Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Safely operate vehicles to ensure the safety of all passengers, pedestrians, other drivers and the vehicle in town and on field visits.
- Conduct vehicle checks (daily, weekly, monthly and before/after trips to field), and notify the staff person responsible for vehicle management of any vehicle problems.
- Deliver and pick up passengers and materials/ documents at airports, offices, businesses, etc. in a professional and courteous manner.
- Ensure that vehicles have the appropriate tools to enable users to perform minor maintenance and repairs in the field.
- Clean the vehicle inside and outside when necessary.
- Manage vehicles with care and use them with respect.
- Drive Helen Keller vehicles in a safe and secure manner in accordance with local law and the policies of the organization.
- Respect local traffic laws and drive within established speed limits.
- Understand the basic operations and maintenance requirements of Helen Keller vehicles.
- Secure the vehicles when not in use.
- Provide support to Helen Keller field office staff and visitors in transporting materials to project sites, including loading and unloading Helen Keller vehicles as required.
- Fill in Vehicle Logbook after each trip with complete information and Fuel Log.
- Accept shifts/schedules as assigned, including weekend and after hours by rotation.
- Other duties as assigned.
Specific Responsibilities:
Vehicle Driving:
- Possess a valid local driver’s license.
- Read and understand Helen Keller’s Vehicle Management policies and procedures related to vehicle management and driving protocols.
- Respect local traffic laws and drive within established speed limits.
- Deliver and pick up materials and documents at offices and businesses in a professional and courteous manner.
Vehicle Management & Maintenance:
- Conduct vehicle checks (daily, weekly, monthly and for trips), and signal any actual or potential problems to the staff person responsible for vehicle management;
- Ensure that vehicles have the appropriate tools and equipment on board to enable users to perform minor maintenance and repairs in the field.
- Understand the basic operations and maintenance requirements of Helen Keller vehicles.
- Carefully assess surroundings before parking, particularly at night. It is the driver’s responsibility to be attentive to potential threats.
- Clean the vehicle inside and outside when necessary.
- Provide support to Helen Keller staff and visitors in transporting materials to project sites, including loading and unloading Helen Keller vehicles as required.
- Fill in log sheets after each trip with complete information and Fuel Logbook.
Vehicle Safety:
- Manage vehicles with care and use them with respect.
- Drive Helen Keller vehicles in a safe and secure manner in accordance with local law and the policies of Helen Keller.
- Do not accept unknown parcels, baggage or other questionable loads into the vehicles.
- Do not accept unknown riders – particularly individuals carrying weapons, wearing military uniforms, or those linked to conflicts – inside Helen Keller vehicles.
- Verify that passengers riding in Helen Keller vehicles wear seat belts at all times. Drivers are responsible for enforcing this rule in their vehicles.
- Yield the right-of-way to other drivers, pedestrians, bicycle and motorcycle riders, even if progress is slowed.
- Provide contact location to staff when in the field.
- Notify the staff person responsible for vehicle management of any movement of any vehicle from the office, any deviation from the planned route of travel, or changes of schedule.
- Inform the staff person responsible for vehicle management or Country Director of any danger – immediate or potential – to the security of Helen Keller staff or equipment due to demonstrations / riots in town, roadblocks, requisitions of vehicles by armed persons, shooting, etc. in order to alert staff.
- Ensure the safety and comfort of passengers at all times.
Qualifications:
- Secondary-level diploma.
- 5 years’ experience driving professionally; experience in mechanics an advantage.
- Valid, current driving license with a clean driving record (no accidents).
- Verifiable references.
- Professional, courteous and punctual.
- Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
- Good working knowledge of all major local road networks and city streets.
- English language skills highly desired.