First Student is now hiring an Area Senior Certified Trainer for Eastern Ontario!

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands includes Transco, Total Transportation, Maggie's Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

About the Position

The Area Senior Certified Trainer plays a key role in ensuring training excellence, consistency, and regulatory compliance across First Student locations throughout Eastern Ontario.

Reporting to the Area Training Manager, this position is responsible for overseeing, mentoring, coaching, and evaluating trainers to ensure training programs meet company standards and applicable Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) requirements.

The successful candidate will work closely with location leadership to monitor trainer qualifications, identify training gaps, implement improvements, and support operational training needs across multiple locations.

This is a remote-based position, ideally suited to a candidate located in or near Ottawa, with regular travel throughout Eastern Ontario and occasional travel to other regions across Canada.

We Offer:

• Annual salary of $60,000–$70,000, based on qualifications and experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision coverage, subject to plan eligibility.
• Paid vacation and statutory holidays in accordance with applicable legislation and company policies.
• Mileage reimbursement for approved business travel using a personal vehicle, in accordance with company policy.
• Career advancement opportunities within a leading North American transportation organization.
• A positive and supportive work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.

Responsibilities of an Area Senior Certified Trainer:

• Oversee and support driver training programs across assigned First Student locations throughout Eastern Ontario, ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance with company standards.
• Train, mentor, coach, and evaluate trainers at various levels to maintain high standards of training delivery and effectiveness.
• Monitor trainer certifications, qualifications, and signing authority requirements to ensure compliance with applicable Ontario regulations and company policies.
• Conduct regular evaluations of trainers, providing constructive feedback and implementing development plans where necessary.
• Identify training gaps, performance concerns, and opportunities for improvement, implementing appropriate coaching and corrective training initiatives.
• Review and evaluate training curricula, practical driving instruction, and on-the-bus training methods to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in school bus driver training, Ontario licensing requirements, and applicable training standards.
• Collaborate with location managers, regional leadership, and training teams to identify operational training needs and ensure consistent program delivery.
• Support new contracts, acquisitions, and operational start-ups by coordinating and facilitating training activities to ensure operational readiness.
• Provide hands-on driver and trainer instruction when required to address operational needs, staffing shortages, or training gaps.
• Conduct regular field visits to assigned locations to assess training effectiveness, provide coaching, and support compliance initiatives.
• Assist with maintaining accurate training records, monitoring certification requirements, and identifying upcoming training or recertification needs.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, accountability, safety, and operational excellence.
• Stay informed of changes to Ontario Ministry of Transportation regulations, provincial licensing requirements, and industry best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in school bus transportation and driver training.
• Previous experience as a trainer within the school bus transportation industry.
• Valid Ontario signing authority applicable to the required driver's licence class.
• Strong knowledge of Ontario Ministry of Transportation regulations, school bus licensing requirements, and driver training standards.
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach, mentor, and evaluate others effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple locations.
• Ability to work independently in a remote-based role while maintaining effective communication with regional and location leadership.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly throughout Eastern Ontario, with occasional travel to other regions across Canada.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant training and administrative applications.
• Strong commitment to safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Experience monitoring training certifications, regulatory compliance, and training program effectiveness.

Equal Opportunity Employer

First Student is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

We encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.