Operations Manager - Bus Service Center Operations - 60025688

The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to serve students, support teachers, empower parents, and engage the community so that every student graduates prepared to reach their full potential. At the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), transportation plays a critical role in student access, safety, and opportunity across the state. Our work ensures that students arrive at school safely, reliably, and ready to learn, every day. SCDE Transportation helps districts statewide deliver safe, reliable, compliant service through operations, maintenance, safety, training, fleet management, and leadership. As a state agency, SCDE offers career pathways, professional development, and long-term stability, plus experience with modern systems, statewide operations, and data-driven decision-making. Job Purpose The South Carolina Department of Education is seeking an accomplished, people-centered Operations Manager with the vision, judgment, and initiative to lead county-level school bus service center operations. This highly visible leadership role translates statewide student transportation priorities into clear direction, measurable expectations, and dependable local results while empowering staff to deliver safe, reliable, and responsive service. The Operations Manager serves as the accountable leader for assigned service centers, setting priorities, developing supervisors and staff, aligning resources, and building a culture of safety, performance, teamwork, and continuous improvement. The position exercises leadership over fleet readiness, personnel effectiveness, facilities integrity, regulatory compliance, routing accuracy, and consistent service delivery. Working closely with school districts, service center leadership, and regional management, the Operations Manager builds trust, resolves complex operational challenges, and holds teams accountable for results. Success requires a leader who communicates with clarity, makes sound decisions, coaches others, and advances South Carolina’s statewide student transportation mission through consistent standards and exceptional service. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Ensure fleet readiness Oversee preventive maintenance and repair performance to keep fleet assets service-ready, minimize downtime, and ensure complete and accurate maintenance documentation.

• Monitor preventive maintenance schedules and repair quality

• Reduce out-of-service vehicle counts and ensure timely return to service

• Verify accuracy and completeness of service work orders and maintenance documentation

Maintain facility integrity Maintain safe, compliant service facilities and equipment through inspections and consistent shop/workplace cleanliness and readiness standards.

• Conduct facility and fleet inspections to ensure compliance with standards

• Maintain clean, safe, and compliant shop and work environments

Lead and develop a high-performing workforce Provide visible, accountable leadership that attracts, develops, and retains a high-performing workforce. Set clear expectations, coach supervisors and employees, recognize strong performance, address concerns promptly and fairly, support certifications and succession planning, and foster a culture of safety, teamwork, engagement, and continuous improvement.

• Lead workforce recruitment by developing talent pipelines, participating in outreach, interviewing candidates, and ensuring effective onboarding for transportation and maintenance staff

• Strengthen retention and engagement through clear expectations, regular communication, recognition, coaching, career-development support, and timely resolution of workplace concerns

• Coordinate CDL training, certifications, mentoring, cross-training, and professional development to build workforce capability and internal leadership pipelines

• Lead teams with consistency and accountability by setting priorities, delegating responsibilities, monitoring performance, resolving employee-relations matters, and addressing performance concerns promptly and fairly

Enforce safety compliance Reduce risk and ensure regulatory adherence by investigating incidents, maintaining required documentation, enforcing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)/environmental standards, and ensuring personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety procedures are followed.

• Conduct accident investigations and ensure required documentation is completed

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and safety regulations

• Enforce PPE and safety procedures across facilities

• Maintain clean, safe, and compliant shop and work environments

Optimize routing accuracy Use transportation systems, data and key performance indicators (KPI’s) to verify route accuracy, audit route operations, monitor telematics, and identify trends that improve efficiency and reliability.

• Review application operating data, vehicle inventories, and service records

• Verify routing accuracy using Student Transportation/Traversa systems

• Audit route runs, trips, address hazardous stops, and monitor Geotab telematics data

• Analyze trends to improve efficiency and service reliability

Deliver consistent service Serve as the primary district-facing coordinator to address service expectations and operational issues while managing purchasing/assets, reporting/audit readiness, fuel compliance, and regional directives.

