ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION Classification: Director Reports to: Director of Transportation Location: Service Center FLSA Status: Exempt Bargaining Unit: No The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. Part I: Position Summary: North Thurston Public Schools has a Transportation Department with 81 Drivers, which includes 50 Regular Education Routes, 31 Special Education Routes and generally there are 8 buses assigned to Field Trips per day. In addition to Drivers the Transportation Department consists of 7 mechanics, 3 ½ Dispatchers and approximately 20 Substitute Drivers. We service 28 School Destinations in the Thurston County Area. Our School District encompasses about 75 square miles in Northern Thurston County. The District provides busing for approximately 13,000 Home to School Students a day. The Assistant Director will assist the Director in the planning, directing, and coordinating of all functions in the Transportation Department. The Assistant Director will act as the District s expert in overseeing routing, dispatching, STARS reporting, and the home to school and field trip functions. The District represents a diverse community with a population of approximately 40% students with diverse backgrounds. We seek an individual who has successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities. The selected candidate must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening community engagement and communication with the District s diverse populations. Part II: Supervision and Controls over the Work: Serves under the broad guidance and administrative supervision of the Director of Transportation. The Assistant Director is held responsible for results in terms of effectiveness of planning, policies, and programs, and for achievement of management goals and objectives. Work is guided by, and must be in compliance with, federal and state law, policy direction of the School Board, and compliance with state and local regulatory agencies. Part III: Major Duties and Responsibilities: Program Management: Assistant Director of Transportation 1 8.17.17
1. Planning and Programming: Stays abreast of research on the changing nature of the profession, the field of public education and changing national, regional and local trends that may impact program areas. Participates in discussions on evolving demands and expectations in operations and the impact those demands and expectations will have on assigned programs. Maintains records and a program for development of routes, effective dispatching, STARS reporting, home to school routes and field trip student transportation functions. Anticipates and develops strategies and programs that respond effectively to anticipated needs and the changing profession. Assist the Director, lead mechanic, and lead dispatcher with annual school bus and support vehicle purchases. 2. Work and Financial Management: Assists with developing, recommending, and defending the proposed budget. Assists with administration of the approved budget in compliance with budget decisions, program objectives and priorities, and district financial management and fund control processes and procedures. Understands OSPI s allocation funding process and formula along with transportation accounting, planning, schedules and efficient route development. Implements and applies software systems to achieve and sustain the most efficient and economical method of operation and service delivery. 3. Policy Formulation and Guidance: Recognizes the need for and assists with formulation of policies necessary to implement district goals and objectives and to assure effective implementation and operation of assigned programs. Provides leadership for inclusion of instruction at all grade levels of correct procedures for school riders, emergency exit drills and responsibilities as pedestrians. Establishes a system for periodic review of policies to determine when modifications are necessary to advance the goals of the department and to serve the overall needs of employees and managers and the organization. 4. Negotiations: Continually monitors the application of policies and agreements to identify when changes are needed to respond to and achieve the vision and goals of the department. Assists with development of bargaining strategies to gain stakeholder agreement on critical changes. Participates in bargaining relationships and activities. 5. Program Direction and Staff Supervision: Organizes, directs and staffs the department. Assures that functions are effectively structured and work procedures are in place to achieve a high level of integration and synergy across programs functions. Structures positions and identifies skill sets essential to the development and delivering of quality programs and services. Recruits and places staff members based on both skills and values essential to achieving the level of program delivery and customer service that is essential to a highly effective organization. Conducts performance evaluations and recommends disciplinary action as necessary. Keeps Human Resources apprised of all employee issues. Assesses, evaluates, and provides for professional development of staff members that will foster the achievement of department goals and objectives. Creates communication, collaboration and Assistant Director of Transportation 2 8.17.17
coordination processes that assure all staff is timely and effectively informed of department policies, issues, and guidance that their programs are expected to support. Establishes an environment in which all staff members are comfortable and forthcoming in sharing their ideas, needs and concerns, and in which the staff collaboratively works together to seek solutions and resolutions. 6. Program Evaluation, Analysis and Feedback: Initiates and maintains an electronic routing system. Establishes a system of data collection and analysis that provides for continuous assessment of program effectiveness and/or changing needs. At least annually, conducts a comprehensive assessment review of all programs to determine their level of effectiveness and contribution to the mission of the department and to identify problem areas, areas of high success, and areas in needs of change. Prepares structured presentations to the Superintendent to share the program evaluation results. 7. Safety and Investigations: Assist with investigating complaints and bus accidents resulting in a summary report of findings. Follows-up with employee to prevent recurrence of the contributing circumstances. Periodically checks road conditions, driving practices, equipment condition, loading practices and operating procedures; and follows-up with corrective measures where appropriate. Responsible for student transportation discipline. Investigates student discipline incidents and is available to meet with parents, drivers and students to collaboratively resolve problems and create a safe riding environment for all. Investigate and resolve student injuries and accident reports as they relate to transportation issues. Provides recommendations to district administration regarding changes in school schedules to include school cancellations due to weather conditions. Serves as member of the District safety committee. Serves as first responder to emergency and after hour situations. Program Operations: 1. Lead, train, motivate and listen to department staff and provide guidance, direction, consultation and assistance as needed. 2. Supervises the dispatchers in the planning of bus routes, schedules, and stops to comply with policies provided by the board of directors, State Department of Public Instruction, and Washington State Patrol. 3. Develop, coordinate, initiate and supervise a bus driver training program that addresses the needs of personnel in the department as it relates to transportation. 4. Provide assistance to the director in such areas as fleet operation, maintenance, dispatch, training, safety issues and public relations. Assistant Director of Transportation 3 8.17.17
