Director of School Bus Operations at National Trails in Livonia, MI

Full-time | $80,000 – $100,000 annually

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Director of Operations to provide strategic leadership, oversight, auditing, and accountability for our School Bus operations. This leadership role is responsible for operational planning, compliance oversight, financial accountability, workforce management, and driving continuous improvement across the transportation division.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive oversight of School Bus Operations Managers and verify audit completion, service delivery, compliance, and performance metrics.
• Lead the operational audit program, including dispatcher audits, payroll audits, route accountability and tracing audits, camera audits, DVIR audits, fleet audits, and customer service audits.
• Monitor and optimize staffing, trip/route coverage, fleet utilization, service disruptions, and corrective action plans.
• Oversee revenue assurance and financial controls, including route tracing, invoice support, BusHive verification, payroll controls, and revenue recovery.
• Review payroll audits, overtime trends, staffing levels, guarantee pay, and labor controls.
• Ensure compliance with DOT requirements, camera audit programs, DVIR processes, fleet readiness standards, and company policies.
• Evaluate management performance, audit completion, staffing effectiveness, service quality, and follow-up on corrective actions.
• Daily: Review service disruptions, staffing shortages, customer escalations, fleet concerns, and operational performance.
• Weekly: Review audit reports, payroll findings, route tracing, BusHive audits, DVIR audits, fleet readiness, and customer complaints.
• Monthly: Review KPI performance, revenue assurance audits, staffing trends, compliance findings, payroll trends, and service reliability metrics.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records (audit reports, payroll records, route tracing, compliance records, KPI dashboards, and corrective action logs).
• Drive continuous improvement in efficiency, profitability, safety, compliance, and customer service.

Success in this role will be measured by route coverage, service reliability, payroll accuracy, fleet availability, customer satisfaction, audit completion rates, and revenue performance.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in transportation operations management (school bus or similar passenger transportation preferred).
• Strong background in operational auditing, compliance (DOT, safety, DVIR), and revenue assurance.
• Experience with workforce management, payroll oversight, and performance accountability.
• Excellent leadership, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple operational areas and drive continuous improvement.
• Relevant degree or equivalent experience preferred; industry certifications a plus.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: $90,000 – $120,000 annually based on experience.
• Full benefits package, Medical, Dental, Vision!
• 401k with company match!
• Paid Time Off!
• Paid holidays!
• Company Paid Life Insurance!
• Opportunity to lead and shape operational excellence in a critical transportation function
• Collaborative environment focused on safety, reliability, and service quality

How to Apply
If you are a strategic operations leader ready to drive accountability, compliance, and performance in school bus operations, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting relevant experience.