Pupil Transportation Administrative Staff

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pupil Transportation Administrative Staff position serves under the direction of the Administrator of the Office of Pupil Transportation. It assists with planning, directing, and coordinating the office’s operations and helps ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. The role provides administrative and technical support to school districts, Developmental Disabilities boards, Head Start programs, community and nonpublic schools, and private vendors. It develops and implements pupil transportation policies, provides guidance on applicable laws and reporting systems, and supports safe, compliant, and efficient transportation operations.

The position manages the Department’s relationship with school bus driver preservice trainers, including coordinating the preservice team and supporting the development and review of training curricula. It also works with agency leadership, legal counsel, and legislative policy staff to recommend changes to laws, rules, policies, and procedures. The role provides technical assistance and conducts financial, compliance, and service reviews, including site visits and investigations, and supports implementation and evaluation of the transportation pilot program.

The position is permanent and full-time, with flexible work hours. It is based at 25 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio, and requires reporting to that location full-time. Travel throughout Ohio, potentially including overnight stays, is required. The employee must be willing and able to obtain a valid driver’s license and provide their own transportation. The final applicant must submit to urinalysis before appointment; a verified positive result will prevent a final offer and may make the applicant ineligible for other State of Ohio positions for one year.

Requirements

• Eight years of experience in school transportation supervision, eight years of experience as a school bus driver trainer, or a combination of the two.
• Must be willing and able to secure a valid driver’s license and provide personal transportation.
• Must be able to travel throughout Ohio, including overnight stays when required.
• The final applicant must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment.

Nice To Haves

• Have or have previously held a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with School Bus (S) and Passenger (P) endorsements.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Administrator of the Office of Pupil Transportation with planning, directing, and coordinating office operations and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement pupil transportation program policies and provide administrative support to school districts, Developmental Disabilities boards, Head Start, community schools, nonpublic schools, and private vendors.
• Provide technical support on pupil transportation laws and rules, including Ohio Revised Code, Ohio Administrative Code, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules.
• Provide technical support for the DEW reporting platform (DRIVES), including T1, T2, T8, T9, and T10 reports and school bus and driver records.
• Serve as a technical resource on legal and regulatory requirements for special education transportation.
• Consult with and support school transportation providers and districts, including leadership and onsite reviews concerning transportation best practices, procedures, safety, compliance, and efficiency.
• Review district transportation foundation payment programs, including DRIVES data collection design, data management practices, and compliance with Ohio law and rules.
• Work with stakeholders and other DEW program offices to manage transportation and funding programs and provide technical assistance on fiscal reporting procedures.
• Respond to inquiries from parents, legislators, school officials, state employees, industry organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Generate and analyze pupil transportation data reports as needed.
• Prepare and present instructional materials statewide and at conferences to help stakeholders report transportation data, manage local operations, and promote transportation safety and efficiency.
• Act as the Department’s primary liaison to school bus driver preservice trainers; direct and coordinate the preservice team and its work.
• Assist the preservice team with creating, approving, and reviewing school bus driver training curricula, classes, syllabi, and projects; meet with the team at least monthly and provide relevant news and updates.
• Attend and assist with planning and coordination of statewide professional development, advanced classes, and state and national ROAD-E-O events.
• Collaborate with the Administrator, Legal Counsel, and Legislative Policy team to recommend revisions to Ohio laws, rules, policies, and procedures, including five-year Ohio Administrative Code reviews.
• Provide technical assistance to transportation providers and conduct site visits as needed to assess compliance with Ohio pupil transportation law and rules.
• Support financial, compliance, and service reviews of transportation operations, conduct onsite or desk reviews and fieldwork, and draft final reports and recommendations.
• Support implementation of the transportation enforcement program under ORC 3327.021 by coordinating with legal counsel, supervising lead investigators, assisting with reports and determination letters, tracking corrective action plans, and ensuring investigations meet statutory timelines.
• Support the transportation pilot program by assisting with quarterly meetings with ESC pilot staff, reviewing financial reports and expenditures for allowability, and preparing a draft evaluation report.
• Perform other related duties and projects as assigned to support office, section, or agency needs.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of the eligibility period.
• Paid vacation, personal, and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave.
• Education and development opportunities, including Employee Development Funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS, and optional deferred compensation through Ohio Deferred Compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed