Assistant Transportation Manager- Special Needs Transportation

Palmer Bus Financial Management•Shakopee, MN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Palmer Bus Service is hiring an Assistant Transportation Manager in Shakopee, Minnesota. The position supports the Site Manager in overseeing safe, efficient, and reliable student transportation in the Shakopee area, with a primary focus on special needs transportation for Shakopee Schools. It assists with daily operations, driver supervision, routing, scheduling, safety compliance, and communication with school district personnel, families, employees, and community members. The Assistant Transportation Manager helps coordinate and manage special needs services, including student-specific transportation arrangements, driver and aide assignments, route procedures, and communication of transportation instructions. The role supports recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and supervising transportation employees; maintaining driver qualifications and compliance records; and monitoring vehicle inspections, maintenance, and safety. It also assists with administrative work such as payroll, billing, recordkeeping, and reporting. The role works with the Site Manager, school district staff, drivers, aides, vendors, parents, and guardians to address service needs and concerns. It may respond to incidents, complaints, emergencies, weather-related service decisions, and operational issues outside standard business hours. The Assistant Transportation Manager may perform delegated duties independently, provide operational support when the Site Manager is absent, and cover transportation assignments when properly qualified. The position generally works in an office and garage environment and may drive company vehicles as needed when licensed and qualified.

Requirements

Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Minnesota Commercial Driver’s License with passenger, school bus, and air brake endorsements, as required for the position.
Knowledge of school bus licensing, driver qualification requirements, behind-the-wheel training, and applicable transportation regulations.
Familiarity with Minnesota Department of Transportation inspection requirements and vehicle safety standards.
Ability to understand and follow student-specific transportation procedures, confidentiality requirements, and safety protocols.
Proficiency with computers and Google Workspace, including Google Drive.
Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with employees, school district personnel, parents, guardians, and community members.
Ability to supervise, motivate, coach, and support employees.
Ability to coordinate schedules, routes, and staffing while responding to changing operational needs.
Ability to manage sensitive situations involving students, families, and employees with patience, professionalism, and discretion.
Strong attention to detail in maintaining records, schedules, and compliance documentation.
Self-motivated and dependable, with organizational and leadership skills.
Ability to collaborate with the Site Manager while taking ownership of assigned responsibilities.
Ability to remain calm, professional, and focused during stressful or unexpected situations.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, confidentiality, tact, and diplomacy.
Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and respond effectively to time-sensitive transportation needs.
Commitment to safe, respectful, and reliable transportation for students with diverse needs.
Understanding of safety practices, accident prevention, and established transportation procedures.
Ability to drive company vehicles as needed when properly licensed and qualified.
Ability to enter and exit vehicles, walk through terminal and vehicle areas, and assist with transportation operations in varying weather conditions.
Occasional flexibility in working hours to address transportation needs, operational issues, and emergencies.

Nice To Haves

Prior supervisory, leadership, or transportation operations experience.
Experience working with school transportation, special needs transportation, or student services.

Responsibilities

Assist the Site Manager with planning, coordinating, and overseeing daily transportation operations.
Support special needs transportation services for Shakopee Schools, ensuring routes and services meet student needs, district expectations, and contractual requirements.
Assist with routing, scheduling, driver assignments, and route adjustments.
Help recruit, hire, onboard, train, supervise, coach, and support transportation personnel, including participating in performance management and disciplinary processes.
Promote employee morale and a professional, respectful, clean, and safe working environment.
Coordinate specialized transportation arrangements, student-specific requirements, pickup and drop-off procedures, and driver instructions.
Work with school district staff, parents, and guardians to address transportation concerns, student needs, route changes, and service issues.
Support driver training and safety programs, complete required behind-the-wheel evaluations, and help ensure drivers maintain appropriate certifications.
Help ensure driver personnel files, medical certifications, drug and alcohol testing records, and other compliance documentation are accurate and current.
Assist with monitoring fleet maintenance, vehicle inspections, and preventive maintenance schedules.
Assist with new-hire processing, payroll, billing, recordkeeping, and reporting.
Respond to transportation incidents, accidents, complaints, and emergencies as needed, including outside standard business hours, and communicate concerns to the Site Manager and appropriate leadership.
Assist with transportation decisions related to inclement weather, school delays, closures, and other service disruptions.
Collaborate with the Site Manager, school district staff, drivers, aides, vendors, and other company personnel to maintain effective transportation services.
Assist in developing and implementing short- and long-term transportation plans to improve service, efficiency, safety, and student access to school.
Maintain personnel, safety, vehicle, and operational records in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations.
Promote and uphold Palmer Bus Service’s purpose, mission, and core values.
Keep the Site Manager informed of operational concerns, employee issues, safety matters, and other challenges.
Perform delegated duties independently and provide operational support during the Site Manager’s absence as needed.
Attend professional development and training activities related to transportation regulations, safety practices, and special needs transportation procedures.
Cover school bus, van, or other transportation assignments when needed and properly qualified.
Assist with dispatching, answering phones, communicating route changes, and coordinating daily transportation coverage.
Support coordination and oversight of transportation aides and drivers assigned to special needs routes.
Perform other related duties as assigned to support the Shakopee location.