Transportation Manager

Bishop's; California; On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Retirement plan with company match

Paid vacation and holidays

Daily lunch provided

Job summary

The Bishop's School in La Jolla, CA seeks a Transportation Manager to oversee daily student transport, fleet readiness, and staff supervision. The role ensures safe, reliable service, regulatory compliance, and budgeting with the business office.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Campus Operations, you will manage routes, driver assignments, vendor relations, and improvement projects, with occasional evenings/weekends as needed for school activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.
• At least five years of experience in school transportation management with safety and maintenance oversight.
• At least five years of supervisory experience overseeing staff and coordinating vendors.
• Knowledge of preventive maintenance, vehicle inspections, and fleet documentation; mechanic's certification not required.
• Valid driver's license; CDL Class B and school bus certifications preferred; credentials must be current before driving duties.
• First Aid and CPR certification preferred.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and fleet maintenance software; FMX experience a plus.
• Strong communication, judgment, organization, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily student transportation operations including routes, schedules, driver assignments, dispatch, and contingency planning.
• Supervise, train, evaluate, and coach transportation personnel.
• Coordinate with Athletics to provide transportation for practices, games, and activities.
• Manage transportation requests for school-owned vans and SUVs used by faculty and staff.
• Arrange certified bus driver coverage for school activities and serve as backup driver when licensed.
• Maintain communication with parents, students, faculty, and staff regarding schedules and disruptions.
• Review ridership, routing, and performance to identify safety, reliability, and efficiency improvements.
• Maintain fleet records in FMX or equivalent system and ensure inspections are up to date.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local transportation laws and DMV requirements.
• Prepare and manage the Transportation Department's annual budget.
• Lead transportation-related improvements and special projects.

Skills

Strong communication

Judgment

Organization

Problem-solving

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Equivalent education/experience considered

Tools

FMX fleet management software

Google Workspace

Fleet maintenance software

Job description

Founded in 1909 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, The Bishop's School is an independent, all gender college-preparatory school for 800 students in grades six through twelve. The School is located on a historic campus in the heart of La Jolla, just 10 miles north of downtown San Diego. With a student-teacher ratio of approximately 9 to 1, Bishop’s is known for academic, artistic, and athletic excellence while celebrating character development, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Last year’s applicant pool drew from 72 zip codes and 168 middle and high schools throughout San Diego County and beyond. Fifty-one percent of the student population self-identify as students of color. Additionally, over $4 million in need-based grants is awarded annually.

The Bishop's School seeks a Transportation Manager with immediate start.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Campus Operations and Planning, the Transportation Manager oversees transportation services at The Bishop's School, ensuring the safety, reliability, efficiency, and compliance of all aspects of transportation operations. The Manager holds accountability for the inspection, preventive maintenance, repair coordination, and readiness of all School-owned and School-operated vehicles; a fleet currently consisting of 22 buses, vans, and SUVs. The manager is responsible for the supervision of the School's team of drivers, assigning routes, evaluating performance, monitoring safety compliance, and ensuring that all required licenses, certifications, and training are current and in good standing. The Transportation Manager maintains the transportation schedule, works with the business office to accurately plan and report departmental finances, and sees assigned operational improvement projects through to successful completion.

This is a 12-month/year in-person position. Occasional evening and/or weekend work is required.

Responsibilities Include:

Transportation Operations and Staff Supervision

• Direct daily student transportation operations, including routes, schedules, driver assignments, dispatch, coverage, and contingency planning to maintain safe and dependable service.
• Supervise, train, evaluate, and coach transportation personnel; establish clear performance and safety expectations and promote accountability, teamwork, and professional service.
• Coordinate with Athletics to provide transportation for practices, games, and other activities, including scheduling, driver coverage, and accurate allocation of related costs.
• Manage transportation requests for School-owned vans and SUVs used by faculty and staff for field trips, academic programs, retreats, and other School-sponsored activities. Confirm vehicle availability, appropriate vehicle assignment, and authorized drivers.
• Arrange certified school bus driver coverage for School-sponsored activities while maintaining daily bus routes. Serve as a backup school bus driver when appropriately licensed and certified and when operational needs require.
• Maintain clear and timely communication with parents, students, faculty, and staff regarding transportation schedules, route changes, delays, breakdowns, and other service disruptions.
• Review ridership, routing, scheduling, and transportation performance to identify practical improvements in safety, reliability, efficiency, and customer service.

