Substitute Mechanic 2025-2026

Southeast Polk Community School District; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Southeast Polk Community School District is seeking a Substitute Mechanic for the 2025-2026 year in Des Moines, IA. The role supports maintenance of school fleet and motorized equipment, with responsibilities ranging from routine service to emergency responses.

Qualified applicants have diesel/ chassis experience, a High School diploma or equivalent, and a CDL Class B with endorsements or ability to obtain quickly. Join a district-focused maintenance team.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of chassis experience across light, medium and heavy-duty.
• Practical working knowledge of diesel motors.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• CDL Class B with passenger, S endorsement and air brake endorsement or ability to obtain within 30 days.
• Ability to work harmoniously with others and handle emergencies.
• Basic clerical skills.
• Experience with heavy truck, diesel and gasoline engine maintenance.
• Possession of a full set of hand tools; district offers reimbursement up to $600/year.

Responsibilities

• Overhaul and repair district vehicles and motorized equipment.
• Perform routine maintenance on district vehicles and motorized equipment.
• Assist in preparing buses for State Inspection.
• Maintain high safety and housekeeping standards.
• Assist with fueling of buses.
• Diagnose, overhaul, and repair district grounds equipment.
• Test drive all district equipment as required.
• Attend continuing education classes and staff development meetings.
• Maintain good public relations with staff and community.
• Assist with department communication as required.
• Complete all required paperwork.
• Back-up bus routes as assigned or in case of emergency.
• Provide an appropriate role model for the students.
• Maintain confidentiality of all sensitive information.
• All other duties as assigned.

Skills

Diesel mechanics

Chassis maintenance

Team collaboration

Emergency response

Clerical skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CDL Class B with passenger & endorsements

Tools

Hand tools

Maintenance equipment

Power tools

Job description

Substitute Mechanic 2025-2026

Southeast Polk Community School District Transportation - Des Moines, Iowa Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in TeachIowa, Iowa's Marketplace for education jobs

Job Details

Job ID: 5166337

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: May 14, 2025 7:09 PM (UTC)

Job Description

This is a general position listing and there may or may not be a specific opening at this time. If a position becomes available, your application materials may be reviewed by hiring managers.

Job Description

Title: Substitute Mechanic

Qualifications:

• Practical working experience and knowledge of truck and diesel mechanics.
• Minimum of 3 years of light, medium and heavy duty chassis experience through apprenticeship and/or on-the-job training.
• Specific background in mechanics of diesel motors.
• Ability to work harmoniously with others.
• Ability to deal with emergency situations.
• Basic clerical skills.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Class B CDL Driver's License with passenger, S endorsement and air brake endorsement or ability to maintain within 30 working days.
• Heavy truck, diesel and gasoline engine corrective and preventive maintenance experience.
• Possession of a full set of hand tools. (District will provide a reimbursement on the cost of the mechanic’s tools up to a maximum amount of $600 per year.)

Reports to: Transportation Director

Job Goal: To aide in the maintenance of all District vehicles and motorized equipment in a safe and efficient manner. The performance responsibilities as show below represent only the key areas of responsibility; specific position requirements will vary depending on the needs of the transportation department.

Performance Responsibilities:

• Overhaul and repair all district vehicles and motorized equipment.
• Perform routine maintenance on district vehicles and motorized equipment.
• Assist in preparing buses for State Inspection.
• Maintain high standard of safety and good housekeeping methods in all work areas.
• Assist with the fueling of buses.
• Diagnose, overhaul, and repair district grounds equipment.
• Test drive all district equipment as required.
• Attend appropriate continuing education classes and staff development meetings.
• Maintain good public relations with staff and community.
• Assist with department communication as required.
• Complete all required paperwork as required.
• Back-up bus routes as assigned or in case of emergency.
• Provide an appropriate role model for the students.
• Maintain confidentiality of all sensitive information.
• All other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands:

• Must have physical dexterity in limbs and digits and be free of impairment of the use of a foot, leg, hand, finger, or an arm or other structural defects of limitations likely to interfere with the ability to safely control a school bus, other motor vehicles used for transporting students and handicap lift equipment.
• Must be capable of assisting in the emergency evacuation of students riding the bus by extraction through emergency windows, doors and roof exits including:
• Stepping down 3.5 feet from the bus floor to the ground out the rear bus emergency door.
• Lifting students weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must be capable of dragging 125 pounds for a distance of 100 feet.
• Must be capable of sitting up to 1 hour per setting.
• Must be capable of standing up to 60 minutes at a time.
• Must be capable of operating bus controls requiring up to 30 lbs. force.
• Must be capable of climbing 4 bus entry steps.
• Must be capable of trunk rotation and trunk bending on a repeated basis.
• Must be capable of squatting for an extended amount of time.
• Must be capable of operating handicap lift equipment, emergency window, door exits and opening engine hood with pull forces up to 60 lbs.
• Must present appropriate appearance and personal cleanliness suited to working in close proximity to school children and teachers.
• Must be capable of working with co-workers with different personalities.
• Must be capable of using flammable and combustible fuels, lubricants, and engine coolants and cleaning chemical with appropriate PPE’s.
• Must be capable of working in extreme temperatures and humidity and other environmental conditions.
• Must be able to handle situations where contact with bodily fluids is possible. Bodily fluids may be feces, vomit, and urine, mucus from the nose or mouth.

Note: The physical demands described above represent real life tasks an employee may need to perform as part of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While the frequency may be low, the above stated physical demands may be required during the course of a daily work shift. Tasks that have physical demands that exceed the above stated limits should only be performed with sufficient manpower or material handling equipment.

Clothing:

• Street Clothes.
• Appropriate clothing and/or protective equipment required by the task; such as coats, hats and gloves and anti-slip footwear when walking on ice while operating the bus during cold winter periods.

Equipment / Tools

• Tools as described in job qualifications.
• Vacuum cleaner, brooms, mops, rags, buckets, garbage liners and cans, cleaning chemicals, and dust pan for cleanup operations.
• Two-way radio equipment and cellular telephones.
• High pressure spray washer, air compressor, fuel dispensing equipment.
• Shovels and ice scrappers for winter operations.

Terms of Employment:

• Employment based on need.
• Hours as assigned by Supervisor

Evaluation:

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of Southeast Polk Board Policy.

The statements of this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel in this position. These statements are not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his or her supervision.
It is the policy of the Southeast Polk Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), genetic information (for employment), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact, Joseph M. Horton, Deputy Superintendent, Equal Opportunity Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator, Southeast Polk District Office, 8031 NE University Ave., Pleasant Hill, IA 50327, (515)-967-4294, [e-mail]. Inquiries or grievances may also be directed to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Des Moines, IA, 50319-0201, [phone]; or the U.S. Department of Education, Region VII Office of Civil Rights, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago IL 60661.

Position Type: Full-time

Job Categories:

Career and Technical Education > Industrial Mechanics

Substitute > Substitute

Equal Opportunity Employer

All employers submitting a job opening for posting on the Teach Iowa system will not discriminate in hiring on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status, or status as a veteran. A bona fide religious institution may choose to exercise the allowances in Iowa Code section 216.6.(6)d. Employers may have additional developed specific equal employment opportunity policies and procedures; please check with employers.

Contact Information

• Jacklyn Kretz
• 407 8th Street SE
• Altoona , Iowa 50009
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]