Squad Leader - Worcester

Job Title: Squad Leader – Driving Instructor

Reports To: MA Regional Manager

Overview:

A Squad Leader is an outstanding licensed Driving Instructor that has proven they can take ownership and lead a team of driving instructors. A Squad Leader is a “Player/Coach” role that requires approximately 80% of your time dedicated to Driving Instructor responsibilities and 20% of your time dedicated to coaching and leading a squad. Squad Leaders are also responsible for upkeeping the culture, values and purpose of the Driver Education Department and the company, as well as providing leadership and coaching to the members of their squad.

What does Success Look Like?

A successful Squad Leader is a passionate driving instructor who possess a combination of leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, and technical competence. A successful Squad Leader demonstrates professionalism, discipline, and integrity. They lead from the front and are willing to take on challenging tasks to help their team succeed. They foster a positive team culture and build camaraderie among squad members. They work closely with Regional Managers, Professional Training Instructors and Training Instructors to ensure that all Driving Instructors and Trainees understand their job role and provide them with the resources they need to be successful in their job. You have a meticulous attention to detail and never settle for less than the best. You run an outstanding meeting. You are prepared, thoughtful and make meetings something that your squad looks forward to attending. You conduct yourself with the highest regard to emotional intelligence and remain cool in all situations. You lead by example and make sure that your squad has everything they need to be the best versions of themselves.

Responsibilities & Duties:

• Leadership:
  • Provide day-to-day motivation and coaching to squad members.
  • Build camaraderie within your squad and develop inter-squad relationships.
    • Responsible for setting all new Trainees up with a “buddy” upon completion of state required training.
  • Provide feedback on the efficiencies of the process and procedures in the field.
  • Conduct informal one-on-one meetings with squad members to review performance.
    • Provide feedback to Regional Manager
  • Take responsibility for your squad’s actions and outcomes and hold squad members accountable for their responsibilities and performance.
  • Conduct needs assessments and identify performance gaps in individual instructors.
• Fleet & Facilities:
  • Coordinate and perform quarterly vehicle inspections.
  • Coordinate fleet seasonal preparation – making sure all vehicles are fully equipped with any necessary supplies.
  • Maintain cleanliness of TNS Locations near surrounding Hub, both interior and exterior (windows, doors, carpets, desks, HVAC, and supplies)
    • Responsible for assigning instructors to clean locations.
    • Responsible for quality assurance of both fleet and facilities cleanliness
  • Identify the potential risks or liabilities associated with the leased premises and taking proactive measures to mitigate them.
    • Assist Regional Manager with fixing any issues.
  • Monthly supply orders for Hub and satellite locations in surrounding area.
    • Squad Leaders are responsible for making sure that their Hub and any satellite location in their surrounding area has all the necessary supplies.
    • Squad Leaders are responsible for making sure they coordinate with squad members the dispersion of supplies.
• Curriculum & Training:
  • Assist the Associate Director of Driver Education with making sure that all curriculum is up to date with state regulations and modern driving needs.
  • Evaluate and assist with developing new curriculum, including designing new training courses, manuals, and supplemental materials.
  • Administer training for designated participants, including new Driving Instructor Trainees or existing Driving Instructors, in both Behind-the-Wheel and Classroom instruction.
  • Motivate trainees through effective training methodologies both in a group and individual settings.
  • Handle escalation requests as needed.
  • Perform annual observations on all TNS licensed driving instructors this is for both Classroom and BTW instructors.
  • Implement training best practices to assure alignment with company needs and standards.
  • Utilize a variety of techniques, concepts and development and delivery of training programs and strategies to meet the individual learning styles of various trainees.
  • Evaluate success of training implementation by assessing achievement of learning objectives and transfer of knowledge to continuously improve the instructor curriculum and training.
  • Meticulously fill out paperwork to adhere to state reporting requirements.
  • Teach Driving Instructor and Trainees how to help their students develop not only their driving skills, but their self-confidence and understanding of freedom and responsibility.
  • Coach instructors/team members based on manager and customer feedback.
  • When not training instructors or trainees, a Professional Training Instructor will maintain a regular teaching schedule of classroom and behind the wheel lessons to new drivers.