Fleet Maintenance and Vehicle Readiness

• Working with internal resources and external vendors, maintain direct accountability for the maintenance, safety, regulatory compliance, and operational readiness of the School's fleet of buses, vans, and passenger vehicles. Ensure that every vehicle is maintained in safe working condition and is suitable for its assigned use.
• Review completed inspections and repairs; and verify that outstanding deficiencies are resolved promptly and properly documented.
• Establish and enforce existing vehicle-specific preventive maintenance and inspection schedules, including required 45-day inspections for applicable buses, manufacturer-recommended services, and other mandated inspections. Regularly review fleet readiness, all upcoming maintenance and any outstanding deficiencies ensuring corrective actions are assigned, documented, and tracked through completion.
• Maintain accurate, current, and complete fleet records in FMX, or the School's designated fleet management platform, including vehicle inventory, mileage, inspection results, maintenance schedules, repair history, open defects, service-provider information, vehicle status, and related costs.
• Ensure required driver pre-trip and post-trip inspections and defect reports are completed, reviewed and appropriately maintained. Monitor vehicle cleanliness, fuel levels, serviceability, and daily readiness, and confirm reported deficiencies receive timely attention.
• Immediately remove from service, or prevent the dispatch of, any vehicle with an unresolved safety-related concern. Arrange qualified evaluation and repairs, document the corrective action, and verify the vehicle is cleared for service under School procedures before it is used again.
• Manage relationships with and work assigned to third-party maintenance and repair vendors, including scheduling, scope of work, service quality, completion timelines, warranty issues, and timely follow-up on outstanding repairs. Verify work performed before approving related expenses.
• Routinely review maintenance status, inspection compliance, open work orders, recurring defects, and vehicle downtime; report significant safety concerns, overdue requirements, and material maintenance issues to the Senior Director of Campus Operations & Planning.
• Assess fleet condition, usage, and long-term maintenance costs to recommend replacement priorities, capital needs, and improvements to reliability and service life.

Safety, Regulatory Compliance, and Driver Authorization

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local transportation and vehicle safety laws, California Highway Patrol and DMV requirements, and School policies; maintain supporting documentation and inspection readiness.
• Administer the California DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program as applicable, monitor driver license records and status, and maintain an accurate roster of School-authorized faculty, staff, and volunteer drivers.
• Verify and track required licenses, certificates, insurance documentation, driver qualifications, and authorization requirements before individuals operate vehicles for School activities.
• Oversee the School's third-party drug and alcohol testing program for covered drivers, including required pre-employment screening, random testing, program administration, and compliance follow-up.
• Administer the United Educators driver training platform and track training, certifications, completion records, and required annual renewals within the established 12-month cycle.
• Ensure vehicle collisions, breakdowns, safety concerns, and other transportation incidents are promptly reported, documented, reviewed, and addressed consistent with School procedures.

Budget, Records, and Departmental Administration

• Prepare and manage the Transportation Department's annual budget, including transportation operations, maintenance, repairs, fuel, contracted services, and anticipated fleet needs.
• Track and reconcile expenditures in the School's designated fleet management platform, ensuring costs are accurately recorded and charged to the proper budget accounts.
• Review and process transportation-related invoices for parts, repairs, maintenance, and other expenses; verify supporting work, apply appropriate account codes, and submit invoices through the School's designated financial management platform.
• Track and appropriately allocate costs associated with Athletics and other School-sponsored transportation requests; regularly report fleet readiness, maintenance status, operating costs, and significant budget variances to the Senior Director of Campus Operations & Planning.

Operational Improvement and Special Projects

• Lead transportation-related improvements, including fleet management systems, GPS tracking, communications procedures, and support other projects assigned by the Senior Director of Campus Operations & Planning.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred (Business Administration, Operations Management, Logistics, or related); an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• At least five years of experience in school transportation management, logistics, fleet management, or related operations management, with demonstrated responsibility for safety and maintenance oversight.
• At least five years of supervisory experience, including experience leading staff, coordinating outside vendors, and holding others accountable for assigned work.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of preventive maintenance, vehicle inspections, repair coordination, fleet documentation, and applicable student transportation requirements; a mechanic's certification is not required.
• Valid driver's license required. Commercial Driver's License (Class B) and applicable California school bus driver certifications preferred; all required credentials must be held before performing school bus driving duties.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification preferred, with the ability to maintain any certifications required for assigned driving duties.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and ability to use fleet maintenance software, reporting tools, and School financial systems; FMX experience is a plus.
• Strong communication, judgment, organization, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to act promptly and responsibly when a safety concern is identified.

The anticipated compensation range for this position is $90,000 to $105,000 annually, based on experience.

Along with generous compensation The Bishop's School is pleased to be able to offer a menu of medical plan options, dental and vision plans, generous retirement plan contribution plus match, paid vacation, numerous paid holidays throughout the year, and daily lunch prepared by the School's Food Service team when school is in session.

Please do not contact the school directly.

EEO

The Bishop's School is an equal opportunity employer. We are a diverse community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the San Diego area and the United States at large. We aim to align our hiring process with our mission and institutional goals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. The Bishop's School takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance all qualified candidates.