Transportation Manager

Transportation ManagerLocation: Belton, MOPay Rate: $73,000.00-$94,000.00 per year. Pay based on experience. This position is also bonus eligible.Position Overview: At First Student, our Transportation Managers are a constant reflection of our company's commitment to safety and customer service. The Transportation Manager is responsible for providing operational oversight, day-to-day management, and directly supervising staff and financial performance.Why Join First Student?Competitive Pay!Medical, dental, and vision insurance401(k) with company contributionPaid time off and paid holidaysCompany-paid life insuranceStable employment with a well-established organizationOpportunities for growth and internal advancementEmployee discounts on cell phone plans, vehicles, electronics, and more through PerkSpotMajor ResponsibilitiesEnsures the safe and timely transportation of passengers to and from their destinations. Manages operational expenses to optimize all cost per bus. Manage all contractual services to include administrative functions, information systems, parts purchasing, and inventory control. Ensures purchases (including parts) follow company processes and policies.Leads the Location in managing the day-to-day activities to support operations, safety, maintenance, dispatch, fleet and facility management, payroll, routing/scheduling, AR/AP and other interrelated functions. Foster and maintain positive relationships within and outside of the Location, including senior management and customer contacts. Provide prioritization of work assignments and management of functional team resources and their activities as needed or required.Leads and oversees all aspects of customer contract compliance and management with a concentrated focus on retaining the customer. Includes adherence to all staff, driver, and vehicles requirements, as well as KPI, billing and budget management. Also, covers delivery of all contract-specific technologies and other requirements. Ensures delivery of training and other needs as per company, location, state and customer requirements.Builds and maintains positive relationships with employees, local school officials, parents and the community. Resolves concerns with employees, local school officials, parents, and the community. Implements fair and consistent recognition and/or corrective discipline.Communicates with customer by telephone, electronically or in regular face-to-face meetings. Responds promptly to customer inquiries, identifies and escalates priority issues, obtains and evaluates all relevant information to resolve inquiries and complaints. Follow-ups with customers as required. Develops action plans to ensure customer retention. Provides and promotes effective communication with customer and escalates issues if needed to AGM and/or Senior Management.Ensure services are provided within budget and action plans developed and implemented to improve operational efficiencies. Manages location budget through but not limited to: development, preparing and analyzing of the budget and forecast. Ensures any budget variances are identified and can be addressed. Provides accurate timely operational and financial reporting as requested by AGM and/or finance.Maximizes all charter revenue and supports AGM on identifying or biding on local commercial growth opportunitiesLeads by example. Builds and maintains a strong Location team through effective recruiting, on-boarding, training, coaching, team building and succession planning. Prepare and participate in the preparation of staff development plans for each functional employee who is a member of the Location team. Assess the skills and skill levels necessary to achieve Location objectives. Ensures all on-line learning courses required have been completed by location staff including their own individual completion.Manages and monitors location compliance with federal, state, local, contractual, and company policies and procedures.Minimum Experience or Skills RequiredHS Diploma or equivalent, further education preferred but not required.1 year experience in an Assistant Location Manager role or equivalent experience with management responsibility5 Years Operations Experience, preferably in school bus transportationCommitted to Safety LifestyleProficient computer literacy essential with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Experience with other software such as timekeeping and payroll systems is preferred.Literacy in technology used to manage the operation to include but not limited to FGA approved Smart technology, Apps, encrypted drives, shared drives and other Smart technologySolid oral and written communications. Strong presentation skills.Strong interpersonal skills in dealing with customers, parents, and community.Solid financial and budgetary skills with ability to interpret and analyze P&L, budgets and forecasts.Strong business background in financial, strategic, and organizational analysis.Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with others in a team settingDemonstrated ability to train, coach and provide leadershipLanguage Requirement This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications be conducted in English.First for a reason:At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.