About the Company
Valley Area Transit Company, Inc (VATCo) is a contracted service operator of fixed-route public transit bus operations, maintenance, and management services in the Pioneer Valley region of Western Massachusetts. VATCo is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, providing the highest quality of safe and efficient public transportation in our communities. VATCo is a private employer, headquartered at 54 Industrial Drive, Northampton, Massachusetts, 01060
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Operations Manager, our Operations Supervisors provide on-site driver supervision and monitors all facets of daily route operations as assigned, including but not limited to performing Dispatch Desk responsibilities, run assignments, and cruiser and street duty. This position is responsible for supervisory functions necessary to assure compliance with company policies and procedures and assist operators with providing safe, efficient and on-time service to passengers and serves as back-up for bus driving responsibilities when needed. This position requires weekend on-call duty on a rotating basis. Must be flexible with schedule for occasional schedule variations as needed.
This position is non-bargaining and directly supervises zero (0) non-bargaining unit employees; this position directly manages bargaining unit employees through the general direction of services while on shift. This position performs the tasks of directly supervised staff whenever required, such as bus driving. This position may be required to participate in a compensated after-hours on-call rotation, as required by the Division Manager. As with all Management, this position may be required to report to assigned work location in the event of inclement weather, during declared states of emergency, or when required by the General Manager.
Salary Range
Salary offered to the successful candidate will be within the range posted in the position description, commensurate with experience of the preferred candidate.
Special Considerations (Temporary Position)
This is a temporary, full-time, position for an employment period of up to twelve (12) weeks from date of hire. Candidates are reminded that this position does not convey any guarantees of any kind, expressed or implied, related to the possibility of renewal, extension, or permanence. This position is not eligible for holiday pay, personal time, vacation time, or other fringe benefits of any kind – including participation in the Company’s health insurance or retirement plans. This position is eligible for other benefits when required by Massachusetts’ Law. This position is non-exempt.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Essential duties and responsibilities include the following; other duties may be assigned by the Division Manager.
· Assign daily work to Bus Operators: Coordinate operations activities in a manner that ensures bus service is on time; ensures timely dispatch of previously assigned buses; make adjustment to bus assignments as needed; retrieve voice mail to determine and document absenteeism and cover work accordingly; record overtime; log bus changes; split routes as necessary to cover a complete run, using appropriate paddle information.
· Coordinate staffing: Coordinate staffing with appropriate personnel and allocate buses to operators based on assigned runs in a manner that ensures the economical and timely delivery of service to passengers; record vehicle and driver assignments; monitor and record on-time delivery of service at the beginning of each service day; provide instruction and information to operators regarding scheduling, route changes, detours, etc; notify maintenance department of bus defects; implement overtime assignments according to collective bargaining agreement.
· Provide high quality customer service: Apply and exemplify the principles and values of the Transit Ambassador program for daily operations. Serve as primary contact for incoming calls from customers and/or answer questions regarding fixed-route transportation services; receive and process customer complaints in compliance with internal guidelines; conduct necessary research to determine validity of complaints and determine most appropriate action based on findings: submit related paperwork to Operations Manager for future accessibility and necessary follow-up.
· Provide general supervision of Bus Operators: Provide leadership and support to employees; assist with day-to-day issues and operational problems while enforcing company policies and procedures within scope of delegated authority and provides first step discipline according to progressive discipline policy.
· Perform cruiser and street duty: Using thorough route and schedule knowledge, monitor routes for schedule compliance, completion of trips, passenger pickups, damage to PVTA signs and shelters, and in-route safety of passengers and vehicles; provide driver observation, supervision, and assistance through monitoring of driver appearance, cleanliness of buses, communicating with drivers by radio or in person’ check destination signs, assist with unruly passengers and on-scene accident investigations according to established procedures, note bus defects, and provide timely information to the dispatcher, drivers, and/or appropriate operations managers.
· Safety & Training: Works with other Operations Supervisors to enforce Company Safety procedures.
