DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION

South Kitsap School District; Port Orchard (WA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

South Kitsap School District seeks a Director of Transportation to provide strategic leadership for student transportation services across the district. You will oversee routing, scheduling, fleet maintenance, budgeting, safety, and staff performance while partnering with school leaders and the community to ensure safe, reliable operations.

The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to serving students and staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred.
• Five years of leadership experience managing people, systems, or operations.
• Strong communication skills and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Reliable, organized, and able to handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to drive routes during inclement weather when needed.
• Ability to assess safety protocols for buses and staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the district’s transportation vision and operations.
• Oversee routing, scheduling, fleet maintenance, budgeting, and staff performance.
• Promote a culture of safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with neighboring districts, local agencies, and maintenance staff.
• Respond to emergencies involving transportation operations and delays.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Safety awareness

Collaboration

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in related field

Job description

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION

Reports To:

Assistant Superintendent of Business & Operations

Bargaining Unit:

Non-Rep Supervisory

Department:

Transportation

Salary Schedule

Non-Rep Supervisory

Employment Type

Classified Admin

Salary Range

$159,558 - $165,765

FLSA Status

Exempt

Adopted Date

8.0

Hours per Day

8.0

Revised Date

November 2025

Days per Year

248 (+12 Holidays) = 260

Belonging is a core value in the South Kitsap School District. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students and staff. We actively seek to understand the complex and rich identities of self and others and lean into and engage in courageous conversations. We know the educational environment is enhanced when diverse groups of people with unique ideas come together to learn and grow.

South Kitsap Employees Will:

• Maintain and enhance a sense of belonging and success for traditionally marginalized populations.
• Cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationship with students, families, staff and community members.
• Demonstrate understanding of our unique cultures and celebrate differences.
• Embrace and actively promote an inclusive and equitable learning environment.

South Kitsap School District: South Kitsap School District is the second-largest school district in Kitsap County and serves nearly 10,000 students within its 360 square miles. Our strategic goals focus on establishing uniformly high standards to meet the needs of all learners, effectively involving parents and community, and retaining quality staff. The District’s sixteen schools include ten elementary schools, three middle schools, one school of choice, one alternative learning center, and one four-year comprehensive high school. South Kitsap School District is proud to have knowledgeable, talented, and dedicated staff among the 1,200 employees, 700 of whom are teachers.

Summary: The Director of Transportation provides strategic leadership and vision for all student transportation services, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable operations across the district. Beyond overseeing essential functions such as routing, scheduling, fleet maintenance, compliance, budgeting, and staff performance. We are seeking a relational leader who builds trust, foster teamwork, and promotes a culture of high expectations, open communication, and continuous improvement. Experience in transportation is valuable but not required. We are looking for strong leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to serving students and staff are essential.

Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred.
• Five (5) years of leader experience in managing people, systems, or operations is essential; experience in transportation or logistics may be helpful but is not required.
• Possesses strong communication skills and ability to effectively process conflict situations.
• Possesses a strong work ethic, is reliable, and dependable.
• Demonstrates a high level of organizational skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• During inclement weather events, availability to drive designated routes and assess road and site conditions across the district.
• Provide timely recommendations regarding school delays, early releases, or closures to the Superintendent or designee.
• Ability to evaluate risk and develop/assess safety protocols for buses, staff, students.
• Coordinate with neighboring districts, local agencies, and maintenance staff to ensure consistent and informed decisions.

A completed applicant file MUST include:

• Completed District Administrative Classified Online Application
• Resume
• Copies of Transcripts (Unofficial)
• Administrator Confidential Professional Reference Forms (2), included within application
• Completed Applicant Disclosure statement, included within application
• Three letters of reference included within application
• Current Department of Licensing Driver Abstract

The Individual selected as the Director of Transportation will have successfully demonstrated the ability to:

• Provide leadership in the implementation of the District’s vision and assist with leading the organization with a focus on the future;
• Provide leadership from a perspective of collaboration and team orientation; assist in fostering a positive climate and staff morale, both within the department and throughout the District;
• Promote and understand the change process, with a focus on the future needs of students and organizational development;
• Participate in District administrative professional development activities and assist in designing, coordinating, and implementing classified professional development opportunities;
• Recognize and focus on implementation of best transportation practices;
• Direct the District’s vehicle maintenance and transportation operations in order to implement safe, efficient, and effective support service to the education program facilities;
• Demonstrate skills at budgeting and financial matters, including budget proposals and documentation, as well as staffing allocations and related project planning activities. Perform supervisory functions related to assigned personnel including, but not limited to, applicant screening and hiring processes, staff assignment supervision, staff training, staff evaluation, labor relations, and related supervisory duties;
• Respond to emergency situations involving transportation operations;
• Participate in the District’s student and employee safety program for ensuring a safe educational and working environment, and compliance with district, State, and Federal laws and regulations regarding safety in the public-school environment;
• Implement safety programs for reduction of accidents. Value diversity and encourage and promote others;
• Manage an automated routing system;
• Promote a collaborative working environment.

Teamwork – Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes appropriate feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests;

Planning/Organizing – Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; conserves organizational resources;

Computer Skills – To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of computer operating systems;

Customer Service – Maintains professional demeanor when dealing with difficult or emotional situations; responds promptly to staff, student and public needs; solicits feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance;

Mathematical Skills – Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals;

Interpersonal Skills – Keeps emotions under control; remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; promotes a harassment-free environment;

Oral and Written Communication – Listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings; read and comprehend written and verbal instructions; writes clearly and informatively;

Professionalism – Approaches other in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others