Idaho Department of Education This position is exempt from classified state service and the rules of the Division of Human Resources and the Idaho Personnel Commission.

Please note:

Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM MST on the posting end date. The Idaho Department of Education (Department) is dedicated to serving and providing common-sense leadership, support, and resources to educators across the state. The knowledge, skills, and experience of the Department's employees are among our most valued and important assets. Employment with the Department provides a rewarding career that positively affects the lives of children in Idaho. To learn more, please visit our website at http://www.sde.idaho.gov/ . The lead coordinator for student transportation provides day-to-day supervision, coordination, and operational support for the Idaho department of education's regional student transportation specialists. This position monitors workflows and deadlines, promotes the consistent application of inspection procedures and standards, and serves as the specialists' primary contact for routine questions, procedural guidance, and field-related problem-solving. The lead coordinator supports specialists as they independently evaluate vehicle condition, operational safety, maintenance practices, documentation, and regulatory compliance throughout their assigned regions. Working within established policies, procedures, and leadership direction, the lead coordinator exercises independent judgment to resolve routine inspection and operational matters. Significant compliance concerns, policy interpretations, exceptions, fiscal implications, and matters requiring higher-level authority are elevated through the appropriate student transportation leadership structure. The position will also conduct vehicle inspections, program reviews, training, and other field activities as needed to support statewide operations. This position will be based in Region IV. This posting will remain open until the position has been filled.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides day-to-day supervision, direction, coaching, and operational support to Regional Specialists. Serves as the primary point of contact for Regional Specialists while they are conducting fieldwork, assisting with routine technical, procedural, documentation, scheduling, and operational questions. Provides timely guidance to Regional Specialists encountering unusual vehicle conditions, inspection questions, documentation concerns, or operational challenges in the field. Conducts regular communication and check-ins with Regional Specialists to maintain awareness of field activities, emerging concerns, workload, and support needs. Coaches Regional Specialists regarding performance expectations, professional conduct, inspection consistency, documentation quality, time management, communication, and service delivery. Supports onboarding and field training of newly hired Regional Specialists. Identifies individual and team training needs and coordinates opportunities with the Director of Student Transportation to strengthen technical knowledge and inspection competency. Provides performance feedback and contributes to employee performance evaluation and development processes in accordance with Department procedures. Promotes teamwork, accountability, professionalism, communication, and a consistent statewide approach among Regional Specialists. Monitors inspection assignments, reinspections, corrective-action follow-up and documentation. Provides cross-regional assistance when necessary to meet statewide program needs. Coordinates responses when immediate or unexpected inspection, safety, or technical assistance needs arise. Helps ensure continuity of inspection services during employee leave, vacancies, unusually high workloads, or other operational disruptions. Promotes consistent application of Idaho school bus inspection standards, procedures, documentation requirements, and Department expectations across all geographic regions. Reviews inspection documentation, findings, reports, photographs, and supporting records as appropriate to promote completeness, accuracy, consistency, and defensibility. Provides guidance regarding the consistent identification, classification, and documentation of vehicle defects and compliance deficiencies. Assists inspectors in applying established procedures when determining whether identified conditions require repair, reinspection, removal from service, or other corrective action. Coordinates discussion of complex or unusual inspection findings among inspection staff to strengthen statewide consistency. Identifies recurring inspection questions or areas where inspectors may be applying requirements differently and works with the Director of Student Transportation to establish or clarify consistent expectations. Conducts field observations, joint inspections, or quality-assurance reviews as necessary to evaluate inspection consistency and provide coaching. Supports implementation of changes to inspection standards, procedures, forms, technology, and Department requirements. Maintains awareness of inspection trends and recurring vehicle, equipment, maintenance, or compliance concerns identified throughout the state. Serves as an internal technical resource to the Director of Student Transportation and Regional Specialists regarding school bus equipment, commercial vehicle systems, preventive maintenance, inspection practices, and established Department procedures. Assists Regional Specialists in researching technical questions involving vehicle components, specifications, equipment standards, emerging technologies, and manufacturer information. Facilitates communication among Regional Specialists so technical knowledge, recurring findings and field experience are shared across regions. Coordinates with the Director of Student Transportation when field questions require additional policy, regulatory, fiscal, or programmatic interpretation. Assists with complex inspections, reinspections, or technical assistance activities when additional field expertise or coordination is necessary. Maintains current knowledge of school bus systems, commercial vehicle technology, inspection practices, applicable standards, and emerging industry issues. Coordinates ongoing technical development for Regional Specialists. Provides or facilitates training related to inspection procedures, documentation, vehicle systems, equipment standards, Department processes, and field operations. Assists with development and maintenance of inspection manuals, procedures, checklists, technical resources, training materials, and other standardized field tools. Identifies recurring inspection findings and uses field information to recommend staff training or procedural clarification. Supports development and delivery of technical training for Idaho school bus technicians and other student transportation professionals. Encourages Regional Specialists to maintain required licenses, certifications, professional development, and Department-designated technical credentials. Serves as the primary operational communication link between Regional Specialists and Student Transportation management for routine field activities. Communicates established priorities, procedures, expectations, assignments, and deadlines for Regional Specialist staff. Provides the Director of Student Transportation with regular updates regarding inspection progress, workload, field concerns, staffing needs, recurring findings, and emerging statewide trends. Ensures significant or immediate student safety concerns are promptly elevated to the Director of Student Transportation. Coordinates communication when inspection findings require involvement from the Director of Student Transportation. Help ensure information and operational decisions are communicated consistently to all Regional Specialists. Promotes effective communication and collaboration between geographic regions to ensure the inspection team operates as a coordinated statewide unit rather than as independent regional programs. Reviews inspection workflow and recommends improvements to increase efficiency, consistency, accountability, and service delivery. Identifies opportunities to improve scheduling, documentation, field processes, staff communication, technology use, and allocation of inspection resources. Analyzes inspection workload, recurring deficiencies, field trends, and operational challenges and provides recommendations to Student Transportation leadership. Supports development of standardized procedures for new or changing school bus technology and inspection requirements. Help ensure statewide inspection operations remain responsive to changing program needs while maintaining consistent standards and expectations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Demonstrates advanced knowledge of Idaho student transportation operations and demonstrated advanced technical knowledge of school buses and commercial vehicles. Candidates must be able to perform complex diagnostics, troubleshoot multiple vehicle systems, identify mechanical and safety concerns, and provide technical guidance related to vehicle inspection, maintenance, and regulatory compliance. Candidates must also possess the knowledge and experience necessary to obtain applicable ASE certifications and perform commercial vehicle inspection, maintenance, and compliance. Ability to maintain professionalism, impartiality, confidentiality, accountability, and sound judgment when addressing personnel and compliance matters. Strong written and verbal communication, organizational, leadership, conflict- resolution, and problem-solving skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