• Driving Instructor:
  • Teach new drivers, both teens and adults the foundation of being a safe, competent, and confident driver.
  • Clearly communicate with the new driver and their parents/guardians both positive and constructive feedback.
  • Travel to locations and landmarks all over your work state to provide a diverse driver education program.
  • Meticulously fill out paperwork to adhere to appropriate states motor vehicle reporting requirements for new driver education.
  • Help students to develop not only their driving skills, but their self-confidence and understanding of freedom and responsibility. Our instructors have a real impact on the lives of their students well beyond a driver’s license.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Work collaboratively with Regional Managers to ensure that once a Trainee completes their required state training, they are receiving additional trainings on day-to-day duties.
• Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with the Associate Director of Driver Education, Regional Managers, and the People Department to make sure that any areas of concern are being addressed and handled properly.
• Clearly communicate your needs to other Instructors and Trainees and hold them accountable for that work.
• Collaborate with peers and supervisors to make sure you are delivering and teaching new employees how to deliver the most outstanding educational program you possibly can.

Skills & Competencies:

• Thorough knowledge of driver education curriculum, techniques, and maneuvers.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to communicate information concisely and professionally with internal and external audiences.
• Exceptional customer service ethics and skills, including effective interactions, responsiveness, resourcefulness, and follow-through.
• Must be a self-starter that can work with minimal direction.
• Thirst for learning, teaching, and growing both professionally and personally.
• Effective judgement and decision-making skills.
• Excellent organizational, time management and multi-tasking skills
• Technologically savvy and able to use and teach others how to use basic Microsoft tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Planner, and Teams
• Outstanding leadership capabilities, especially the ability to motivate and inspire a team of peers.

Minimum TNS Qualifications:

• Net Promoter Score must be at least an 80 for at least 6 consecutive months.
• No disciplinary actions against you within a year of consideration.
• You must be able to commit to a flexible schedule – no attendance issues.
• Must be a Hybrid Instructor, Squad Leaders must be able to teach both Classroom and BTW instruction to both students and trainees.
• Squad Leaders must know how to host a Driving Test.

Required Qualifications:

• (CT Requirement) - Must be a licensed Driving Instructor for at least 5 years and has continuously maintained such license in good standing.
• Must have 3 letters of recommendations from past or current TNS students.
• Must write a 12-to-15-page essay on a curriculum topic.
• Must submit a video submission of you teaching at least 10 minutes of classroom curriculum and at least 10 minutes of a behind-the-wheel maneuver.
• Must successfully pass a written state exam with at least a minimum score of 80%

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision (FT)
• 401k (Employer Matching)
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays and more!

About the Company:

The Next Street is a driving school unlike any Driver’s Education school you have seen before. We put a huge effort into surrounding ourselves with friendly, happy, energetic, and all-around good people. We hire great people and teach them the skills they need to be outstanding. We believe in helping you become the best version of yourself. We believe in you and want to help you achieve your career goals (and support you in your personal goals). We believe in creating a team environment with like-minded peers that support each other and make you feel a part of something bigger than yourself.

Our staff is a diverse community of people, all connect by our belief in 3 core values: Kindness, Positivity, and Curiosity. No member of our staff is a cog in the wheel. We are all (from the CEO to our Licensing Guides to Managers to Instructors and everywhere in between) a part of something bigger than ourselves and we work together to serve the greater good.

How to be Successful:

We pride ourselves on cultivating a team of inspired and dedicated individuals who embrace our core values both professionally and personally. All non-negotiable.

• Just Be Nice: Be a good co-worker, be a good neighbor, be a good human.
• Think Positively: The glass is always half full. Positive mindsets will lead to positive outcomes.
• Be Curious: Seek to be more valuable tomorrow than you are today. Look for training opportunities, not only in formal education settings, but in the everyday course of business and life.

At The Next Street we like to surround ourselves with individuals who are curious and inquisitive by nature. People that are hungry for knowledge and continually find ways to make improvements. Streeters don’t just get a job done, they do a great job. The Next Street Team isn’t cordial and polite – they are genuinely nice. It is in their nature; they don’t have to work at it.

To achieve success, you should be able to answer these questions. You must be able to embrace The Next Street Culture and Values:

• Do you grasp each opportunity to learn new tasks by seeking training and/or coaching?
• Do you help peers achieve new heights when you see them struggling?
• Do you strive to be more valuable tomorrow than you are today?
• Do you go above and beyond your required job responsibilities?
• Do you show empathy to others on your team?
• Are you aware of how your words and actions impact others?