Jobs › First Student

Location Safety Manager

First Student · Northbrook, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at First Student

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time your safety trend analysis led to a real change in how drivers worked.

What they are checking: Whether they use data to prevent incidents, not just report on them.

Tell me about a time you had to hold someone accountable for a safety violation.

What they are checking: Whether they enforce safety standards consistently while treating people with respect.

How do you keep accident files and compliance paperwork accurate and on time?

What they are checking: Whether they are organized enough to pass audits and avoid compliance gaps.

What would you do

You do a road check and see a veteran driver rolling through stop signs. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they address unsafe habits directly and fairly, even with experienced drivers.

How would you guide location trainers to improve new driver training?

What they are checking: Whether they can coach trainers and improve the training program, not just oversee it.

The location is short on drivers and operations wants to rush new hires through. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they protect hiring and training standards when staffing pressure is high.

About the work

Walk me through how you investigate a bus accident and decide whether it was preventable.

What they are checking: Whether they gather facts fairly and follow a clear method to determine fault.

What federal regulations do you have to know to keep driver hiring and files compliant?

What they are checking: Whether they know FMCSA requirements for driver qualification files, drug testing, and medical cards.

A driver is injured at work. Walk me through what you do in the first day.

What they are checking: Whether they know injury reporting, care, and documentation steps and follow them promptly.

How would you train drivers and attendants on passenger management for students who misbehave?

What they are checking: Whether they understand student management as a safety issue and can teach practical skills.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at First Student from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by First Student.

At First Student, our Location Safety Managers are a constant reflection of our company's commitment to safety and customer service. The Location Safety Manager is responsible for providing operational oversight, providing work guidance, and delivering leadership to full safety supervisory duties. At First Student, we are proud to offer: • Salary: Up to $65,000/yr, based on experience • Schedule: Monday through Friday, day shift • Tremendous Career Advancement Opportunities due to a strong presence across North America • Positive and rewarding work environment Location Safety Manager Responsibilities: • Administers driver hiring and compliance process • Provides direction and guidance to location trainers • Investigates accidents, incidents, and work-related injuries and determines fault/probability • Prepares and submits accident-related compliance forms, maintains files, and enters in system • Provides assistance and training to drivers and attendants on passenger management and other safety related issues • Performs driver road checks of driver performance • Supervise employees with safety and/or driver hiring or training responsibilities • Provides various reports and analyzes safety trends Location Safety Manager Experience and Skills Required: • 2-3 years transportation or safety-related experience • High school diploma or equivalent • Knowledge of federal and state rules and regulations regarding safety and environmental issues • Computer literacy with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint • Consistent attendance and punctuality • Possess working vehicle for travel in service area First Students commitment to putting our customers first, dedication to safety, and an ambition to deliver dependable transportation makes for a working environment you'll love. As a huge company with 120,000 staff and over 2.5 billion customers worldwide, you'll also enjoy security, a brilliant future, and excellent training. Apply today to join our team! 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 without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. For candidates applying to positions in San Francisco or Los Angeles California, First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance or Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance. First is an equal opportunity employer and by doing so we will sustain and promote an inclusive culture that supports future growth for all." Language Requirement This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications be conducted in English. 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. In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf .

Apply at First Student

More location safety manager roles