Area Operations Manager

Assisted Student Transportation•Kansas City, KS

1d•$85,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Area Operations Manager is a senior, multi-site leader accountable for the overall performance of assigned student transportation contracts and operating locations, including safety, service delivery, financial performance, compliance, employee engagement, customer relationships, and strategic growth. Through direct leadership of Student Transportation Operations Managers (STOMs) and other operational leaders, this position translates organizational priorities into consistent execution, develops leadership capability, drives accountability and continuous improvement, and removes barriers to performance. The Area Manager serves as a key operational partner to senior leadership, school districts, and cross-functional teams, ensuring safe, reliable, compliant, and financially responsible transportation services while identifying opportunities to strengthen and grow the business.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible student transportation or comparable operations experience
At least three (3) years in an operational leadership or supervisory role
Demonstrated experience leading managers, supervisors, or operational leaders and driving results across multiple locations, contracts, business units, or comparable operations
A bachelor’s degree in business, operations, transportation, management, or a related field is preferred and may substitute for up to two (2) years of the required overall experience.
Relevant leadership experience outside of student transportation may also substitute for up to two (2) years of the required overall experience; however, substitutions do not replace the requirement for demonstrated operational leadership or supervisory experience.
Experience in safety/training, fleet or maintenance operations, dispatch, or pupil transportation is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead STOMs and other operational leaders across assigned contracts and locations, setting expectations, monitoring performance, removing barriers, and driving consistent execution while reinforcing location-level ownership and accountability.
Champion student and employee safety and ensure operations meet applicable regulatory, contractual, and company requirements.
Develop capable, accountable leaders through coaching, clear expectations, feedback, recognition, and performance management.
Maintain visibility into staffing, route coverage, fleet availability, training readiness, and other factors affecting contracted service.
Build trusted relationships with school districts and other customers, ensuring service commitments, reporting requirements, and concerns are addressed effectively.
Drive area and location-level financial performance through oversight of site-specific P&L results, budgets, payroll, operating plans, variances, and contractual obligations.
Support business-development efforts by identifying opportunities to expand services and strengthen existing and neighboring customer relationships.
Partner with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to plan and execute the startup of new contracts and operating locations.
Use operational data, technology, and frontline insight to improve processes, standardize effective practices, and strengthen performance.
Provide senior oversight of significant incidents, customer escalations, regulatory findings, operational disruptions, and material performance concerns.
Partner with Human Resources, Safety, Finance, Maintenance, Training, and other functions to align priorities, resources, and organizational initiatives.
Model ownership, sound judgment, professionalism, adaptability, and follow-through while communicating effectively with employees, leaders, customers, and external stakeholders.