The Director of Transportation and Grounds is responsible for leading the district's transportation operations and overseeing the care and upkeep of district grounds. This position ensures students receive safe, reliable, and efficient transportation while maintaining school grounds in a safe, attractive, and functional condition.
Key Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Valid commercial driver's license (CDL) with appropriate passenger and school bus endorsements, or ability to obtain upon hire.
- Knowledge of school transportation operations, route planning, fleet management, and applicable state regulations.
- Experience supervising employees and coordinating daily work assignments.
- Knowledge of grounds maintenance, landscaping, snow and ice removal, and equipment operation.
- Ability to respond to transportation, weather, and grounds-related emergencies.
- Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to perform the physical requirements associated with driving a school bus and maintaining district grounds.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Transportation Operations
- Develop, coordinate, and oversee all bus routes, schedules, and transportation assignments.
- Supervise, schedule, and evaluate bus drivers and other transportation personnel.
- Ensure drivers maintain required licenses, certifications, physical examinations, and training.
- Coordinate substitute drivers and provide route coverage, including driving a school bus when necessary.
- Respond to transportation emergencies, accidents, weather conditions, mechanical issues, and service disruptions.
- Coordinate bus inspections, repairs, preventative maintenance, and vehicle replacement planning.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local student transportation and safety requirements.
- Address transportation-related concerns from families, employees, and administrators in a timely and professional manner.
- Maintain accurate records related to routes, ridership, mileage, fuel usage, inspections, training, accidents, and vehicle maintenance.
Grounds Operations
- Oversee and perform the regular care and maintenance of district lawns, landscaping, athletic areas, parking lots, sidewalks, and other outdoor space.
- Develop and maintain seasonal schedules for mowing, trimming, landscaping, leaf removal and grounds work.
- Coordinate snow and ice removal to ensure safe access to district buildings, sidewalks, parking areas, and bus loading zones.
- Operate and maintain grounds equipment, including mowers, tractors, utility vehicles, and snow-removal equipment.
- Inspect district grounds regularly and address safety hazards, drainage concerns, damaged surfaces, and other outdoor maintenance needs.
- Coordinate preparation of outdoor facilities and grounds for school activities, athletic events, and community use.
- Maintain appropriate records for grounds equipment, supplies, inspections, and preventative maintenance.
- Coordinate outside contractors when grounds work requires specialized services.
Administrative and Leadership Responsibilities:
- Develop and manage transportation and grounds budgets in collaboration with the superintendent.
- Recommend equipment, vehicle, supply, and capital improvement plans.
- Establish work priorities and ensure assignments are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
- Maintain required safety, inspection, training, and operational records.
- Communicate regularly with the superintendent and building administrators regarding transportation and grounds needs, progress, and concerns.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the superintendent.
