Special Education Transportation Manager - IDEA Austin (Immediate Opening)

Mission: The SPED Transportation Manager (TSM) will be responsible for managing the daily business operations, programs, and staff of the Transportation SPED Department.  Additionally, the Transportation SPED Manager’s mission is to ensure operational readiness, effectiveness and efficiency in the Transportation SPED Department at the campus level.  The TSD adheres to the policies and procedures set forth by the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), Louisiana Department of Transportation (LADOT), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).  Specifically, the SPED Transportation Manager will be responsible for the design and implementation of operational platforms within the SPED Transportation that ensure goals are met while providing excellent service to internal and external customers. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

​​Supervises SPED Assistant Managers​ 

Location: 

​​The position is an office-based position with regular visits to campus sites located in different regions. The SPED Transportation Manager performs some overnight work-related travel.​  

Travel Expectations:      

​​The position is an office-based position with regular visits to campus sites located in different regions. The SPED Transportation Manager performs some overnight work-related travel.​ 

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities 

Essential Duties: 

• ​​Build upon BOY execution to develop tools (i.e. Quick Start guides, Playbooks, Checklists, etc.) to drive results in terms of successful replication of processes   

• ​​Improve the operational systems, processes and policies in support of the Pickup & Drop Off strategies being used at the campus level to support the Transportation Manager (if available) and the APO.  

• ​​Work with the HQ Route Manager to develop the most efficient Transportation SPED Routes  

• ​​Ensure SPED Transportation Managers are geo-coding all home addresses of our SPED Students with ample time to conduct dry runs prior to FDOS. 

• ​​Ensure SPED Transportation Managers are certifying 100% of the routes for safety and efficiencies  

• ​​Participate in the developing and improvement of recruitment tools (screening exercises, interviewing protocol) to screen and hire Transportation Managers and Bus Driver applicants  

• ​​Assist in the improvement of the onboarding process for Transportation HQ and Campus Managers; participate in the customization of the experience as needed 
  Review departmental job satisfaction survey results and develop strategies for continuous improvement 
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Additional Duties and Responsibilities: 

 •Evaluate previous year(s) BOY execution, identify opportunities for improvement and develop strategy for continued success 
•Establishes efficient transportation solutions for new and existing campuses. 
•Coordinate among other headquarter auxiliary departments to ensure alignment in metrics for assessing success the overall BOY experience 
•Partner with vendors 6 months prior on plan for providing product and service to new campuses 
•95% of campus SPED routes depart and arrive on time to and from the campus throughout the SY (180 Days) 
•Assesses root cause of financial variance; establishes actions to mitigate/recover. 
•Educates / aligns regional team on financial and operational performance metrics. 
•Coordinate with the Finance and Procurement Manager to develop trainings on operational efficiencies and best practices for campus Transportation managers throughout the academic year 
•Monitor the Transportation Performance Tracker (monthly) and identify opportunities to decrease expenses and increase reclassified revenue 
•Manage processes to ensure organizational goals and objectives are met including full oversight on all operational areas of the Department’s Budget 
•Write departmental policies and procedures, with operational context, that align with the Company’s Human Resources and DOT compliance 
•Ensure all Campus Transportation Managers adhere to all applicable organization, local, state and federal rules, regulations and operating procedures 
•Enforce safety policies and procedures and make decisions in collaboration with the HR business partner regarding appropriate discipline for infractions 
•Assist in creating, maintaining and communicating safety related policies and procedures, as well as ensuring that they are followed 
•Investigate accidents, injuries or illnesses occur in the workplace, and enlist assistance from other supervisory personnel or outside consultants if necessary. Investigation reports must include factual statements of what occurred, conclusions and recommendations for corrective or preventive actions 

Knowledge and Skills – Competencies 

 Make Strategic Decisions: 

This individual is able to gather relevant information, consider various options, and make choices that are in line with their current responsibilities and the team’s goals.  

Manage Work and Teams: 

This individual is responsible for managing their own work as well as supporting others. They focus on delegation, performance management, and coaching to help others achieve their work goals and develop professionally. k or tap here to enter text.                                   

Grow Self and Others: 

This individual actively seeks feedback, embraces challenges as learning opportunities, and engages in professional development activities to enhance their own skills and performance.  

Build a Culture of Trust:   

This individual focuses on awareness of their own emotional states and biases. They practice transparency and honesty in their interactions, contributing positively to team morale and trust.  

Communicate Deliberately:  

This individual can express ideas clearly and listen actively. They have developing skills in empathetic listening and responsive speaking, with ability to tailor messages for individual direct reports or peers with the aim to build stronger, more effective relationships. 

Additional Skills: 

​​•Excellent communication skills both oral and written (Spanish Bilingual Strongly Preferred) 
•Develop records management processes and policies 
•Identify areas to increase efficiency and automation of processes 
•Create and maintain automated data processes 
•Identify, evaluate and implement external services and tools to support data validation 
•Produce and track key performance indicators 
•Develop and support reporting processes 
•Monitor and audit data quality 
•Liaise with internal and external clients to fully understand data content 
•Design and carry out surveys and analyses survey data 
•Create data dashboards, graphs and visualizations 
•Strong work ethic with personal drive for success exemplifying “whatever it takes” attitude 
•Ability to work with schedules and deadlines as required, in a timely manner 
•Excellent organizational skills 
•Strong financial analytical skills including cost control 
•Excellent Microsoft Outlook, Project, Excel, Word and Power Point skills​ 

Required Education and Experience: 

​​•Bachelor’s Degree required or at least 5 years relevant experience 
•At least two years of experience in working with Special Education related field 
•At least five years of progressive experience in employee hiring, screening and development 
•At least two years of progressive experience in Transportation Operations (Planning, scheduling and dispatching) 
 

Preferred Education and Experience:  

​​•Master of Business Administration or other related advanced degree preferred​ 

Physical Requirements: 

• ​​Continuous use of hands, fingers, and wrists for technical work, typing, and detailed electronic component handling. 
  • Verbal, auditory, and written capabilities to effectively communicate technical information to diverse audiences 
  • Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects weighing up to 30 pounds including equipment, tablets, and replacement parts

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $72,785 and $84,431, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment. 
• Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.
• * IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. 

Learn more about IDEA 

At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values