Job Description

Job Title: Bus Driver

Position Type: Part-time, non-exempt

Compensation: $20–$25 per hour, depending on experience.

Schedule: Flexible hours; nights and weekends will be common, with assignments based on university transportation needs.

Primary Assignment: Safely transporting Calvin University students, employees, and guests, with a significant portion of trips involving varsity student-athlete team travel.

Location: Grand Rapids Campus, with regional and out-of-town travel as assigned

Calvin University welcomes applications for a part-time Bus Driver. This position supports the university’s mission by providing safe, dependable, and hospitable transportation for students, employees, and guests. The driver will operate Calvin University vehicles, including a 56-passenger coach bus, for university-sponsored travel. While assignments may vary, the position will largely involve transporting varsity student-athlete teams to practices, competitions, and related events, with many trips occurring during evenings, weekends, and occasional overnight or extended travel periods.

The ideal candidate is a safety-focused professional who exercises sound judgment, communicates clearly, and represents Calvin University with care, courtesy, and professionalism. The driver must maintain all required license credentials, certifications, and university driver authorizations before operating university vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate a 56-passenger coach bus and other approved university vehicles for official Calvin University business.
• Transport varsity student-athlete teams and other university groups to and from practices, competitions, events, retreats, airports, hotels, and other assigned destinations.
• Follow all federal, state, local, and university transportation requirements, including traffic laws, Department of Transportation requirements applicable to the vehicle and route, and Calvin University transportation policies.
• Complete required pre-trip and post-trip inspections, document concerns, and promptly report maintenance or safety issues through the appropriate university process including logs, mileage records, inspection forms and the like.
• Maintain a clean, orderly, and welcoming passenger environment, including careful attention to passenger loading, luggage/cargo storage, aisles, emergency exits, and safe boarding/departure practices.
• Communicate professionally with coaches, staff, students, passengers, transportation staff, and external partners regarding trip timing, route changes, delays, passenger behavior, and safety concerns.
• Exercise appropriate discretion and maturity when traveling with students, including maintaining professional boundaries and supporting Calvin’s expectations for a safe and respectful community.
• Use good judgment in changing weather, traffic, construction, trip delays, emergency situations, and other conditions that affect passenger safety.
• Complete Calvin University employment requirements, including mandatory online training modules and role-specific safety training.
• Perform other duties related to university transportation as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) appropriate for operating a 56-passenger coach bus. A Class B CDL, or higher, with Passenger (P) endorsement is expected; an air brake qualification/no air brake restriction is required.
• Current and valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate/DOT medical card.
• Ability to meet all applicable federal and state requirements for operating a commercial passenger vehicle, including background check, motor vehicle record review, drug and alcohol testing, and FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements where applicable.
• Good driving record and ability to meet Calvin University authorized-driver requirements, including completion of any university-required defensive driving, safety, or transportation training before driving for the university.
• Demonstrated ability to perform required vehicle inspections and identify conditions that may affect safety.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, early mornings, holidays, and occasional extended or overnight trips as university travel needs require.
• Ability to communicate clearly, remain calm under pressure, and provide hospitable service to students, employees, guests, coaches, and other passengers.
• Ability to lift, load, secure, and move team equipment or luggage as needed, within safe working limits.
• Commitment to safe, reliable, punctual, and professional transportation service.

Preferred Qualifications

• · Extensive experience operating motor coaches, charter buses, school buses, transit buses, or other large passenger vehicles.
• · Experience transporting athletic teams, students, minors, or groups in an educational, athletic, nonprofit, or charter transportation environment.
• · Familiarity with regional travel, athletic event logistics, and safe travel practices during winter weather and night driving conditions.
• Current First Aid/CPR/AED certification or willingness to obtain if required by the university.

Schedule and Work Environment

This is a part-time position with flexible hours. The schedule will vary based on transportation assignments and university need. Because a substantial portion of this role supports varsity athletics, the work will largely, though not exclusively, occur on nights and weekends. Trips may include local, regional, and out-of-town travel and may occasionally involve early morning departures, late-night returns, holidays, or overnight stays. The work requires safe operation of large passenger vehicles in varied traffic, weather, and road conditions; professional interaction with students and staff; and attentiveness to passenger safety before, during, and after each trip.

Safety and Compliance Expectations

• Maintain all required CDL endorsements, medical certifications, and university authorizations throughout employment.
• Complete all Calvin University mandatory training modules and any transportation-specific safety trainings required by the university or its insurance provider.
• Comply with all safety requirements related to passenger transportation, including seat belt requirements where applicable, emergency equipment, passenger loading and unloading, cargo placement, emergency exits, and vehicle condition.
• Immediately report accidents, citations, license status changes, medical certification changes, safety concerns, maintenance concerns, or any condition that may affect eligibility to drive.

To Apply

Submit application materials through Calvin University’s online career portal. Application materials should demonstrate the candidate’s transportation experience, current license credentials and endorsements, safety record, schedule availability, and interest in supporting Calvin University’s Christian mission and student-centered community.

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts University affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.