Transportation Manager

Shift Ladder; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Shift Ladder seeks a senior leader to run the entire transit operation, including buses, routes, drivers, and regulatory compliance. You’ll explain costs to city officials and oversee budget planning, union negotiations, and service quality across multiple depots.

With 15+ years in transit management or a bachelor's in transportation/management and union negotiation experience, you will navigate regulatory requirements, safety programs, and ADA compliance while steering a large, complex

Qualifications

• 15+ years transit experience or a bachelor's in transportation/management
• Union negotiation experience
• Strong regulatory compliance knowledge and budget planning experience
• Leadership of multiple depots and teams across regions
• Ability to navigate political landscapes and communicate with city officials

Responsibilities

• Oversee fleet maintenance schedules and anticipate issues
• Negotiate with the union on contracts, schedules, and grievances
• Present budget proposals to city officials for more service
• Review safety reports and accident investigations
• Manage a team of supervisors, dispatchers, and trainers across depots
• Ensure ADA compliance and accessibility standards across the system

Skills

Political navigation

Regulatory compliance

Education

15+ years transit experience

Bachelor's in transportation/management

Union negotiation experience

Tools

ADA compliance management

Safety program oversight

Regulatory compliance (FTA/DOT)

Job description

You run the entire transit operation — every bus, every route, every driver, every complaint. Fleet management, union negotiations, budget planning, and regulatory compliance all land on your desk. You're the person the city council calls when service cuts make the news, and you're the one explaining to the mayor why buses cost what they cost. You haven't driven a bus in years, but you still have nightmares about that one intersection.

Salary Range

Low

$65k

Median

$75k

High

$92k

10-Year Growth

5%

US Workers

140K

Education

15+ years transit experience or bachelor's in transportation/management + union negotiation experience

Tools & Technical Skills

• ADA compliance management
• Safety program oversight
• Regulatory compliance (FTA/DOT)

People & Mindset Skills

• Political navigation

Learn the skills

Courses and certifications to get you job-ready

• 01 Oversee fleet maintenance schedules and pray nothing catastrophic breaks this week
• 02 Negotiate with the union on contracts, schedules, and grievances — so many grievances
• 03 Present budget proposals to city officials who want more service for less money
• 04 Review safety reports and accident investigations
• 05 Manage a team of supervisors, dispatchers, and trainers across multiple depots
• 06 Ensure ADA compliance and accessibility standards across the entire system

Where this role sits in the bigger picture — and where it can take you.

$65k–$80k+