The posting
Job Title: Coordinator of Public Transportation
Reports to: Chief Operations Officer
FLSA Status: Exempt
General Definition of Work:
Leads planning for a complex system of pupil transportation services that encompasses home-to-school transportation (regular, McKinney-Vento (MV), and other special needs) and supplementary transportation services, including support for field trips and other school activities. Works closely with technology department leaders and school administration to maintain timely, accurate student data for transportation routing and planning systems. Responsible for analyzing demand for all pupil transportation services and developing solutions (routes, drivers, vehicles) to meet Division efficiency and effectiveness goals. Supports strategic planning initiatives and project implementations, working with school and local government personnel. Works with school building & division administration, city transit leaders, and outside consultants as needed to implement transportation system and process improvements. Conducts independent data analyses and synthesizes information for inclusion in reports for the Chief Operations Officer (COO), Superintendent, School Board, and the Virginia Department of Education. Develops new reports as required. Performs complex analysis of trend data and related services across all areas of transportation operations. Supports the city transit Pupil Transportation Services management team and drivers, serving as a training resource and critical liaison between Pupil Transportation and Schools leadership. Uses a variety of computer programs and creates custom queries to evaluate department services and effectiveness. Collaborates with the local government and school technology departments as required to maintain and/or upgrade the Pupil Transportation hardware and software infrastructure. Assists with surveying road conditions and recommends school closures during weather events that may impact travel. Maintains connections with professional organizations and private industry entities to remain knowledgeable of current requirements, best practices, trends, and innovations for pupil transportation.
Essential Functions:
- Leads planning for pupil transportation services, including home-to-school transportation (regular, MV, and special needs) and all supplementary services supporting the Division (pre- and post-school-day activities, field trips, athletics, etc.);
- Develops routes and vehicle recommendations for efficient and effective pupil transportation, to include the primary home-to-school mission and all supplementary programs;
- Develops and analyzes pupil transportation system performance data for the purpose of completing the annual pupil transportation report to the Virginia Department of Education;
- Works directly with division officials to conduct analysis for the COO to support school division operations and division long-range planning;
- Coordinates within the school division to maintain pupil data required for transportation planning, to include requirements for special education pupils;
- Assists the COO in managing various Division-wide projects at the direction of the Superintendent;
- Interfaces with consultants, principals, and division administration to assure that data required for projects is accurate, understood, and submitted on a timely basis;
- Acts on behalf of the COO in conducting project-related activities;
- Implements various data collection processes to support analyses of continuous quality improvement and customer service. Analyzes this information for use in operational improvement plans;
- Provides training on student de-escalation using MANDT or CPI, and how to utilize a variety of options to support positive behaviors on buses;
- Coordinates, assimilates, and constructs data from both internal databases and city, state, or other sources as needed by school leadership. Responsible for data integrity and validation and assisting in implementation of interfaces between critical information systems. Works with other departments to implement secure data interactions and transfers;
- Oversees transportation information system security and verifies systems integrity for networked resources in collaboration with school technology personnel;
- Evaluates, implements, and adopts new software; trains department personnel as needed and provides initial technical support for all transportation software;
- Responsible for compliance with Federal/ VDOE Special Needs transportation regulations, and coordinates with VDOE & division special education staff as required;
- Monitors and evaluates the ability of current software to adequately meet changing needs of the division and recommends upgrades as appropriate;
- Maintains records, maps, and files including backup files for use in a school crisis;
- Assists with surveying road conditions and making recommendations regarding school closures during weather events that may impact travel.
- Tactfully addresses parent concerns regarding routing, bus stops, and bus stop supervision;
- Evaluates vehicle and equipment specifications and makes recommendations in terms of safety, cost, and operational viability;
- Provides support in response to bus stop safety concerns raised by drivers, parents, and the police.
- Supports resolution of bus behavior referrals between the schools and the Pupil Transportation Office;
- Serves as back-up for dispatch if all other Pupil Transportation staff are driving or absent; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of Federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding general population and special needs pupil transportation;
- Experience compiling and analyzing data to recommend actions to be taken;
- Proficient in using computers in the analysis of data;
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels, both inside and outside of the organization;
- Organizational and management skills.
- Knowledge of procedures for safe storage and integrity of all public and confidential school records, ensuring that personnel and student record-keeping procedures comply with State and Federal Law and District Policy.
- Ability to use or learn to use a variety of computer software applications and programs such as Excel, Access, GIS programs, student information systems, etc., to analyze and communicate potential impact of proposed changes to existing systems and programs.
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education, professional certifications, and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, information management, or a related field; and at least five years of related experience, including supervisory experience. Coursework in quantitative analysis, statistics, logistics, GIS and/or transportation scheduling is preferred. CDL Class B with S endorsement driver experience is desired.
Physical Conditions and Nature of Work Contacts:
- Administrative work typically in an office setting.
- Frequent walking, bending, pulling, and lifting of light objects such as student equipment for the bus.
- Regular use of computers
- Ability to operate a vehicle to travel for meetings outside the office and traveling in the community, including during inclement weather events
- Occasional work outside normal duty hours may be necessary.
- Frequent contacts made at all organizational levels (internally and externally) for purposes of achieving organizational goals and mission.
- Regular contact with citizens, staff, and students, as well as elected officials and other community leaders.
Evaluation:
This position is evaluated by the Chief Operations Officer.
Contract Length:
12 months/260 days