5. Assist the Director with supervising the employment of drivers, mechanics, dispatchers and other transportation personnel. 6. Submits written reports evaluating the performance of all staff service under his/her areas of responsibility. 7. Help and assist drivers with student management to include viewing of bus videos. 8. Assist with leading the department in the use of GPS, video, VHF radios, and other electronic media to track student ridership and improve efficiency. 9. Serves as a liaison to resolve issues/disputes that may arise between district drivers, staff, and patrons. 10. Assists with the planning and implementation of new technology for use in the transportation department. 11. Establish performance standards and supervise operational care, servicing, and maintenance of all vehicles within the department. 12. Supervises the journey level work in the repair, service, and maintenance of school buses and other related vehicles. 13. Conducts meetings with drivers, parents and school officials to include athletic director meetings, safe walk routes to school meetings, safety meetings, and weekly staff meetings with the dispatchers. 14. Work closely with the Special Education Department to provide top quality service to our special education and pre-school students. 15. Evaluate school bus stop requests, and make recommendations that promote safety and efficiency. Develop and recommend policies and administrative regulations for board consideration in regard to hazardous walking areas and the pupil transportation department. 16. Assist with development and preparation of reports and presentations to the School Board, District Cabinet, Principals and District Administrators. 17. Coordinates with the safety and training officer all vehicle accident investigations and coordinates proper reporting to law enforcement and insurance agencies. Initiates corrective action when appropriate. 18. Coordinates the efforts of school officials, parents, students, and drivers in an effort to resolve or prevent discipline problems or other unsafe conditions in the student transportation system. Assistant Director of Transportation 4 8.17.17
19. Maintains a close working relationship with the state department at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to assist with providing input on transportation costs, state funding formulas, driver training, and state regulations. 20. Meets with transportation personnel from other districts for pooling of experience, solving of problems, and making recommendations for state and federal transportation policies. 21. Keeps the administration and board of directors informed on developments and changes in transportation services provided by other district, personnel changes, and needs of the department. 22. Collects data and develops all required bus transportation reports with extensive use of data processing. Ensures that all required reports are submitted to the proper agencies on a timely basis. 23. Establishes and maintains a good public relations program designed to promote understanding of and support for the school transportation system. 24. Participates as a district representative in employee labor contract negotiations. 25. Maintains all valid certificates, licenses, endorsements, and permits as required by state and local authorities. Drive a school bus with or without passengers on a periodic basis. 26. Required to follow board policies and stay abreast of updates and changes. 23. Performs other duties as assigned. Part IV: Minimum Qualifications: 1. Incumbents must have successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities, or have otherwise demonstrated a commitment to strengthening engagement of a diverse community and skill in communicating with a diverse population. 2. High school graduation or GED Certificate. 3. Possess a valid Washington State driver s license and hold a safe driving record. Possess, or be eligible for a Commercial Driver s License authorization with the passenger and air brake endorsements. 4. Ability to perform responsibilities with minimum supervision. 5. Minimum of two years of management experience including staff supervision in a comparable environment. Experience and/or responsibilities must include or be related to the following; Supervision of personnel, routing and scheduling (dispatching), driver training, accident investigation, inventory control and preparation of bus specifications. 6. Strong analytical, program management and supervisory skills. Assistant Director of Transportation 5 8.17.17
7. Strong understanding of client-centered support. 8. Knowledge of district policy, laws and regulations that relate to the management of Transportation departments. 9. Effective oral and written communications. 10. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate positively with staff, students, parents and the public. 11. Ability to work both independently and cooperatively. 12. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and meet deadlines. Ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels of the organization. 13. Demonstrated leadership and supervisory ability. 14. May be required to participate in random drug testing program. Part V: Desired Qualifications: 1. Bachelor Degree or higher degree in business, management, or related fields. 2. Successful experience in an educational environment. 3. Second language skills. Part VI: Physical and Environmental Requirements of the Position: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, lift, carry, move about, hear and speak. Employee may be required to perform extensive work at a computer display terminal. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move 25 to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Frequently works in temperature and humidity controlled environments. The employee may sit or stand for longer than 2 hours at a time, may lift objects repeatedly, and may undertake repeated motions. Assistant Director of Transportation 6 8.17.17