Area Safety Manager in Toronto

The Area Safety Manager (ASM) plays a key role in ensuring the safety of designated locations across all operational, facility, and shop activities within the assigned geographic area. Reporting directly to the Area General Manager, the ASM is responsible for driving behavioral and organizational change through effective influence and change management strategies. By analyzing data and implementing targeted risk mitigation strategies, the ASM fosters continuous improvement in safety practices. This role ensures the seamless integration of division safety initiatives and processes into area operations while monitoring compliance with strategic and program objectives. Additionally, the ASM upholds adherence to federal and provincial regulations, as well as company policies. Coverage area for this position is the Greater Toronto Area.

Responsibilities:

• Works with the Regional Safety Director (RSD), Location Safety Manager (LSM), Location Manager (LM), and the Maintenance Manager to ensure safety provisions are developed and deployed in accordance with budget and guidance.
• Identifies underperforming locations to established targets, performs analysis, and works with location teams to develop, recommend, and implement continuous improvement processes.
• Conducts comprehensive incident investigations for all serious events and assists in developing actions to ensure lessons learned are communicated and implemented.
• Shares best practices and innovative approaches for problem-solving at locations managed by the position.
• Provides support to RSD and Risk Management on claims management and in litigation.
• Completes Root Cause Analysis with operations and maintenance as required.
• Works closely with the workers' compensation third-party administrator to proactively manage claims.
• Ensures proper driving trainer staffing levels and works closely with operations and HR to identify trainer needs and effectively administer driver onboarding.
• Assists locations in determining and implementing proper remedial actions for safety events and reviews disciplinary actions with HR and Operations.
• Provides visibility of location compliance scores to regional and senior teams.
• Prepares monthly reports and safety performance analysis for locations, identifying trends and corrective actions to communicate to AGM and management team.
• Assesses location safety performance by utilizing Daily Dispatch, Driver Mobile Manager, and other applicable tools.
• Participates in the recruiting process for selection and onboarding of new LSMs in partnership with LM.
• Provides safety training for new LMs and LSMs; develops LSM competencies and skills and supports Regional train-the-trainer workshops.
• Ensures operational efficiencies at a location level by utilizing Focus, Zonar, and the Safety Care database.
• Performs location Safety Wellness Checks at least annually, with more frequent inspections and safety reviews at high-risk locations.
• Assists HR/LM with driver recruitment, retention, and training activities.
• Conducts safety audits to supplement the site safety review process.
• Works with locations and RVPs/AGMs to properly close Site Safety Review actions.
• Manages the BeSafe process, including Safety Leadership course delivery, identifying and onboarding BeSafe Coaches, and monitoring debrief quality.
• Provides technical oversight to the LSM as needed, prioritizing requests from LMs in partnership with the ASM to support the Operations and Safety function.
• Verifies location compliance with PDDP, EDTP, Non-Conforming Vehicles standards, and conducts quality assurance by auditing elements of training programs being conducted at a location level.
• Ensures that all Training Standards are being carried out per Company guidelines.
• Supports the execution of kickoff/safety meetings by working closely with location staff.
• Provides the appropriate level of startup support.
• Other responsibilities as requested or required.

Minimum Education or Certifications Required:

• 2 years of College preferred or equivalent education/experience.
• CCOHS, safety/transportation certifications, etc.

Minimum Experience or Skills Required:

• 7 Years of Safety/Transportation Experience.
• Experience with MTO rules & regulations and OHSA.
• Understands and applies Safety KPIs and Risk Assessment.
• Strong commitment to Safety and incident investigation.
• Strong proficiency in computer literacy essential with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Advanced skills in technology used to manage the operation, including but not limited to First Student approved Smart technology, Apps, encrypted drives, shared drives, and other Smart technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interpret data and perform root cause analysis and assist others.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with others in a team setting.
• Union experience an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach, and provide leadership.
• Collision Investigation training.
• Provincial Instructor Certification in at least one province within the region.
• Certified Smith System Defensive Driving Instructor.

First Student is a leading provider of school transportation services. We operate in 460 locations across the US and Canada, working with school districts to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation for five million students per school day. We employ more than 48,000 people and operate and maintain over 43,000 buses. We aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce; therefore, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We encourage applications from women, persons with a disability, Indigenous peoples, and members of a visible minority. First is an equal opportunity employer and by doing so we will sustain and promote an inclusive culture that supports future growth for all. First is committed to providing reasonable accommodation at all stages of the hiring process and encourages all applicants who may require such accommodation to let us know.