• Serve as a liaison with school districts regarding routing issues, policy interpretation, safety concerns, and service expectations

• Support driver in-service training, annual start-up operations, and seasonal transportation needs

• Collaborate with district personnel to resolve operational challenges

• Approve parts and supply purchases and ensure compliance with contracts

• Reconcile procurement card activity and support inventory audits

• Manage fixed assets and support lifecycle tracking

• Maintain permits, accident documentation, hazard repair records, invoicing, and reports in audit-ready condition

• Prepare and submit required monthly and quarterly operational reports

• Oversee fuel infrastructure readiness and inspections

• Ensure adherence to all applicable requirements governing fuel storage and disposal, as well as decommissioned tire management processes

• Carry out directives from the Regional Manager

• Perform other duties supporting statewide transportation services and agency priorities

This position is located in the Office of Transportation/Beaufort Bus Service Center.A bachelor's degree and relevant program experience.

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in transportation programs, operations, fleet management, maintenance, logistics, or a related field. Relevant education, including a bachelor’s degree, may be considered as part of the applicant’s overall qualifications but is not required.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with Passenger and Air Brake endorsements within 120 days of employment

• Ability to obtain required certifications including OSHA-30, CPR/First Aid, Reasonable Suspicion, A/B Operator, School Bus Inspection, and Forklift certifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and agency information systems

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, communicate effectively, and maintain accurate documentation

• Ability to work safely in office, shop, and outdoor environments while meeting all safety requirements

• Ability to pass required drug screenings, background checks, and USDOT medical examination

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of pupil transportation operations and fleet management, with the judgment to align daily decisions with safety, service, and statewide priorities

• Proven ability to lead multi-site operations, set clear expectations, develop staff, delegate effectively, and foster an inclusive, accountable team culture

• Experience integrating maintenance, routing, safety, and compliance systems to coordinate operations and resolve complex service issues

• Ability to use operational data and KPI’s to identify trends, establish priorities, measure performance, and lead continuous improvement

• Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-management skills, including the ability to collaborate with employees, school districts, and agency leadership

• Models’ integrity, sound judgment, safety leadership, accountability, and a strong commitment to responsive public service

Working Conditions Work is performed in office, vehicle-maintenance shop, and outdoor environments with exposure to noise, weather, moving vehicles and equipment, chemicals, fuels, batteries, welding and cutting activities, elevated vehicles, and other operational hazards. Employees must comply with applicable OSHA general-industry requirements and agency procedures, including hazard communication and Safety Data Sheets, personal protective equipment, respiratory and hearing protection, lockout/tagout and control of hazardous energy, machine guarding, electrical safety, fire prevention and extinguisher use, safe lifting and walking-working surfaces, forklift and shop-equipment operation, and emergency response and first aid. Compliance is also required for environmental and transportation-related controls, including spill prevention and response; proper storage, labeling, handling, and disposal of fuel, used oil, tires, batteries, antifreeze, solvents, and other regulated wastes; and applicable CDL, USDOT medical, drug-and-alcohol testing, and accident-reporting requirements. Career Growth at SCDE Transportation SCDE Transportation values practical experience, operational knowledge, and leadership readiness. Technical expertise is a strong foundation for effective supervision, and internal advancement is supported through training, mentorship, and clear role progression. SCDE Transportation promotes long-term career growth by helping employees build hands-on experience, expand skills, and pursue advancement in a stable, mission-driven statewide organization. Benefits As part of a comprehensive state compensation package, the South Carolina Department of Education offers:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance options for employees and eligible dependents

• Fifteen (15) days annual (vacation) leave per year

• Fifteen (15) days sick leave per year

• Thirteen (13) paid holidays

• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation (401k) programs

• Professional development and leadership training opportunities

• Geo-Based Location Pay incentive

ONLY THOSE APPLICANTS CHOSEN FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE NOTIFIED BY LETTER THAT THE POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED. http://www.ed.sc.gov/jobs/human-resources/title-ix-nondiscrimination/