PARTA is holding a summer hiring event from 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, at PARTA headquarters, 2000 Summit Road in Kent.
PARTA is looking to fill multiple positions, including full-time and part-time drivers, scheduler, full-time operations coordinator, part-time mechanic apprentice, full-time mechanic, full-time laborer/custodial care, full-time director of risk management, part-time dispatcher for nights and weekends, and part-time hostler. (The hostler needs to be a night owl, as that person cleans and fuels the buses each evening.)
Drivers working off-campus routes do not need to be Kent State students, but campus bus drivers do. Campus bus drivers, except those who operate paratransit vehicles and vans, must have or be able to obtain a commercial driver’s license. PARTA will train students to become qualified for the CDL and will pay for the test.
PARTA drivers belong to a union and receive union benefits. All full-time employees receive competitive pay and are entitled to comprehensive health insurance. Retirement is paid into OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System), not Social Security.
All PARTA employees are able to ride any of the agency’s fixed-route buses at no cost. However, PARTA’s Cleveland Express is suspended until further notice, although the Akron Express is active.
Anyone who is interested but cannot attend the event can apply online at partaonline.org/doing-business.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.