Transportation Specialist

Heartland Human Care Services•Chicago, IL

31d

About The Position

Join our team for a high-impact position where you'll be the crucial link supporting our participants and programs. You will drive throughout Chicago to transport program participants and deliver vital supplies (food, general items). You are a frontline hero, dedicated to the immediate safety and security of our participants. You will be a core member of the internal immediate-response team. When not driving, you'll provide direct support on the program floor Why Join Us: Make a Difference: Be a part of an organization that is deeply committed to creating positive change in the lives of individuals and communities. Professional Growth: Take on a leadership role where you can develop and implement asset management systems, supervise a dedicated team, and contribute to ongoing education initiatives. Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) match, paid maternity and paternity leave, commuter benefits, student loan assistance, and more.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of five years’ experience working with youth, or in security, transportation, general professional driving, or the military (or an equivalent combination of continuing education and experience) is required.
A valid Illinois driver’s license is required. A CDL License is preferred and may be required.
Must have a clean driving record that complies with DCFS’ requirements for drivers (including no convictions related to reckless driving and no license suspensions/revocations in the past three years, among others).
Ability to travel on airplanes is required.
Must successfully pass criminal background check and qualify for TSA precheck.
Language Skills: Fluency in a second language may be required. Ability to write routine correspondence, staff communications and reports. Ability to speak effectively before groups and to communicate with all levels of staff. Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Physical Ability: Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Ability, with proper training, to assist in physically restraining youth. Ability to remain standing for the majority of a shift.
Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a residential or institutional setting is preferred and may be required.
Experience working with youth is preferred and may be required.
Experience working on-call as an emergency responder is preferred and may be required.

Responsibilities

Provides secure transportation of program participants in agency vehicle or on public transportation to any location that is necessitated by programmatic needs.
Responds effectively to unexpected situations and crises during transports such as transportation delays, missed connections, and procedural failures, and communicates status of transport with supervisor on a timely basis.
Drives throughout Chicago and the surrounding area to deliver food and to pick up supplies.
Supervises program participants individually or in groups and provides for their safety and well-being.
Instructs participants and models behavior on issues such as household cleanliness, hygiene, and nutrition, among others.
Participates in the implementation of program activities and events.
Conducts multiple roll-calls and perimeter checks throughout each shift and monitors movement of program participants within program guidelines.
Completes all necessary forms and case notes in an accurate and timely manner.
Responds immediately to security and safety breaches and provides physical restraint as needed, in accord with restraint and crisis intervention training and program guidelines.
Serves on an internal immediate-response team and, on a rotating basis, will be called to respond to emergency situations before and after regularly scheduled shifts (including all hours of the day and night, and all days of the week), reporting to the site of the emergency as expediently as possible in order to assist in deescalating situations.
Performs housekeeping duties such as cleaning, laundering, and preparing meals, among other similar tasks, and monitors the safety conditions and overall cleanliness of the residential program.
Participates and actively contributes to regular supervisory and staff meetings, in-house training sessions, and other activities as required.
Adheres to professional standards as outlined by organization plans and policies and by program guidelines, governmental bodies, NASW (and/or other appropriate professional associations), funding sources, and licensing bodies. Initiates requests for assistance from management to address program issues or issues affecting adherence to professional standards.
Other duties may be assigned.