Director of School Bus Operations

National Trails•Livonia, MI

About The Position

The Director of School Bus Operations provides strategic leadership, oversight, auditing, and accountability for school bus operations. The role oversees operational planning, compliance, financial accountability, workforce management, and continuous improvement across the transportation division. Success is measured by route coverage, service reliability, payroll accuracy, fleet availability, customer satisfaction, audit completion rates, and revenue performance. The Director oversees School Bus Operations Managers and operational audits, monitors staffing, routes, fleet utilization, and service disruptions, and manages revenue assurance and financial controls. The position ensures compliance with DOT requirements, safety procedures, DVIR processes, fleet readiness standards, and company policies. It includes daily review of disruptions, staffing, customer escalations, fleet concerns, and operational performance; weekly review of audit reports, payroll findings, route tracing, BusHive audits, DVIR audits, fleet readiness, and customer complaints; and monthly review of KPIs, revenue assurance, staffing and payroll trends, compliance findings, and service reliability. The Director maintains accurate operational and compliance records and drives improvements in efficiency, profitability, safety, compliance, and customer service.

Requirements

Proven experience in transportation operations management; school bus or similar passenger transportation experience is preferred.
Strong background in operational auditing, compliance, including DOT and safety, and DVIR.
Experience with workforce management, payroll oversight, and performance accountability.
Excellent leadership, analytical, and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple operational areas and drive continuous improvement.
Relevant degree or equivalent experience preferred.
Industry certifications are a plus.

Nice To Haves

School bus or similar passenger transportation experience.
Relevant degree or equivalent experience.
Industry certifications.

Responsibilities

Provide executive oversight of School Bus Operations Managers and verify audit completion, service delivery, compliance, and performance metrics.
Lead the operational audit program, including dispatcher, payroll, route accountability and tracing, camera, DVIR, fleet, and customer service audits.
Monitor and optimize staffing, trip and route coverage, fleet utilization, service disruptions, and corrective action plans.
Oversee revenue assurance and financial controls, including route tracing, invoice support, BusHive verification, payroll controls, and revenue recovery.
Review payroll audits, overtime trends, staffing levels, guarantee pay, and labor controls.
Ensure compliance with DOT requirements, camera audit programs, DVIR processes, fleet readiness standards, and company policies.
Evaluate management performance, audit completion, staffing effectiveness, and service quality, and follow up on corrective actions.
Review service disruptions, staffing shortages, customer escalations, fleet concerns, and operational performance daily.
Review audit reports, payroll findings, route tracing, BusHive audits, DVIR audits, fleet readiness, and customer complaints weekly.
Review KPI performance, revenue assurance audits, staffing trends, compliance findings, payroll trends, and service reliability metrics monthly.
Maintain accurate audit reports, payroll records, route tracing, compliance records, KPI dashboards, and corrective action logs.
Drive continuous improvement in efficiency, profitability, safety, compliance, and customer service.

Benefits

Full benefits package
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) with company match
Paid time off
Paid holidays
Company-paid life insurance
Opportunity to lead and shape operational excellence in a critical transportation function
Collaborative environment focused on safety, reliability, and service quality