Description

About Interfaith Community Services:

At Interfaith, we empower individuals and families in need by providing essential resources and services with compassion and integrity. Together, we foster a community of hope, accountability, and dignity.

Founded in 1979 in direct response to rising rates of hunger and homelessness in North San Diego County, Interfaith Community Services works to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by Helping People Help Themselves. Interfaith is the most comprehensive nonprofit social services agency in North County, providing both immediate safety net services and long-term, life-changing programs designed to meet the holistic needs of people in crisis. Together, in partnership with 250+ diverse faith communities, more than 650 recurrent volunteers, and a growing staff of over 200, Interfaith provides a safe haven and pathway towards self-sufficiency for more than 17,000 community members annually.

If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a service-driven environment, we invite you to be part of our mission!

What You'll Do:

In the Transportation Specialist role, you’ll be responsible for providing transportation services at Interfaith’s Oceanside Navigation Center. The transportation specialist, with support from the program manager and site supervisor, is responsible for ensuring safe and timely transportation of clients served to and from various appointments and providing program support or related tasks as required to support sheltered clients. This role additionally ensures safe operation of program vehicles, maintains transportation schedules, and supports overall facility safety and cleanliness in alignment with the mission of Interfaith Community Services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required but do not represent all job functions that may be required to be performed by this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Assist passengers on and off vehicles, including those with physical or mobility limitations.
Safely secure passengers’ wheelchairs, mobility devices, and other equipment.
Provide hands-on assistance for disabled passengers entering and exiting vehicles.
Ensure clients have safely entered the medical facility or destination before departing.
Maintain order and discipline during transport, using de-escalation techniques as necessary.
Report any problematic client behavior, safety concerns, or disruptions in service to a supervisor.
Maintain and update the transportation calendar to ensure efficient and timely service.
Schedule and select routes and travel times to ensure clients arrive for appointments promptly and are picked up in a reasonable timeframe after appointments.
Maintain ongoing communication with clients and staff regarding appointment and schedule changes.
Operate vehicles in compliance with all traffic laws, regulations, and safety standards.
Lock and secure vehicles when left unattended and check to ensure no passengers remain inside.
Conduct pre- and post-trip inspections to identify safety or maintenance issues.
Maintain accurate mileage logs, passenger counts, and transportation records.
Clean and refuel vehicles; promptly report mechanical issues for repair.
Maintain documentation of vehicle maintenance and service records.
Support other staff during downtime or between transport shifts as assigned.
Participate in all staff meetings, required trainings, and compliance activities.
Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Site Supervisor or Program Manager.

Requirements

Who You Are:

You're passionate about making a lasting impact, whether supporting individuals directly or enhancing our organizational effectiveness. To thrive in this role, you'll:

High school diploma or equivalent, required
Valid CA Driver’s License, required
Must possess and maintain an acceptable motor vehicle record in accordance with company policy
Minimum 1 year of experience working with severely mentally ill, medically fragile, and homeless populations, preferred
Knowledge of alcohol and other drug recovery fields, preferred
Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred

Skillsets/ Additional Requirements:

Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries with clients
Working knowledge and skills in mental health, co-occurring disorders, substance abuse treatment models, and crisis intervention
Ability to react calmly and professionally to emergency situations
Ability to identify problems, and research and recommend resolutions
Knowledge of community and social service agencies
Knowledge of adult development
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills
Must be highly organized and demonstrate attention to detail
Demonstrated experience managing multiple deadlines and working effectively under pressure, using independent judgment to produce quality work under time constraints
Demonstrated experience working with a collaborative team
Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
Ability to communicate effectively among a diverse workforce population and maintain sound working relations with all levels within the organization
Work with spirit of teamwork, cooperation and a sense of urgency
Maintain a high degree of confidentiality over all matters in the course of business operations including client and employee information
Ability to perform tasks in an efficient, thorough, and prioritized manner
Ability to work quickly, accurately and independently

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
Required to perform the safe operation of a vehicle, office equipment and machines, and recognize and abate safety hazards within the workplace
Must be able to perform work in an indoor and outdoor setting
May be subjected to adverse conditions, including contact from hostile people
Potential exposure to contagious diseases, hazardous chemicals, and other hazardous fluids
Must have the physical ability to sit for long periods of time, stand, walk, bend, kneel on a frequent basis
Occasionally lifts, carries and balances objects weighing up to 30 pounds
Pulls and pushes such objects as file drawers, computers and similar office equipment and supplies
Prioritizes and multi-tasks work and projects requiring good memory, concentration and analytical thinking
The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

Location: Onsite/Oceanside

Hourly Rate: $17.84-$21.84

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-4:30pm

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

· Paid Time Off

· Paid Holidays – 13 scheduled

· Flexible Work Schedules

· Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

· AD&D / Group Life Insurance

· Flexible Spending Accounts – Medical and Dependent Care

· Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan

· Early Release Days!

· Work Anniversary Bonuses

· Tuition Reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility

· Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

· Home Ownership Assistance Program

· Casual Work Environment

· Professional Growth and Career Development Opportunities

Interfaith is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, nationality, sex, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Interfaith will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.