Bus Driver

Division of Aging and Adult Services

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter square miles in the city have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Bus Driver position.

An Overview

Under the supervision of a Bus Driver Supervisor or other supervisory position, a bus driver drives a 28-passenger, wheelchair lift equipped bus for the Division of Aging and Adult Services, which is a City passenger bus, following a designated schedule and route or a non-repetitive schedule. Responsible for reporting necessary maintenance and repair work, making daily reports of distances traveled, passengers carried and fares collected. Work is reviewed through the safe and satisfactory operation of the vehicle. Positions in this class may require performance of duties evenings and weekends. Assists passengers on and off the bus and carries small packages and bags for some. Delivers mail to senior centers and other city facilities. Keeps detailed logs of the number of passengers, miles traveled, destinations of trips, etc. Cleans and re-fuels the bus as necessary, checks fluid levels, and reports any maintenance problems promptly.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should know and be experienced in the operation of a 28-passenger bus; must know the special needs of the elderly or disabled and be able to establish and maintain rapport with a diverse population of older persons. Has to comply with DOT Commercial Driver’s License; Must know or be able to quickly learn the streets of Alexandria, be able to assist older persons on and off the bus; Must be able to learn and perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic first aid; Must have good judgment and communication skills.

The Opportunity

• Provides curb-to-curb service for Alexandria senior citizens, age 60 and over;
  
• Uses knowledge of aging issues such as disabilities that limit their vision, hearing or movement;
  
• Exhibits conflict management skills, patience and tolerance;
  
• Assists passengers on and off the bus, as well as loading and unloading grocery bags;
  
• Operates a wheelchair lift and must do proper tie-down procedures for a variety of wheelchairs;
  
• Keeps detailed logs of the number of passengers, miles traveled, and destinations of trips;
  
• Reports any incident/accident involving bus or passengers immediately to supervisor and Police Department;
  
• Drives long distances for special trips when necessary;
  
• Provides special transportation to City of Alexandria departments including, but not limited to, Office of the Mayor and City Council and Alexandria Police Department;
  
• Delivers mail to senior centers and other City of Alexandria facilities;
  
• Learns and performs cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic First Aid with annual renewal;
  
• Uses good judgment and communication skills;
  
• Cleans and refuels the bus as necessary;
  
• Checks lights, brakes, steering, tires, radiator and oil level prior to leaving garage;
  
• Reports any maintenance problems promptly;
  
• Complies with all laws and regulations concerning operation of the vehicle, including safety precautions and posted speed limits;
  
• Performs related work as required.
  

About the Department

The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging; Adult Protective Services; Clinical & Emergency Services; and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Some experience in driving a bus, and completion of grade-school-level courses in arithmetic and English; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees in this class must possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) issued by the state of their residence. Must be able to work flexible hours (early mornings, late evenings and occasional weekends); must pass an initial drug test and submit to random drug screen.

Preferred Qualifications

At least two years of experience driving a bus; Must have at least one year of experience working with seniors which includes passengers who may have disabilities that limit their vision, hearing or movement. Must be able to learn and perform CPR and basic First Aid. Must know or be able to learn proper tie down procedures for a variety of wheelchairs.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; Verification of education/certifications; Drug screening; and Driver's license.

Schedule: Monday through Friday, some nights and weekends may be required.

***In addition to the above full-time position, we are seeking PRN (At Will) candidates as well. If you are interested, please feel free to notate that in the notes section when applying or if you are selected for an interview, make mention of that to the interview panel.***