Safety and Training Manager - Transportation Central

Cherry Creek•Aurora, CO

About The Position

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the Transportation Safety and Training Department, fostering a culture of safety, compliance, and professional excellence. Develop and implement goals, metrics, and performance standards that support district and transportation objectives, while ensuring strong collaboration and communication with operations, routing, fleet maintenance, and human resources to drive organizational success.

Requirements

Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
Bachelor's degree or equivalent amount of relevant professional experience
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in pupil transportation, safety management, or fleet operations, including at least 3 years in a supervisory role
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)/First Aid/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification
Colorado commercial driver’s license (CDL) Class B with both a "P" (passenger) and "S" (school bus) endorsement for at least two (2) years
Must be 21+ years old
Must successfully pass all Department of Transportation (DOT) physical and agility tests
Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office
Intermediate knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, CDE, and CDL compliance
Advanced knowledge of school buses, emergency equipment, safety vests, wheelchair lifts and all other adaptive securements to safely transport students with disabilities
Intermediate knowledge of industrial and personnel safety standards and concepts
Advanced verbal and written communication skills
Advanced interpersonal relations skills
Advanced organizational skills
Ability to be flexible with work hours and location
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with others
Ability to effectively train employees and facilitate training sessions
Ability to provide guidance and problem-solving assistance to employees
Ability to effectively motivate and supervise employees
Ability to meet insurability requirements of the Colorado School District Self-Insurance Pool
Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment, and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator
Ability to promote and follow the Board of Education policies, district policies, and building and department procedures, protocols, and guidelines

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in transportation management, safety administration, education, or a related field
Experience working in the public sector, specifically public education
Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
Experience managing safety, compliance, and training programs for large transportation operations.
Colorado CDL Third Party Tester certification
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Instructor certification
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) Trainer certification

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership, direction, and oversight to the Safety and Training Department staff, promoting a culture of accountability, safety, regulatory compliance, and professional excellence.
Oversee the coordination, implementation, and continuous improvement of the New Employee Training Program for all commercial driver’s license (CDL) and Non-CDL drivers, bus assistants, and transportation staff, ensuring full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and district regulations. Promote consistency, effectiveness, and excellence in training delivery to support safe and efficient transportation operations.
Oversee specialized training for transporting students with disabilities and other special needs, ensuring compliance with individualized education plan (IEP) transportation requirements.
Administer ongoing and specialized training initiatives for all transportation and select district staff—including but not limited to Accident Response Training, CPI, CPR/First Aid, defensive driving, adverse weather and mountain terrain operations, substance abuse awareness, required annual CDE in-Service safety meetings, continuous improvement training, and small vehicle/van training.
Support the Quality Assurance program in conducting random video performance evaluations, safety audits, and applicable retrains. Review findings to identify improvement opportunities and coordinate with operations staff to ensure corrective actions are implemented and maintained.
Prepare and maintain departmental budget and make budget recommendations to the Director of Transportation. Arrange payroll for driver trainers and instructors. Ensure the fiscal responsibility of the division assets.
Maintain driver qualification files, training records, certifications, and compliance documentation in accordance with federal, state, CDE, and district requirements.
Organize, schedule, and facilitate the Accident Review Committee in accordance with district policy. Collect and prepare documentation for review, ensure consistent application of committee procedures, and record findings and recommendations. Track and analyze accident and incident data to identify trends, training needs, and opportunities for prevention. Communicate committee outcomes and corrective actions to appropriate staff and leadership.
Prepare and present reports on safety performance, compliance status, training activities, and accident statistics to the Director of Transportation and senior district leadership. Serve as the primary liaison with state and local regulatory agencies, law enforcement, and school officials on transportation safety matters. Promote safety awareness and recognition programs to encourage employee engagement and accountability.
Respond to the scene of accidents when needed.
Perform other duties as assigned or requested.