Transportation Bus Driver

At Rise, we believe that everyone deserves opportunities to live a life filled with purpose and pride. In our employment, housing, and life-enrichment services, we support people to set and achieve their personal goals. As a nonprofit, every Rise team member is driven by our mission. That shared commitment is the foundation of a workplace that embraces a culture of learning and growth by offering extensive training, competitive salaries, and a fun work environment. We are an inspiring leader in disability services that wants to make a real difference in people’s lives!

Position Summary

The purpose of this Transportation Driver is to provide safe and reliable transportation for persons served between worksites or to and from their residence. As a bus driver you will operate a 15-passenger lift vehicle and follow all safety laws and practices while ensuring safe ridership for persons served.  

Essential Duties

Key Expectations 

• Standards of Excellence Commitment: All Rise employees are expected to commit to, sign and follow-through on Rise’s Standards of Excellence. Refer to “Standards of Excellence Commitment” document. In the Employee Handbook.   
• Person-Centered Practices: Learn and consistently perform person-centered practices: Identify those things that are important to people who receive support; implement strategies to assure they are present in day-to-day life. Identify areas where change can happen without permission. Act on those areas. 
• Communication: All Rise employees are expected to communicate effectively with other staff, external stakeholders and people we serve in a respectful and timely manner. This includes but is not limited to reading and responding to email in a timely manner, answering and responding to phone calls and voicemails, foster open communication; listening to others; preparing professional written communications as needed.  
• Safety: Participate in the development of a safe and healthy workplace. Comply with safety policies and procedures and adhere to safe work practices. Comply with state motor vehicle laws and regulations. Take reasonable care to ensure your own, co-workers and persons served safety and health. Report any hazards, injuries or illnesses immediately to your supervisor. Will not place others at risk by any act or omission or interfere with safety equipment. Act as a role model by demonstrating safe work behaviors. 

Responsibilities

• Communication – Speak clearly; listen to others; write effectively; establish relationships; act with integrity; establish trust. 
• Ensure compliance with all applicable legal requirements and accreditations standards. Ensure that all activities are conducted in a manner that is consistent with Rise’s Code of Conduct, CARF standards, and HIPAA policies and procedures.
• Maintain a safe working environment to include safe operation and preventative maintenance on all equipment used to carry out duties and responsibilities.
• Perform and maintain a daily log of pre-trip vehicle inspections and maintenance.
• Provide any physical assistance the person’s served may need, including but not limited to entering and exiting the vehicle, using safety belts, etc.  
• Utilize best practices (tie downs, etc.) for securing wheelchairs and other mobility devices in the bus while transporting passengers.  
• Maintain structure and order on the vehicle and operate the vehicle in a safe and efficient manner.
• Conduct oneself as a positive role model for persons served in terms of appearance, socialization, and teamwork.
• Complete and submit contact notes, tracking sheets, and communicate relevant information about passengers as needed.
• Complete all required annual trainings on time using Rise’s online learning management system.

Key Competencies

• Service-focus – focus on customer (internal and external) needs 
• Interpersonal skills – positive behaviors; build relationships; value diversity; manage disagreements; act with integrity; demonstrate adaptability; show work commitment. 
• Self-management – use time effectively and efficiently; concentrates efforts on the most important priorities; adeptly handles several tasks at once.
• Compassion – genuinely cares about people; is available and ready to help; demonstrates real empathy with the joys and pains of others. 
• Perseverance - pursues tasks with energy, drive, and a need to finish; does not give up before finishing, even in the face of resistance or setbacks; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.

Required Education, Experience, and other Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED certification. 
• Current, valid driver’s license. 
• A driving record that demonstrates safe, legal driving habits. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with person’s served, case workers and co-workers. 
• Compliance with Rule 11 and MVR background check required.

Preferred Education, Experience, and other Qualifications

• Previous experience practicing person-centered techniques with people with disabilities or other barriers to employment preferred.
• Previous experience with tie downs and securing wheelchairs or other mobility devices while operating a vehicle preferred.
• Previous experience operating a 15-passenger life vehicle preferred. 

Working Conditions and Environment

• Hours of Work: Hours of work are typically daytime, Monday through Friday split shift. 
• Travel: Must be able to travel to various locations throughout the day within a 50-mile radius.  
• Work Environment: This job operates in a variety of environments including Rise’s office environment, production floor, and Rise Vehicles. The noise is moderately loud when on the production floor. 
• Physical Demands: The team member frequently is required to twist, stoop, bend, reach, pull, push, stand, sit and walk for up to eight hours per day. Able to lift and transfer people, with varying weights (50-75 pounds). Able to perform two-person lifts. 

Benefits

Wage:$18.91 - $19.96 per hour, depending on qualifications

• Medical insurance - single employee coverage less than $90/month
• Dental insurance less than $17/month
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with a 100% vested employer match
• Rise sponsored Basic Life & AD &D insurance
• Voluntary Life, Short Term, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Tuition reimbursement and Rise sponsored trainings (i.e., CPR, First Aide, and more) to help you be successful in your role
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO) starts at 16 days during your first year, plus 2 floating holidays, and 48 hours of ESST time per year.
• Employee resource groups (i.e., DEI, LGBTQ+, recognition and more).
• A fun team environment that supports your professional development and opportunities for career advancement.
• Rise is a PSLF-eligible employer. Your qualified student loan balance may be forgiven after 120 covered payments.

Are you looking to work with a diverse team of professionals? Do you want to work in a fun environment while supporting others to live a life of possibilities? Then join Rise, Inc.! 

Rise values being a person-centered organization. This impacts how we carry out services for the people we support and our organizational culture. We encourage people's unique individual differences and celebrate the ways our team members contribute to our community. We believe in a workplace informed by differing viewpoints and perspectives created from a diverse team and welcome people of all races, genders, ages, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, and backgrounds to apply. Our goal is that those we serve, and our team members always feel valued and respected.