Director of Transportation Colorado School District 11

Director (Transportation)

Position Profile

Position: Director (Transportation)

Department: Transportation

Reports To: Executive Director of School Operations

FTE: 1.0 (8 hours per day)

Days/Year: 260

Salary Schedule: 2025–2026 Executive Professional Salary Schedule (Group C)

Paygrade: P11

Salary Range: $102,649 - $115,600

FLSA Status: Exempt

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Why You Will Love Working Here:

Join a team committed to safely transporting students and supporting daily school operations across the District. The Transportation Department plays a critical role in ensuring students arrive ready to learn, and employees take pride in delivering reliable, efficient, and student-centered service. This role offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven environment where safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement are prioritized, and where your work has a direct and meaningful impact on students, families, and the community.

Position Summary

The Director is a strategic and operational leader responsible for advancing Colorado Springs School District 11’s mission to Inspire every mind through effective management of district programs, people, and systems. Directors oversee one or more departments or initiatives that support district goals in teaching and learning, operations, finance, student services, or other specialized areas.

Directors are accountable for designing, implementing, and evaluating programs and practices that ensure equitable outcomes and operational excellence. They lead and supervise professional teams, manage budgets, oversee compliance and policy implementation, and align departmental work with the district’s Strategic Plan.

Directors serve as collaborative partners to school and district leaders, providing expertise, innovation, and responsive support that drives continuous improvement. They analyze data to inform decisions, ensure fiscal responsibility, and foster a culture of service, accountability, and excellence.

This position requires visionary leadership, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to inspire and empower others to achieve shared goals in a dynamic educational environment.

Leaders at Colorado Springs School District 11 are collaborative, student-centered professionals who inspire excellence through vision, accountability, and care. They embody the District’s roadmap to success through creating environments that provide high-quality instruction, enhancing classroom focused resources, expanding our diverse school portfolio, providing excellence through experience and building connected communities.

All leaders in D11 are expected to:

• Cultivate safe, learning environments where all students and staff feel valued.
• Lead or support the design and implementation of programs aligned to district and board goals.
• Use data and evidence to inform continuous improvement and operational effectiveness.
• Manage personnel, budgets, and resources with efficiency, transparency, and integrity.
• Build partnerships with schools, families, and community organizations that strengthen outcomes.
• Model professionalism, ethical leadership, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Specifically, this Director (Transportation) provides leadership and oversight of the District’s student transportation program, ensuring the safe, timely, reliable, and efficient delivery of services to students and schools.

Key responsibilities include planning, coordinating, and supervising all transportation operations, including routing, scheduling, bus terminal operations, driver training, and student management. The Director ensures compliance with state regulations, safety standards, and the Public School Transportation Act.

The role oversees transportation staff operations, including supervision, evaluation, and development, and ensures proper implementation of routing systems, schedules, and service delivery. The Director works closely with school administrators to support student safety and transportation needs.

In partnership with the Fleet Manager, the Director supports vehicle maintenance programs, procurement processes, and bid specifications to ensure a safe and reliable fleet. The position also ensures that all transportation staff are properly trained, licensed, and equipped to perform their duties.

The Director (Transportation) maintains required operational records and ensures that transportation services are continuously evaluated and improved to meet the needs of students, families, and the District.

Essential Job Functions

Provide Strategic Leadership and Direction

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of departmental vision, goals, and initiatives aligned with the district’s Strategic Plan and mission.
• Establish long-term strategies that advance operational excellence, innovation, and equitable outcomes across the organization. Advise executive leadership on emerging trends, risks, and opportunities impacting the department’s work.

Direct Department Operations

• Oversee and manage all departmental operations, ensuring systems, structures, and processes function effectively and efficiently to meet program objectives. Establish operational priorities, allocate resources, and ensure accountability for performance outcomes.

Lead and Develop Staff

• Supervise, evaluate, and develop managers and staff within the department. Build leadership capacity through coaching, professional development, and succession planning. Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, high performance, and continuous learning.

Oversee Programs and Strategic Initiatives

• Direct the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs, projects, and initiatives within the department’s scope. Establish strategic priorities, monitor progress, and ensure initiatives align with district goals, timelines, and regulatory requirements.

Ensure Compliance and Mitigate Risk

• Ensure departmental compliance with district policies and applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Develop systems, procedures, and internal controls that promote accountability, transparency, and risk mitigation. Maintain accurate documentation and reporting systems.

