Job Description

Job Location: The Northwest School - Seattle, WA 98122
Position Type: Full Time Administrative Faculty
Salary Range: $88,000.00 - $95,000.00 Salary/year
Job Category: TransportationThe Northwest School (the school) is an independent day and boarding school. We serve students in grades 6 to 12 on an urban campus in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. We provide an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that nurtures compassionate, globally aware and environmentally conscious individuals who find joy in learning and are ready to inspire and innovate in our interconnected world.
Northwest fosters a warm, inclusive community dedicated to our school values. We believe that a diverse community enriches our institution, making it more creative and dynamic. The Northwest School is committed to building a faculty and student bodythat reflects the diversity of the broader society. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.
Position Overview:
The Northwest School seeks a Transportation & Fleet Manager (Program Lead) to lead and evolve a comprehensive transportation program that supports student life, academic programming, athletics, and Summer Camp program initiatives.
This role is ideal for a transportation or fleet professional who is excited to own a full program, balancing day-to-day operational excellence with long-term planning, safety, compliance, and sustainability goals.
The Transportation & Fleet Manager oversees a fleet of 14 vehicles and leads a team of school bus drivers. While this role maintains visibility into daily operations, its primary focus is leadership, coordination, and program oversight—not routine driving.
This position reports to the Director of Finance & Operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Leadership & Strategy
•    Lead and continuously improve the School’s transportation program, aligning operations with student experience, safety, and sustainability goals
•    Anticipate evolving transportation needs (academic, athletics, residential, and summer programs) and develop scalable solutions
•    Partner with school leadership to support strategic initiatives, including environmental sustainability and operational efficiency
Team Leadership & Supervision
•    Supervise, support, and evaluate all school bus drivers (hourly staff)
•    Foster a high-performing, customer-service-oriented team culture
•    Oversee hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management
•    Identify coaching and retraining needs to maintain high safety and service standards
Operations & Scheduling
•    Oversee transportation scheduling to ensure reliable coverage across school programs
•    Communicate with faculty and Parents/Guardians on schedule, route updates, etc.
•    Coordinate with faculty, athletics, and program leaders on transportation needs
•    Arrange supplemental transportation (e.g., charter buses) only- as needed during peak periods
Fleet & Compliance Management
•    Manage a fleet of 14 vehicles (buses and vans), including:
o    Maintenance scheduling and documentation
o    DOT compliance and inspections
o    Vehicle acquisition planning and vendor coordination
o    Fueling, repairs, and lifecycle planning
•    Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local transportation regulations
Systems & Administration
•    Serve as the administrator for transportation-related systems (e.g., routing, fleet management, compliance platforms)
•    Oversee departmental budget and operating expenses
•    Manage transportation support for Summer Camp programming, including staffing and planning
Operational Support (Limited)
•  Provide occasional emergency driving coverage when necessary; this is not a primary function of the role

QualificationsMinimum

Qualifications:
•    Demonstrated commitment to the School’s mission, values, and inclusive community
•    Experience supervising staff and leading operations in a transportation, logistics, or fleet environment
•    Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
•    Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic school setting
•    Knowledge of (or ability to quickly learn) DOT and transportation safety regulations
•    Proficiency with standard office software and willingness to learn specialized systems
•    Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Class B or higher, with appropriate endorsements (or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire)
Preferred
•   Experience in school, municipal, or public-facing transportation environments
•   Fleet management experience
Note: Candidates without a CDL may be considered. The School will support obtaining required licensure within a defined onboarding period.
Additional Requirements
•    Ability to meet DOT physical and drug screening requirements
•    Safe driving record

Compensation:
The salary range is $88,000-$95,000, based on education and years of experience. The Northwest School offers an excellent benefits package which includes medical, dental, long-term disability, and life and accident insurance coverage, fully paid for employee only coverage. A retirement program matches up to 6% of an employee's salary after one year of service in a 403(b) plan. An intentional, mission focused school culture, generous time off, lunch, access to the on-site fitness facility, an exceptional commitment to professional development, and a unique urban location are also benefits of working at the Northwest School.
Application Process:
Please submit a cover letter and resume online: Employment
**Please note: we are unable to fully consider materials submitted through other avenues such as Indeed.com without a corresponding application through our website.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, or marital status.