in a fast-paced environment
Computer skills, including ability to use dispatch, routing, scheduling, email, and office systems
Ability to communicate professionally with drivers, passengers, customers, and operations leadership
Ability to remain calm and organized while handling multiple priorities
This position is subject to DOT drug testing and physical requirements.

Nice To Haves

Previous dispatch, transportation, paratransit, logistics, terminal operations, or driver experience preferred
Experience with ADA paratransit, passenger transportation, NEMT, or demand-response transportation
Experience handling high-volume phone and radio communications
Experience with routing, scheduling, or transportation management systems
CDL, passenger endorsement, or prior professional driving experience is a plus, but not required unless backup driving is part of the role

Responsibilities

Dispatch paratransit vehicles and monitor daily route coverage
Coordinate drivers, routes, schedules, and service adjustments throughout the day
Support on-time performance for passenger pick-ups and drop-offs
Communicate with drivers, passengers, operations leadership, and contracted customers
Handle heavy phone and two-way radio traffic
Respond to delays, driver call-outs, vehicle issues, passenger concerns, and service disruptions
Provide real-time solutions for pick-up, drop-off, routing, and scheduling issues
Counsel, coach, and support drivers as needed
Report driver, scheduling, passenger, and customer concerns to the Operations Supervisor or Contract Manager
Serve as a communication liaison with contracted customers and internal operations teams
Assist with daily route scheduling, service coverage, and operational adjustments
May assist with billing, driver payroll, reservations, reporting, or clerical duties
May perform backup driver duties, if properly licensed and qualified
Support special projects and day-to-day transportation operations as assigned