Director 1, Transportation Routing

JOB SUMMARY

The Transportation Routing Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the district’s student transportation routing systems. This position is responsible for the design, optimization, and continuous improvement of all general education and special program routes to ensure safe, efficient, equitable, and cost-effective transportation services districtwide. In alignment with HISD’s commitment to operational excellence and student access, the Routing Director oversees routing software systems, bell time alignment, capacity planning, boundary adjustments, and service modeling to maximize fleet utilization and on-time performance. This role collaborates closely with Terminal Leadership, Fleet Management, Special Education, and District Administration to ensure routing strategies support instructional priorities, compliance requirements, and budget stewardship. The Transportation Routing Director leads a team of routing analysts and coordinators, establishes performance standards, monitors key operational metrics, and drives data-informed decision-making to enhance service reliability and customer satisfaction while maintaining regulatory compliance and fiscal responsibility.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1.        Provide districtwide strategic oversight of student transportation routing operations, ensuring safe, equitable, and efficient service delivery across all campuses and programs.
2.        Lead the design, development, and optimization of all bus routes, including general education, special education, magnet, and specialty program transportation.
3.        Oversee routing software systems and data integrity, ensuring accurate student eligibility, stop placement, boundary alignment, and route modeling.
4.        Align routing structures with district bell schedules, attendance boundaries, and enrollment projections to maximize fleet utilization and minimize operational costs.
5.        Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time performance, ride time, route efficiency, capacity utilization, and cost per route; implement corrective action plans as needed.
6.        Collabor

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUED

7.        Direct routing adjustments during school openings, closures, rezoning initiatives, and emergency operational changes, ensuring minimal disruption to students and families.
8.        Establish and enforce routing compliance standards, including adherence to state mileage regulations, student ride time limits, safety protocols, and special program accommodations.
9.        Serve as the primary district-level liaison for routing-related inquiries and escalations, providing clear communication to campus leaders, executive leadership, and community stakeholders.
10.        Identify and implement improvements for route efficiency, fleet optimization, and overall service enhancements.
11.        Lead and supervise routing coordinators and analysts, including performance evaluation, professional development, and continuous improvement planning.
12.        Implement process improvement initiatives to enhance routing accuracy, reduce inefficiencies, and leverage technology solutions for operational advancement.
13.        Coordinate with Human Resources and Training Departments to support recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing development of routing personnel.
14.        Support budget development and cost-containment strategies by identifying route consolidation opportunities, bell schedule efficiencies, and fleet optimization initiatives.
15.        Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

•    Bachelor’s degree in Business, Logistics, Transportation Management or a related field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Minimum of ten years of recent and progressively responsible administrative and managerial experience in large fleet management, transportation, budgeting, engineering and maintenance.

*Applicants who do not meet these work experience qualifications may be considered if they have a unique
 combination of education and work experience that indicate potential for success in this role.

WORK EXPERIENCE

N/A

SKILL AND/OR REQUIRED LICENSING/CERTIFICATION

•    Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), strongly preferred.
•    Ability to manage, motivate, and develop a team of staff.
•    Quickly assess situations and make informed decisions to resolve issues effectively.
•    Develop and implement response plans for emergencies or unexpected disruptions.
•    Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
•    Maintain high safety standards and conduct regular training for staff.
•    Work with vendors as requested.
•    Track performance metrics and prepare reports for management
•    Ability to provide high level, complex analyses of operational trends and results.
•    Experience with projecting long-term cost trends and development of cost control measures.
•    Strong functional ability in SAP.
•    Extensive knowledge and experience using spreadsheets, pivot tables and relational database software to perform the analysis necessary to effectively cost and properly manage large fleet operations, and to perform cost trend analysis for vehicle maintenance and replacement cycles.
•    High level of strategic management and leadership skills.
•    Effective communications, technical writing, organizational, technical computer and accounting skills.
•    Strong knowledge of cost control and budgeting, and training program development.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

Directs two or more levels of management in the development, deployment and ongoing management of key initiatives covering multiple major disciplines with direct accountability for results in terms of effectiveness, costs, methods, and employees. Establishes operational objectives and assignments for multiple disciplines/functional areas and possibly departments. Evaluates recommendations of others, deciding course of action in ambiguous situations, and oversee the deployment of innovative solutions. Collaborates with senior leadership to develop strategies and broad departmental objectives; establishes methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for projects, programs, and people in the achievement of strategic objectives.

Directly supervises transportation staff as assigned. Full management responsibilities including all aspects of line responsibility.

WORK COMPLEXITY/INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT

Work is non-standardized and widely varied, involving many complex and significant 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

Advises on budget development for the department.

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 moderate impact to the facility/department or division, causing increased satisfaction or dissatisfaction; producing efficiencies or delays; promoting or inhibiting personal intellectual or professional development; and/or contributing to financial gain or expense. Errors may be serious, usually not subject to direct verification or check, causing losses such as improper cost calculations, overpayment or improper utilization of labor, materials, or equipment. Effects are usually confined to the organization itself and is short term.

COMMUNICATION/INTERACTIONS

Negotiate and influence - interpret department strategies and services, resolves conflicts, influences outcomes on matters of significance for the division, conduct final negotiations and coordinates approvals/decision making below the executive level. Interactions include schools, non-school departments, central office, senior, and executive 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.
•    Valid Texas driver’s license with applicable insurance coverage. 
•    Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment, including personal computer and peripherals. 
•    Posture: Prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting. 
•    Motion: Repetitive hand motions including frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching. 
•    Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds). 
•    Environment: Prolonged or irregular hours, including some weekends; frequent districtwide travel 
•    Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions, maintain emotional control under stress, fast-paced.