Lead Data Strategy and Continuous Improvement

• Establish systems to collect, analyze, and interpret data to evaluate program effectiveness and operational performance. Use data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions, improve service delivery, and strengthen outcomes. Lead continuous improvement efforts across departmental systems and practices.

Direct Financial and Resource Management

• Develop and manage departmental budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship of financial and operational resources. Align budget planning and resource allocation with strategic priorities and district objectives.

Build Organizational Partnerships and Collaboration

• Serve as a key liaison between departments, schools, district leadership, and external partners to ensure effective coordination and delivery of services. Promote cross-functional collaboration and alignment to strengthen districtwide initiatives and organizational effectiveness.

Promote Organizational Excellence and Culture

• Model ethical leadership, professionalism, and integrity in all interactions. Promote inclusive practices and a people-centered organizational culture that supports employee engagement and organizational effectiveness.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

Strategic leadership and organizational management principles

Systems thinking and large-scale operational design

District policies and applicable local, state, and federal regulations

Budget development, fiscal oversight, and resource management

Data analytics and performance management systems

Continuous improvement, organizational change, and innovation strategies

• Leadership development and talent management practices

Skills in:

Developing and executing strategic initiatives and programs

Leading and developing high-performing teams and leaders

Managing complex projects, operations, and organizational systems

Interpreting and applying data to guide strategic decision-making

Communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders, including executive leadership

Building collaborative partnerships across departments and organizations

• Navigating complex organizational challenges with sound judgment

Ability to:

Lead large-scale initiatives that advance district strategic priorities

Influence decision-making and drive alignment across departments

Balance strategic leadership with operational oversight

Identify systemic challenges and implement sustainable solutions

Promote accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement

Adapt leadership strategies in response to evolving district needs

• Represent the district with professionalism, integrity, and alignment to its mission

Qualifications

• Required Bachelor's Degree in education, business, public administration or a related field
• Required license and/or certification related to position
• Preferred Masters Degree in education, business, public administration or a related field
• Preferred qualifications include advanced certification or licensure, experience in K–12 education or government operations, and/or bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish or other district-identified languages).

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Work is primarily sedentary with periods of light activity. Essential functions may include walking or standing for extended periods; lifting up to 20 pounds; climbing stairs; bending; reaching; handling objects; and operating a computer keyboard. The role requires effective communication and the ability to receive and process information through vision, hearing, or other assisted means. Work is performed in a typical office setting with frequent collaboration across departments and occasional evening meetings. Duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Join Our Team!

Join Colorado Springs School District 11 as a Director (Transportation) and help lead the systems that power student and staff success. Your leadership, problem-solving, and collaborative approach will strengthen operations, foster innovation, and help every member of the D11 community thrive.

Employees in this category will also receive the following for the 2025-2026 school year:

• Non-Recurring Pay: 8% of base salary in Non-Recurring Pay (distributed as 4% on November paycheck and 4% on May paycheck).
• Professional Development Fund (PDF): __EXEC Pro employees will be allocated $1,500 annually towards a Professional Development Fund (PDF) to be used for professional growth opportunities. Amount allocated will be prorated based upon date and length of hire.

Base Salary Setting: Employment, assignment and salary placement, is in accordance with job description requirements. A work history is required to demonstrate job title, job duties and time worked in the position. Reference the linked How Your Compensation Is Determined for more details.

Salary Setting (New Hires): Newly-employed Executive Professionals will be placed on the twenty (20) step system. Each step represents two years of experience, based upon equivalent experience. Beginning in July 2025, The maximum number of years of experience granted is 14, which is equivalent to placement on step seven (7). Steps are determined by experience listed on the application and resume.

Salary Setting (Rehires): Returning employees who have previously resigned or separated from the District will be rehired at the same step they were on at the time of resignation/separation plus any new experience gained in the same job, provided step increases were approved by the Board during the years in question.

Employees with experience in the District who have left the District and then returned to the same position shall be hired at the same pay grade (refers to the __EXEC Pro placement on salary schedule by job title) and step at time of resignation. Additional relevant experience gained after resignation may be evaluated from the employee’s application and updated resume.

See Employee Handbook (located on the D11 website) for information on salary setting for rehires (after retirement), promotions and lateral transfers.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY