Location: Hattie Mae White
Department: Chief of Organizational Effectiveness
Area: Northwest
Contract Months: 12
Salary Range: $200,000.00 – $235,000.00
Academic Year: 24-25
JOB SUMMARY
The Deputy Chief of Transportation and Fleet Management provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the district’s transportation services, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation for students across HISD. This role plays a critical part in HISD’s transformation efforts, ensuring that transportation services align with the district’s high-performance culture, operational excellence, and customer service standards. The Deputy Chief works closely with senior leadership, school administrators, and transportation teams to drive continuous improvement, optimize fleet operations, and implement innovative strategies that enhance student transportation services.
This position directly supports the Chief of Organizational Effectiveness by overseeing daily operations, fleet management, personnel coordination, safety compliance, and strategic planning. The Deputy Chief ensures that best practices, technology integration, and data-driven decision-making are central to transportation operations, ultimately contributing to student success and school performance.
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Leadership and Strategic Oversight:
• Provides strategic leadership and daily oversight of transportation operations to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient student transportation.
• Works closely with the Chief of Organizational Effectiveness to implement district-wide transportation policies, operational improvements, and service enhancements.
• Develops long-term strategic plans for fleet expansion, maintenance, and operational efficiencies, ensuring alignment with HISD’s high-performance culture.
2. Fleet and Operations Management:
• Oversees the deployment and management of the district’s fleet, ensuring timely maintenance and maximizing fleet efficiency to meet the needs of nearly 300 campuses.
• Implements data-driven decision-making to enhance routing, vehicle utilization, and cost efficiency.
• Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal transportation regulations while integrating innovative safety measures and technology.
3. Budget and Financial Oversight:
• Develops and monitors transportation budgets, cost projections, and efficiency initiatives, ensuring financial responsibility and operational sustainability.
• Identifies cost-saving opportunities while maintaining high-quality service delivery.
• Seeks external funding sources (e.g., grants, government programs, and partnerships) to support transportation initiatives.
4. Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management:
• Ensures adherence to all transportation safety regulations, conducting audits and assessments to minimize risks.
• Develops and oversees comprehensive safety programs, including driver training, incident response, and fleet maintenance compliance.
• Establishes and enforces standard operating procedures for accident prevention and emergency response.
5. Talent Management and Workforce Development:
• Directly manages transportation personnel, including drivers, fleet maintenance staff, and administrative support teams.
• Implements training and professional development programs to enhance staff performance, customer service, and safety protocols.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence within the transportation department.
6. Customer Service and Stakeholder Engagement:
• Collaborates with school administrators, families, and district leaders to ensure responsive and student-centered transportation services.
• Leads initiatives to improve communication, efficiency, and transparency in transportation operations.
• Establishes feedback mechanisms to assess service quality and drive continuous improvements based on stakeholder input.
7. Technology and Innovation Integration:
• Leads the implementation of new transportation technologies, such as GPS tracking, route optimization software, and automated scheduling tools.
• Evaluates emerging transportation innovations to improve efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
8. Policy Development and Compliance:
• Develops and enforces transportation policies, standard practice memorandums, and operational manuals in alignment with HISD regulations and best practices.
• Ensures that all transportation staff are well-informed of district policies, procedures, and safety requirements.
9. Continuous Improvement and Performance Management:
• Establishes key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitors transportation performance metrics to ensure continuous improvement.
• Analyzes transportation data to drive strategic decisions and operational efficiencies.
• Develops recommendations for system enhancements that improve overall transportation effectiveness and service reliability.
10. Performs other duties as assigned in support of HISD’s mission and strategic transportation initiatives.
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business, management, finance, or related field.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s Degree in business, management, finance, or related field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Significant supervisory project management experience (5+ years), preferably in a large, urban school district.
SKILL AND/OR REQUIRED LICENSING/CERTIFICATION
Expert knowledge of HISD and/or understanding of urban education and change management in complex systems.
Knowledge and appreciation of business concepts, strong business writing skills, and strong knowledge of spreadsheet and presentation software.
Strong problem-solving and project management skills, including strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to balance the big picture with detailed steps to reach an end goal.
A commitment to equity; demonstrates a sense of urgency regarding closing the achievement gap and driving equitable educational opportunities for all students. A successful record leading effective teams and individuals, managing organizational change, setting and achieving ambitious goals, and initiating key innovations.
Demonstrated ability to develop a vision and inspire others to achieve shared goals.
Comfort in leading difficult conversations, guided by the best interests of students and families.
Integrity and clarity in all communications and interactions.
Strong time management skills and the ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines.
Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills.
A flexible, optimistic approach; committed to overcoming challenges; comfortable with change and ambiguity.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to convey complex information to a variety of audiences (e.g., large groups, staff meetings, executive briefings, public board meetings, memos).
Strong analytical skills and a high degree of intellectual curiosity to distill analysis into insights and translate insights into action.
A performance management, accountability, and systems-thinking orientation necessary to inform data-driven strategy development and execution.
Ability to initiate and manage cohesive partnerships and professional relationships with stakeholders at all levels, along with the ability to build consensus on pathways for improving student outcomes and addressing complex issues. Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team committed to a new future for urban education.
Fluency in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic oversight for multiple departments and/or a major division or for the entire district. Provides strategic direction and develops long-range plans which impact multiple departments or divisions. Using in-depth knowledge of multiple disciplines, identifies and evaluates high-impact issues, and provides strategy and direction to a major functional area or multiple departments. Establishes programs and policies, and ensures integration of operational objectives across multiple, major departments, program areas and possibly district wide.
WORK COMPLEXITY/INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT
Variables including significant time spent planning, evaluating complex solutions and issues, and negotiating outcomes. Strong analytic ability and inductive thinking are frequently required to devise new approaches to situations where previously accepted solutions have proven inadequate. Position regularly makes recommendations to management on areas of significance to the division. Supervision received typically consists of providing periodic coaching, advice and feedback.
BUDGET AUTHORITY
Participates in a group plan and/or budget development.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Decisions are made with greater freedom and discretion, including recommendations that are subject to approval on matters that may affect multiple departments across HISD. Job is frequently expected to recommend new solutions to problems, to improve existing methods/procedures/services and generate new ideas. May also review decisions made by other individuals on more routine matters.
IMPACT OF DECISIONS
Decisions have considerable impact to multiple divisions or the district causing risks or improvements to relationships, significant efficiencies, or delays in operations, and/or significant financial gains or expenses. Errors are serious and difficult to discover, normally involve decisions not subject to detailed review and will result in excessive costs and/or significant project delays.
COMMUNICATION/INTERACTIONS
Negotiate and influence - interprets department strategies and services, resolves conflicts, influences outcomes on matters of significance for the division, conducts final negotiations and coordinates approvals/decision making below the executive level. Interactions are typically with customers and Top Management.
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Leads others in the resolution of highly sensitive and confidential issues on behalf of the department. Acts as a trusted advisor and becomes involved in the customer's decision-making process including presenting alternatives and information and applying persuasion and negotiation skills in the resolution of problems. Monitors customer service standards.
WORKING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements.
Ability to carry and/or lift less than 45 pounds.
Houston Independent School District is an equal opportunity employer.
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