· Maintain all related records and/or files: Maintain all records and reports directly created or managed by position - related to assigned duties.
· Maintain open and effective communications: Maintain communications with management, supervisors, drivers, and maintenance as necessary to keep informed of unusual situations such as delays, detours, accidents, emergencies, lost articles, and authorization of needed changes of routes/ schedules and/or any other pertinent information; keep line of communication open at all times using radio system and/or other tools; and provide follow-up communication as needed.
· Conduct activities related to opening, closing and securing the building; Assist Manager(s) with investigating accidents and incidents; Transport employees selected for random drug tests to collection site; and provide employee training as needed. Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Minimum Requirements and Qualifications
· High School Diploma or GED
· At least two (2) years of experience as a transit bus operator, or in a related transportation sector
· At least two (2) years of supervisory experience with increasing responsibilities;
· Ability to act with sound judgment and with minimal supervision;
· Good communication and public relations skills; strong supervisory experience.
· Must be able to perform duties while abiding by collective bargaining agreement (C.B.A.) where applicable.
· Must be able to work with minimal supervision; must have excellent judgment and ability to make sound decisions, and take responsibility for decisions; excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; must be able to communicate effectively with peers, subordinates, passengers, and the public;
· Must have a working knowledge of existing PVTA route system and the street network within the service area.
· Demonstrable organizational skills; effective problem-solving skills;
· Able to perform all administrative/clerical work associated with responsibilities, including but not limited to accident investigation and reporting, supervisory and driver observation reports, and dispatch administrative procedures; must be adept at serving as an accessible and reliable resource to Bus Operators.
Preferred Qualifications
· Strong leadership and supervisory experience within the public transit industry, preferably in a Union environment
· Bilingual English/Spanish preferred, not required
· Advanced education such as an associate’s degree preferred, but not required.
Licenses, Registrations and Certifications
Must hold current Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Class A or B with Passenger endorsement and no Airbrake restriction and have completed required company supervisory training. Must be able to obtain and maintain (current) proof of proper Department of Transportation medical certification and Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities certification; maintain license and certifications to active status and initiate renewal of license and certifications according to company policy and related regulatory requirements.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:
· Sit for up to several consecutive hours at a time;
· Frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel;
· Frequently use arms, elbows, shoulders and wrists to engage in push/pull steering of bus;
· Frequently use legs and feet to safely operate break and accelerator peddles;
· Frequently bend knees while sitting to operate bus and to manipulate break and accelerator peddles;
· Frequently reach with hands and arms at, below, and above shoulder level;
· Occasionally stand; walk; climb, bend, stoop, squat, twist, crouch, or climb stairs;
· Occasionally lift, push/pull and/or move up to 250 pounds which is equal to 30 ft. /lbs of force to overcome initial inertia (i.e., assist wheelchair passenger upon request or in case of an emergency)
· Occasional driving supervisor vehicle.
· Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee is also frequently required to hear and speak.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentialfunctions. Work is generally performed indoors in an office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions when visiting other facilities, Frequent contact with the public and meeting deadlines required. Off-site assignments and irregular work hours are required on occasion, including occasionalweekend and/or evening work. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
This position regularly interacts with others in stressful situations, for example, dealing with difficult/irate passengers, handling emergency situations, and/or dealing with other unforeseen occurrences related to travel, weather conditions, passengers, incidents, etc. Must be able to deal with stressful situations effectively and use sound decision-making skills to deal with stressful situations appropriately, according to established procedures. Must use high level of mental concentration to perform safety sensitive job functions.
Job Conditions
- Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
- Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age
- Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Northampton, MA metro area, as required by the role.
- Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experience.
- Ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a diverse workforce team (or supervise, if required).
- Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the Company while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers.
- Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the Company including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies.
· Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and / or medical Clinic screening, potentially including physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
· This position requires a negative pre-employment drug screen and a successful pre-employment physical;
· Must submit to periodic Drug and Alcohol testing as deemed necessary according to related USDOT regulations and Company Policy. ,
Pay: $30.00 - $33.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
