Full-time Routing Specialist 1.0 FTE

Full-time Routing Specialist 1.0 FTE

Transportation - Bus Barn

Red Deer County

Position Type: Full-time

Reports to: Transportation Manager

Job Category: Operations -Transportation

Travel Require: Occasional

Position Summary:

The Routing Specialist is a vital member of the Operations team, responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant transportation of eligible students, encompassing regular, special education, and specialized programming. This role is crucial for ensuring regulatory compliance, maximizing operational efficiency through route optimization, and preparing high-accuracy data for critical annual transportation grant applications.

Primary function:

To strategically plan, create, optimize, audit, and maintain school bus routes within an assigned geographic region. This involves accurately determining student eligibility, establishing safe stop locations, managing essential data, and collaborating with internal departments, external partners, and families to sustain an effective student transportation system.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Routing & Operations Management

Design, plan, and execute school bus routes and schedules, ensuring adherence to provincial regulations, Board policies, and safety standards.

Conduct ongoing operational reviews (both system-based and field audits) to identify and implement opportunities for route consolidation and efficiency gains.

Manage the annual bus registration process, including student assignment, system setup, and maintaining the registration database.

Coordinate specialized transportation by assigning and verifying Special Education (SPED) codes, managing assignments, and overseeing Action Bus registrations.

Administer yard access agreements, including eligibility determination and approvals.

Proactively adjust routes in response to boundary changes, enrollment fluctuations, program relocations, and evolving traffic patterns.

2. Data Integrity & Grant Application Support

Prepare and validate all transportation data required for annual provincial grant applications, ensuring complete, accurate, and standardized reporting aligned with government expectations.

Maintain stringent BusPlanner data requirements to guarantee clean data for both grant reporting and internal operational purposes.

Serve as the primary custodian for student transportation data, ensuring accurate, standardized entry and validating/correcting data submitted by school operators.

Verify student eligibility based on established policies, boundaries, and walk limits, generating and maintaining accurate eligibility lists.

Ensure timely updates to the PowerSchool system related to transportation assignments and data accuracy.

3. Payroll Accuracy & Financial Support

Execute monthly data pulls and reports (e.g., route hours, assigned runs) to ensure the accuracy of driver payroll.

Calculate and verify monthly driver payroll submissions by aligning run hours with routing and operational data.

Provide professional and timely support to drivers by addressing payroll-related inquiries with accurate supporting information.

4. Safety, Compliance & Field Support

Assist in evaluating potentially hazardous walking conditions and making recommendations for designated hazardous walk areas and general safety improvements.

Ensure full compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and all relevant corporate/departmental policies.

Conduct field audits to verify route accuracy and safety compliance.

Provide essential support during the operational startup phase, including assisting Dispatch with the assembly and organization of driver clipboards (routing documents, student lists, etc.).

5. Collaboration & Communication

Respond to and resolve inquiries professionally and accurately from parents, schools, and bus operators regarding route updates, schedules, and safety matters.

Communicate effectively with internal staff and municipal partners regarding operational needs and updates.

Assist in forecasting student transportation needs and analyzing the impact of boundary changes or new facility openings on the system.

Identify and explore opportunities for co-operative bus routes with coterminous Boards.

Additional Expectations:

Maintain confidentiality at all times: This is vital for a role dealing with sensitive student and personnel data (e.g., SPED codes, payroll, student eligibility lists).

Attend scheduled professional development sessions to maintain technical knowledge and skills: This signals the employer's commitment to continuous improvement and ensures the employee's technical skills (like using routing software) remain current.

Adapt to changes in processes, systems, or organizational structure: This is essential in a dynamic field like transportation operations, which often involves system updates (like BusPlanner or PowerSchool) and policy adjustments.

Perform other related duties as assigned: This is a standard catch-all phrase that provides the management the flexibility to assign reasonable, non-listed tasks that support the primary functions of the role, preventing rigid job creep issues.

Required Qualifications:

Valid Class 2S license with a minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated school bus driving experience.

Proven ability to manage complex scheduling and routing software (e.g., BusPlanner, Versatrans).

Strong analytical and organizational skills with a keen attention to detail, particularly in data management and financial reporting.

Ability to serve as a spare driver when operational demands require it.

Ability to cover the Dispatch role when required, demonstrating strong communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to perform effectively under time-sensitive conditions.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to maintain confidentiality and adapt to changes in processes or systems.

In order to be considered for these positions, you must upload a current Resume and Cover Letter to the job posting you are applying to.

The Cover Letter and Resume must be a Microsoft Word or PDF file.

If you are having trouble applying to this posting, please contact Apply To Education at 1-877- 900- 5627 or info@applytoeducation.com