Lead Mechanic

Deadline: September 30, 2026
District/Organization: Berrien Springs Public Schools
Position/Type: Other, full time
Salary: $28.00 – $32.00 per hour based on experience

At Berrien Springs Public Schools, everything we do begins with our students. Our Transportation team plays an essential role in making sure students arrive at school and return home safely, reliably, and ready to learn.

We are seeking an experienced, dependable, and hands‑on Lead Transportation Mechanic who takes pride in doing things the right way and understands that a safe, well‑maintained fleet is essential to serving our students, families, and schools.

This is more than a mechanic position. The Lead Mechanic will provide day‑to‑day leadership within the maintenance operation while working alongside other Transportation staff to inspect, diagnose, repair, and maintain the District’s fleet.

Berrien Springs Public Schools serves students and families throughout our community and beyond. We believe strong operations are built through accuracy, integrity, initiative, and accountability
, with student safety at the center of every decision.

Our Transportation Department supports the District through the safe and reliable operation of school buses, vans, and other District vehicles.

The Lead Transportation Mechanic is a hands‑on working mechanic responsible for helping ensure the District’s entire vehicle fleet is safe, dependable, compliant, and ready for service each day.

This position requires someone with broad automotive and fleet experience who is equally comfortable diagnosing and repairing a passenger vehicle as they are working on a school bus. Our diverse fleet includes gasoline, diesel, and propane‑powered vehicles, ranging from cars, SUVs, and vans to school buses and other District vehicles.

In addition to performing maintenance and repairs, the Lead Mechanic provides day‑to‑day coordination and leadership within the maintenance area. The position helps establish work priorities, maintain preventive maintenance schedules, prepare vehicles for required inspections, maintain accurate service records, coordinate parts and inventory, and identify fleet or maintenance concerns before they become operational problems.

As our Lead Transportation Mechanic, you’ll be a hands‑on mechanic and a leader in the shop. Your responsibilities will include:

• Maintain and repair our entire fleet — diagnose, service, and repair school buses, cars, SUVs, vans, trucks, and other District vehicles, including gasoline-, diesel-, and propane-powered vehicles.
• Troubleshoot the tough problems — diagnose mechanical, electrical, brake, steering, suspension, HVAC, drivability, and other vehicle issues using appropriate diagnostic equipment.
• Keep our fleet safe and ready — manage preventive maintenance needs, identify developing problems, and help minimize breakdowns and interruptions to Transportation operations.
• Lead the day‑to‑day work of the shop — help establish priorities, coordinate maintenance and repairs, provide technical guidance, and promote accountability and follow‑through.
• Own inspection readiness — ensure our school buses are prepared for required inspections and that identified deficiencies are corrected promptly.
• Road‑test what we repair — operate and road‑test school buses and other District vehicles following maintenance and repairs to verify safe and proper operation.
• Keep us organized — maintain accurate service and inspection records and help manage parts, supplies, tools, and maintenance inventory.
• Know when we need outside help — assist with coordinating vendors and outside repairs when specialized work or additional resources are needed.
• Help us plan ahead —…