Vice President of Operations – Student Transportation

MV Transportation•Dallas, TX

About The Position

MV Transportation is the largest privately owned passenger transportation contracting firm in the United States. For more than 50 years, MV has partnered with communities to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation solutions. We are driven by our core values: Safety, Service, Integrity, and Innovation . We are now seeking an accomplished operations executive to lead a major Texas-based school bus operation for full-size school buses and special education buses . This individual will serve as the senior operational leader responsible for delivering exceptional service to our district partners and the communities we serve. Position Summary The Vice President of Operations provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, safety accountability, and client relationship management for a large-scale pupil transportation contract. This role ensures operational excellence, performance consistency, and adherence to MV’s high standards of safety and customer service.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive leadership experience in pupil transportation, transit, logistics, or fleet operations.
Demonstrated success running multi‑location or high‑volume transportation operations.
Strong understanding of Texas pupil transportation rules, including SPED requirements.
Expertise in DOT/FMCSA compliance, safety leadership, and operational performance management.
Proven success leading large teams and driving organizational change.
Exceptional communication skills and experience dealing with public-sector clients.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with school bus operations in Texas.
Experience in an executive or regional role within a contract-based transportation provider.
Knowledge of routing platforms (Transfinder, Edulog) and transportation technology systems.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Transportation Management, or related field.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Strategy Direct all day-to-day operations for a 67‑bus school transportation program, ensuring consistent on‑time performance and service excellence.
Develop operational strategies that align with MV’s performance goals, safety culture, and client commitments.
Optimize routing efficiency, staffing models, fleet utilization, and maintenance performance.
Safety Leadership Drive MV’s “ Safe from the Start ” culture across all employees and facilities.
Ensure full compliance with Texas DPS, TEA, FMCSA, and all federal/state pupil transportation requirements.
Oversee driver training, special education securement standards, incident analysis, and continuous safety improvement initiatives.
Team Leadership & Talent Development Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team including operations managers, dispatchers, safety supervisors, drivers, monitors, and maintenance leadership.
Build a strong culture of engagement, accountability, and service excellence.
Ensure staffing levels support daily operations, special education requirements, and contract KPIs.
Client & Community Relations Serve as the senior liaison to the school district, ensuring transparency, communication, and proactive issue resolution.
Participate in district board meetings, operational reviews, and community outreach events as MV’s executive representative.
Anticipate district needs and propose strategic enhancements to support long-term partnership success.
Financial & Contract Accountability Manage operating budgets, cost controls, forecasting, and financial performance.
Oversee fleet maintenance programs, procurement, vendor relationships, and capital planning.
Ensure full adherence to contract terms and lead renewal, expansion, or improvement discussions.