Job Purpose

The Manager is responsible for serving the community by ensuring the safe transportation of students. They will treat everyone in a professional, respectful and dignified manner while upholding Palmer Bus Service’s core values.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

Plan, coordinate and oversee the routing, scheduling and daily operations of the terminal site ensuring a good morale throughout the site while maintaining a professional, clean and safe working environment.

• Hire, train, direct and discipline of all personnel to achieve the most effective use of human and physical assets. Plan and schedule assignment of work for transportation personnel. Ensures activities are completed efficiently and align with state laws, district policies, and contractual obligations. Completes yearly behind the wheel evaluations of drivers.
• Set-up and maintain routes, making necessary adjustments to ensure optimal efficiency.
• Plan, direct, and supervise the repair and maintenance of the site’s fleet including but not limited to school buses, activity buses, maintenance, and transportation vehicles, in compliance with governmental rules and regulations. Establishes and implements a sound preventive maintenance program and ensures detailed service records are maintained and that all site vehicles are maintained to meet or exceed industry standards.
• Plan, direct, and supervise the administrative functions for the location including, but not limited to; processing all new hires, ensuring accurate monthly billing, payroll, account receivables, account payables and month end requirements.
• Implement training and safety programs and ensure 100% compliance each month.
• Prepare, process, and maintain all documents required to verify safety and medical certification and alcohol and drug testing of drivers.
• Assess and respond to incidents, accidents, complaints, etc. during and after standard hours to resolve immediate safety concerns.
• Work with the school district to advise administration about inclement weather conditions that may result in the closing of schools or school delays.
• Work with and communicate with parents / guardians regarding student issues to resolve in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with internal and external personnel (e.g. other administrators, public agencies, parents, transportation regulation agencies, vendors, etc.) for the purpose of implementing and/or maintaining services and programs.
• Prepare and / or maintain a wide variety of written materials (e.g. personnel files, OSHA logbook, MSDS book, etc.) to document and evaluate activities to improve operations in accordance with quality management and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the maintenance and cleanliness of the site as well as all vehicles.
• Work with the school district to develop, coordinate, and manage short- and long-range plans in transportation services to enhance educational excellence related to student access to schools.
• Promote and uphold Palmer Bus Service’s purpose and core values.
• Work with the Operations Manager to ensure senior management is keep abreast of all problems and / or issues as they arise.

Other Functions

• Attend professional growth activities to keep abreast of innovative techniques in transportation and coordinate professional development programs for transportation staff.
• May cover school bus routes / assignments when needed.
• May dispatch and / or answer phones when needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the terminal site.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Specific knowledge-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
• Proven track record of on-boarding, training and motivating employee.
• Prior management / supervisory experience.
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Minnesota Commercial Driver’s License with passenger, school bus and air brake endorsements. Must maintain once acquired.
• Strong knowledge of school bus licensing process, behind-the-wheel certification and first aid trainer certification.
• Knowledge of MNDOT inspection requirements.
• Specific skill-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
• Able to effectively manage relationships.
• Able to think strategically with high level of patience in dealing with critical situations.
• Good analytical, verbal, written, presentation and communication skills.
• Demonstrate ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.
• Able to interact/communicate successfully with personnel at all levels.
• Able to supervise and motivate employees.
• Able to develop and implement process improvement.
• Proficient PC skills to Google Drive.

Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:

• Self-starter with proven analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent leadership skills as demonstrated by attendance, work ethic, and job performance.
• Demonstrate ability to establish and maintain high profile, influential, and collaborative working relationships across teams, functions and layers with District staff, public officials, vendors, and the general public.
• Able to remain focused and calm in chaotic situations.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills in leading, motivating, coaching, and developing staff.
• Able to exercise confidentiality, tact, diplomacy and independent judgment in performance of duties.
• Able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Intermediate to advanced technological skills providing the ability to enter, revise, organize, and retrieve information and to formulate methods of collecting and presenting information.
• Thorough knowledge of safety and accident prevention measures.

Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands:

• Usually work indoors. May occasionally repair buses on the road.
• Sometimes work with hazardous equipment, tools, situations, and conditions.
• Wear company issued uniform.
• Work inside various types of buses. Often test drive them before, during, and after repairs.
• Wear protective / safety gear as required.
• Lift and carry up to 50 lbs.