Position Title: Transportation Program Driver/Dispatcher

Working Title: Driver (Senior Assistant)

Classification: Full time, hourly, non-exempt, benefits eligible

Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm with required breaks; occasional weekend or evening work may be necessary based on needs of the program, and the drivers weekly schedule will be flexed to accommodate these needs

Primary Role:

The Transportation Program Driver/Dispatcher’s role is to provide daily transport in a comfortable, safe, and timely manner for the clients served by the NECC Transportation Program as well as serving as a backup dispatcher for the program. The NECC Transportation Program provides non-emergency, accessible van, and car service to adult residents of northeastern Dutchess County, prioritizing medical transportation to seniors and persons with disabilities. This position will work in close collaboration with the Transportation Manager and/or Family Program Director, to provide services as assigned to our service area, which includes the towns/villages of Stanfordville, Pine Plains, North East, Amenia, Millerton, Washington, and Dover. The most important aspect of this customer-service oriented position is to serve as the purveyor of safe, timely transportation for elderly and disabled people who need a ride, and to exemplify proper decision-making skills when addressing events that may potentially occur in the performance of transportation. Therefore, this staff member must have the disposition, respect, and organizational skills to handle fluid situations with the right tone and level of compassion for our very important clientele, as well as all other NECC staff.

Responsibilities:

Dispatch (as needed):

This role serves as a back-up dispatcher when the Transportation Manager is unavailable. The Dispatcher will:

• Work collaboratively with the Transportation Manager to provide seamless service, scheduling, and client follow-up
• Answer phones as they ring during office hours each day
• Enter client and ride information accurately as directed, complete new client registration documents, and keep all other records as appropriate (these systems may evolve over time).
• Enter ride requests in Tripmaster software, schedule rides, and communicate details back to clients and drivers
• Place reminder calls to clients on the business day before appointments
• Communicate information about clients’ special needs, cancellations, driver changes, or other information that affects service to the Community Program Director, and to drivers and clients as appropriate
• Create daily driver routes in Tripmaster. Review route information in advance and ensure that driver routes are reasonable, vehicles are available as assigned, and that driver questions about daily routes are addressed

Driving:

• Drive clients daily to and from their assigned destinations
• Pick up and drop off clients on time or as close to on-time as possible based on daily schedule
• Accurately follow all routes, maps, and directions for all trips on the daily tour as assigned by transportation management
• May be required to drive a vehicle to or from a vendor location or may need to pick up or drop off a driver at a vendor location
• Retrieve a driver and/or client if an extenuating circumstance exists (occasional/rare)
• Approach all situations and stakeholders in a calm, professional, positive manner
• Follow all applicable state and national traffic laws and all applicable safety protocols, regulations, and standards
• Drive defensively to ensure safety
• Complete pre- and post-trip vehicle inspection checklist daily
• Provide routine vehicle maintenance which may include checking engine oil, fill gas tank, clean windows, windshields and mirrors and any other general motor vehicle maintenance as needed for safety
• Report directly to transportation management for more immediate maintenance issues as they are identified
• Record, report, and provide required data to transportation management, including date of service, mileage, gas usage, and other applicable information
• Keep the interior of the vehicle clean and free from all debris and clutter, and including any cleaning procedure identified on the daily vehicle checklist
• Maintains client and program confidentiality at all times.
• Record, report, and deliver rider donations to transportation management according to the outlined procedures daily
• Complete all assigned trainings in a timely fashion
• Attend, contribute to, and participate in regular staff and team meetings
• Follow all NECC Policies and Procedures
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Required Skills and Behaviors:

• Ability to act in a professional, positive, team-oriented manner at all times
• Able to work well both within a team and independently
• Approach work in an organized way
• Ability to work with people from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and age groups
• Utilizes proactive thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to maintain patient, professional demeanor when dealing with clients and co-workers
• Ability to responsibly manage confidential and/or sensitive information
• Flexible, adaptable, and consistent
• Able to safely meet deadlines and follow a schedule
• Able to model NECC values at all times
• Complete NECC-approved defensive driving course, keeping updated during span of employment

Qualifications:

Required:

• 5 years’ driving history (insurance requirement for all NECC drivers)
• Current valid driver’s license
• Must successfully complete background check through central database and DMVR check
• High School diploma or equivalent
• Minimum 4 years of experience serving similar program/service with similar responsibilities and demonstrating a commitment to customer service
• Successful experience or background serving seniors, the disabled or some combination of the two, or transporting other vulnerable populations
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Reliable and punctual daily attendance and tour schedule observance
• Ability to maintain a polite, professional disposition while remaining calm in stressful driving situations

Preferred:

• Spanish language skills highly desirable
• Knowledge of and experience with meeting the special needs of target populations (seniors, people with disabilities, people with limited English language skills)
• Familiarity with the geography of Dutchess County a plus
• Familiarity with the region’s health care service network a plus

ADA Requirements:

• Ability to lift a 50-pound box
• Ability to walk up and down stairs
• Ability to use a telephone, mobile technology, and a computer

Supervisor(s):

• Raquel Echevarria, Transportation Manager, direct supervisor
• Jessica Raymond, Family Programs Director

NECC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Program Provider, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, political belief, marital status, veteran’s status, or disability.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.27 - $28.57 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Experience:

• Professional Driving: 4 years (Preferred)
• Dispatching: 2 years (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Millerton, NY 12546 (Required)

Work Location: In person