Senior executive director - transportation

Job Title

Position Title: Senior Executive Director - Transportation

Location: Transportation

Salary: $134,598 - $188,672

Reports to: Deputy Superintendent, Operations

Bargaining Unit: N/A

Benefits Eligibility: Yes

Telecommuting Eligibility: Eligible for telecommuting up to 20% (one day per week)

Position Summary:

The Senior Executive Director of Transportation serves as the District's strategic leader for all student transportation services spanning yellow bus, district-owned vans, small vehicle operations, and family reimbursement programs. This role ensures safe, equitable, and efficient transportation for all students, including general education, exceptional student education (ESE), and homeless populations. The incumbent provides visionary leadership that integrates systems thinking, operational excellence, and data-driven decision-making to advance the District's Blueprint 2027 goals. The Senior Executive Director leads a high-performing team, manages multimillion-dollar vendor contracts, ensures compliance with local, state, and federal mandates, and continually seeks innovations that improve student safety, reliability, and service quality.

This position does not administer instructional programs and does not require an administrator certification.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must possess a Bachelor's degree Business Administration, Public Administration, Transportation Management, Logistics, or a related field. related field from an institution accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in transportation or logistics management, preferably in an urban public school district or complex organizational setting.

• Proven success in strategic planning, vendor management, systems integration, and performance accountability.

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage large-scale operational programs with multiple vendors and contracts.

• Deep understanding of student transportation laws, regulations, and operational best practices.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, operate with systems-level perspective, and lead organizational change.
• Strong commitment to equity, customer service, and operational transparency.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data to drive decisions that enhance service delivery, efficiency, and safety.

Essential Functions:

• Strategic Oversight and Systems Leadership
  • Provide executive oversight and strategy for all transportation modes, including yellow bus, van, small vehicle, and gas card reimbursement programs.
  • Develop and execute a unified, districtwide transportation strategy aligned with DPSCD's operational priorities and equity commitments.
  • Integrate systems and emerging technologies such as BusPatrol, student ID tracking, routing software, and analytics dashboards to enhance efficiency, accountability, and safety.
  • Lead vendor management and contract performance oversight to ensure adherence to service level agreements and customer service standards.
  • Advance strategic workforce development initiatives, including succession planning, driver recruitment, and continuous training.
• Operational Excellence and Accountability
  • Standardize, codify, and monitor all operational standard operating procedures (SOPs) for drivers, attendants, supervisors, and vendors.
  • Ensure compliance with all federal and state regulations governing student transportation, including McKinney-Vento (homeless), IDEA (ESE), and Michigan Pupil Transportation requirements.
  • Utilize data analytics to evaluate route efficiency, cost control, and service reliability across all transportation modes.
  • Oversee transportation safety initiatives, including the Stop Arm Camera Program and driver/attendant CPR certification.
  • Lead continuous improvement cycles to strengthen responsiveness to schools and families, reduce operational disruptions, and enhance overall service delivery.
• Integration and Innovation
  • Serve as the district's senior leader for student transportation technology integration, overseeing ID card systems, BusPatrol camera deployments, GPS systems, and routing optimization software.
  • Evaluate and implement emerging transportation technologies and tools that improve operational performance, safety, and customer satisfaction.
  • Partner with the IT and Data teams to improve data collection and reporting systems for real-time visibility into transportation operations.
• Strategic Partnership and Communication
  • Serve as the primary liaison to senior district leadership, schools, parents, and community stakeholders on transportation issues.
  • Collaborate with the Office of Exceptional Student Education, Homeless Services, and School Operations to ensure equitable and compliant transportation access.
  • Foster a culture of service and accountability among all transportation personnel, ensuring that every interaction with students and families reflects DPSCD's core values.
  • Represent DPSCD in regional and national networks that address large urban school district transportation issues, trends, and best practices.
  • Build partnerships with other major urban districts, professional associations, and industry leaders to benchmark performance and implement innovative solutions.
  • Stay current on emerging technologies, state/federal policy changes, and research that impact student transportation systems.
  • Perform other duties as assigned

Security Clearance:

Internal Applicants

If you are a current Detroit Public Schools Community District employee, you do not have to submit to a new security clearance, unless your new role requires a different type of criminal background check.

External Applicants

In alignment with Michigan law, if you are hired to fill a position, you will be required to submit to a Detroit Public Schools Community District criminal background check. Information regarding required background checks will be shared at point of hire.

Method of Application:

Applicants must apply through the online application system. Only applications submitted through the online application system will be considered for any posted position and all applications require a resume to be considered.

Applicants requesting assistance during the application process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email at [email protected] or phone at (313) 873-6897.Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested.

DPSCD does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability and/or religion. Contact the Civil Rights Coordinator for more information at (313) 240-4377 or detroitk12.org/compliance.