Executive Director of Student Transportation

Executive Director of Student Transportation

The Providence Public School District (PPSD) serves approximately 22,000 students across 35 schools, including 19 elementary, 6 middle, 10 high schools and 2 charter schools. With more than 3,200 employees, PPSD strives to provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for all eligible students.

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

The Executive Director of Transportation is the district’s strategic leader charged with modernizing the transportation system. Responsibilities include vendor accountability, on‑time performance improvement, data transparency, and the transition from manual processes to a technology‑enabled routing and performance management system.

Key duties involve overseeing transportation operations and leading initiatives that improve efficiency, transparency and service quality for schools and families.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 7–10 years of leadership experience in transportation operations, logistics management, or operational systems management.
• Experience managing large operational systems and complex vendor contracts.
• Experience implementing transportation routing or technology‑enabled systems strongly preferred.
• Experience in student transportation or large‑scale public sector service operations preferred.

• Strong commitment to safe, reliable and equitable transportation services.
• Ability to lead operational improvement and system redesign in complex organizations.
• Strong analytical skills for developing data systems that support performance monitoring and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and enforcing service delivery standards.
• Effective leadership and people‑management skills for guiding teams through technical and adaptive change.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑engagement skills.
• Strong project‑management skills and ability to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Capacity to operate in fast‑paced environments with both immediate response and long‑term improvement demands.
• Availability outside business hours for operational issues or emergencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to urban public education and serving diverse communities.

• Develop and implement the strategic vision for student transportation services aligned with district priorities.
• Modernize routing and operational management through a technology‑enabled transportation management system.
• Assess existing structures and processes, implementing improvements that increase reliability and service quality.
• Identify opportunities for operational redesign and effective technology use.

• Lead management of contracted transportation services.
• Ensure vendors meet safety, reliability, staffing, and performance expectations.
• Implement vendor performance management systems, including weekly performance reviews, KPI monitoring and quarterly business reviews.
• Collaborate with vendors to resolve challenges and improve services.
• Recommend contract adjustments and service delivery enhancements.

• Digitize and modernize district routing processes.
• Oversee implementation and effective use of routing technology to enhance efficiency.
• Support development of routing strategies that improve on‑time performance and reduce inefficiencies.
• Work closely with routing staff and operations personnel to embed new systems into daily operations.

• Develop and deploy performance dashboards and reporting systems.
• Establish performance targets and accountability structures for continuous improvement.
• Provide regular reports to district leadership to inform decision‑making.
• Use data systems to proactively identify and resolve operational challenges.

• Supervise the Director of Transportation, who handles day‑to‑day operations.
• Provide leadership to ensure the department delivers on safety, service, and continuous improvement.
• Support the development of clear…