Jobs: Montezuma County Department of Social Services Public Transportation Dispatcher

Montezuma County Social Services has an opening for one Dispatcher with Montezuma County Transportation.   

JOB TITLE:                      Public Transportation Dispatcher

REPORTS TO:                 Montezuma County Public Transportation Manager

DEPARTMENT:              Montezuma County Department of Social Services

DIVISION:                        Transportation

FLSA Status:                     Full-time, Non-Exempt

SALARY:                         $18.00/ hour plus Health, Dental, Vision, Life, EAP, HAS, Insurance, 10 paid   

                                          Holidays, Paid Annual and Sick Leave and a 401K match

SUMMARY: The Transportation Dispatcher is responsible for coordinating and scheduling daily transportation services to ensure safe, efficient, and timely rides for clients. This position serves as the central communication hub between drivers, clients, and program staff, managing trip requests, routing, and real-time adjustments throughout the day. The Dispatcher plays a critical role in supporting mobility, access to services, and overall program reliability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Duties and responsibilities of the Dispatcher include but not limited to the following: 

• Receive, schedule, and coordinate transportation requests in accordance with program eligibility, policies, and funding requirements
• Create efficient daily and advanced trip schedules and routes based on rider needs, driver availability, vehicle capacity, and geographic considerations
• Serve as the primary point of contact for drivers, providing clear instructions, route information, and real-time support throughout the day
• Monitor vehicle locations and trip progress; respond to delays, emergencies, cancellations, or service disruptions as they arise
• Communicate professionally with clients, caregivers, partner agencies, and staff to confirm trips, provide updates, and resolve concerns
• Adjust schedules and routes as needed to accommodate same-day changes, no-shows, weather conditions, or operational issues
• Maintain accurate and timely records of trips, mileage, driver logs, client information, and service outcomes in transportation software systems
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, county, and program requirements, including ADA guidelines and confidentiality standards
• Support safe operations by reporting incidents, documenting issues, and following established emergency and safety protocols
• Assist with onboarding and ongoing communication with drivers regarding procedures, expectations, and service standards
• Provide courteous, respectful customer service to riders, including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable populations
• Coordinate with supervisors and program staff to identify service trends, operational challenges, and opportunities for improvement
• Protect client privacy and handle sensitive information in accordance with confidentiality and data protection policies
• Perform related duties as assigned to support overall transportation program operations

COMPETENCY: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Demonstrate a positive attitude and progressive actions through the display of professionalism, courtesy, and appropriate tact and discretion in all interactions with employees and with the public.
• Work independently, ability to use time wisely and efficiently, takes directions.
• Perform office management, basic organization skills.
• Attention to detail to include accurate entry of data into transportation software, monitor details that impact safety, compliance and service quality, and follows procedures.
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form. Maintain effective working relationships with staff, and the General Public.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
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QUALIFICATIONS: 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.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Individual needs to have knowledge of principles and practices of small transportation services and operations.  Needs to have a knowledge of Federal, state, and county policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to the various grants.  Must have proficient grant writing skills or the ability to obtain the skills needed.  Project development, application, reporting, and the evaluation process for alternative grant funding.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: H.S. Diploma or equivalent.

LANGUAGE ABILITY: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATH ABILITY: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as times on timesheets, percentages, general math.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. 

COMPUTER SKILLS: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have: knowledge of  Microsoft Word, Publisher, Windows, Excel, Power Point, etc., writing clear and concise correspondence, basic bookkeeping, collecting and reporting of statistical data, operating basic office equipment, interviewing and listening techniques, performing complex or difficult office support work, organizing, prioritizing and coordination of work activities, using initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES:

Must have a current Colorado driving license and a good driving record.  Must be in the Drug and alcohol random drug testing pool per FTA rules and regulations.  Due to the vulnerable population served, the Older American’s Act grant requires a CBI criminal background check and kept on site in a locked file or locked drawer. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristic described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The employee is occasionally required to drive and transport clients, causing them to be exposed to the cold outdoor weather, will be required to lift up to 25 pounds to assist clients with their bags, get in and out of vehicles to assist clients to and from the vehicle, push manual wheelchairs, bend down to secure wheelchairs to vehicles.  Employee will assist and or fill in for the Manager, must have good phone communications and skills.  Employee must be able to sit long periods of time looking at a computer screen and using a keyboard, standing; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell.  The noise level in the work environment may be noisy.  Employee must be able to work in a noisy, busy environment.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Applications are available online at www.montezumacounty.org or from Montezuma County Department of Social Services.  Please return applications to MCDSS, 109 W Main Room 170, Cortez, CO or by dropping them in the MCDSS Drop Box. Open until filled.   Questions, please call 970-564-4138.   AA/EOE