Transportation Manager @ Safety & Transportation, 8 Hrs, Cont.

Spokane Public Schools•Facilities Building - Spokane, WA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Spokane Public Schools staff member, you'll uphold our commitment to creating a loving and collaborative learning community where all students belong and thrive. We are looking for team members who embrace differences, have a desire to work with a diverse community of learners, have a heart for the humans they serve, work as a team, grow and reflect through feedback, are lifelong learners and positive problem solvers. The Transportation Manager – provides leadership, direction, and oversight for all aspects of district transportation services, including daily operations, routing and dispatch, fleet management, driver recruitment and training, and safety and regulatory compliance. This role ensures safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation services in accordance with district policies and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. The position establishes and maintains effective communication within the Transportation Department and with students, parents/guardians, community members, vendors, and district and school-based administrators. This position reports to the Director of Transportation. This position will officially begin on July 1, 2027. Time spent from August 2026 through June 2027 will be project-based work, paid hourly, for any planning meetings that will be required throughout these months outside of the normal workday.

Requirements

Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in transportation operations, logistics, fleet management, facilities, or a related field.
Minimum of two years of supervisory experience.
Strong knowledge of DOT and FMCSA regulations, routing and logistics systems, and fleet management practices.
Possession of a valid Washington State Class B Commercial Driver’s License with appropriate endorsements.
Possession of Washington State Driver Trainer Certification and Third-Party Examiner certification preferred or required as determined by the district or willing to obtain within two (2) years of employment.
Knowledge of District policies; federal and state laws and regulations governing pupil transportation.
Knowledge of Fleet operations, vehicle acquisition, replacement specifications, maintenance practices, and safety standards.
Knowledge of Accident investigation, prevention strategies, and emergency response procedures.
Knowledge of Labor relations, employment law, and collective bargaining processes.
Knowledge of Transportation software, routing systems, telematics, and GPS technologies.
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and manage multiple complex responsibilities while meeting deadlines.
Ability to analyze data, develop solutions, and make effective decisions involving stakeholders appropriately.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written and oral form with diverse audiences.
Ability to establish and maintain positive, professional working relationships with staff, students, families, administrators, vendors, and labor representatives.
Ability to handle high-stress and emergency situations with sound judgment and professionalism.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion.
While performing duties of this position, the employee experiences frequent sitting, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, handling, and repetitive fine motor activities.
Hearing and speech to communicate in person, via video conference and computers, or over the telephone.
Mobility to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment.
Stamina to remain seated and maintain concentration for an extended period of time.
Vision: Frequent near acuity, occasional far acuity, and color vision.
Vision to read printed and online materials, computer screens, or other monitoring devices.
Strength is generally sedentary/light - exert force up to 10-25 lbs., occasionally; 10 lbs. frequently; negligible force, constantly.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in administration, management, or a related field preferred.
Possession of Washington State Driver Trainer Certification and Third-Party Examiner certification preferred or required as determined by the district or willing to obtain within two (2) years of employment.

Responsibilities

Supervise, train, evaluate, and support transportation department personnel, including drivers, dispatchers, and support staff.
Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain personnel to meet operational, safety, budgetary, and service requirements.
Plan, prioritize, assign work, and conduct performance evaluations in alignment with district policies, labor agreements, and applicable laws.
Foster a culture of safety, professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Oversee the scheduling, coordination, and dispatching of buses for home-to-school routes, field trips, extracurricular activities, and special trips.
Coordinate the development and implementation of routing scenarios to maximize efficiency, on-time performance, safety, and capacity.
Review and recommend route and schedule revisions based on student demographics, safety considerations, bus capacity, time constraints, and specialized needs, including McKinney-Vento and after-school transportation.
Respond to and support resolution of operational disruptions, emergencies, and after-hours transportation issues.
Ensure all district vehicles are maintained to meet or exceed industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Oversee fleet maintenance programs, inspections, preventative maintenance schedules, and accurate service and repair records.
Manage vehicle lifecycles including acquisition, replacement planning, repair-versus-replace analysis, and compliance with safety and emissions standards.
Monitor and maintain required registrations, certifications, and inspections for vehicles and equipment.
Manage fuel consumption, logistics budgets, and vendor contracts; identify and implement cost-containment strategies.
Develop, implement, and oversee driver onboarding, orientation, training, and certification programs in compliance with Washington State and federal requirements.
Ensure ongoing driver licensing, endorsements, certifications, and renewals are current and accurately documented.
Conduct driver evaluations, ride-alongs, and route observations to ensure compliance with safety, operational, and student management standards.
Lead safety audits, accident and incident investigations, and corrective action processes; implement defensive driving and risk-reduction programs.
Ensure compliance with FMCSA, DOT, OSHA, hazardous materials (HAZMAT), and all applicable transportation safety regulations.
Implement district student discipline policies related to transportation, including age-appropriate student safety and behavior training.
Communicate regularly with parents/guardians to resolve transportation concerns, complaints, and service issues.
Collaborate with district administrators, school leaders, labor representatives, students, families, and community partners to support transportation services.
Prepare and maintain written materials including reports, procedures, bid specifications, correspondence, cost analyses, and regulatory documentation.
Support development and revision of transportation-related policies and procedures.
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and district laws, regulations, and policies.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical/Dental/Vision through SEBB (School Employee Benefits Board)
Vacation, sick, personal days
Paid holidays
Additional pay provisions above what is represented on the salary schedule, all in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreements as negotiated.
Multiple medical plans offered from various providers such as Kaiser Permanente WA, Premera Blue Cross, and the Uniform Medical Plan
Vision and Dental plan options
Standard Life and AD&D insurance
Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
Supplemental Life and AD&D
Long-Term Disability insurance
Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA)
Employee Assistance Program (free, confidential counseling, consultation and referral services)
Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) public pension plan (lifetime retirement pension plan or a hybrid pension and investment plan)
DRS Deferred Compensation Program
403(b) retirement plan through the District’s plan manager, OMNI