( with or without reasonable accommodation ) The physical demands of the Lead Coordinator position reflect its combination of hands-on vehicle inspection responsibilities and administrative duties. Work is regularly performed in maintenance facilities, school bus yards, dealerships, parking areas, and outdoor environments throughout Idaho. The incumbent must be capable of safely accessing all areas of a school bus or passenger vehicle necessary to conduct a thorough inspection, including beneath the vehicle, inside the passenger compartment, within mechanical compartments, and at elevated exterior areas. The position requires the physical mobility and endurance necessary to perform multiple comprehensive vehicle inspections during a workday while maintaining accuracy, safety, and consistency. The incumbent frequently stands, walks, bends, stoops, kneels, crouches, squats, reaches, and crawls while inspecting chassis components, suspension and steering systems, brakes, exhaust systems, driveline components, structural members, fluid leaks, and other underbody equipment. Approximately 50% of the position may also be spent sitting at a desk or workstation for periods of up to four hours at a time while completing reports, coordinating field operations, reviewing documentation, and performing other administrative responsibilities.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

Frequent travel is an essential function of the Lead Coordinator position. The incumbent is responsible for providing hands-on inspection, compliance, and technical support to student transportation programs throughout an assigned geographic region and, when necessary, other areas of the State of Idaho. During the school year, the incumbent should anticipate regional travel at least once per week, with additional travel required based on inspection schedules, compliance concerns, investigations, technical assistance needs, or other Department priorities. During the summer months, travel significantly decreases and may only be required multiple times per month to accommodate new school bus inspections, annual training, and preparation for the upcoming school year. Travel frequency and duration will vary depending on geographic assignment, workload, school district needs, inspection schedules, weather conditions, and situations requiring immediate Department response. Some assignments may require overnight travel or multiple consecutive days of travel. The incumbent may occasionally be required to travel outside the assigned region to assist Regional Specialists, conduct special inspections, participate in statewide initiatives, or meet other Department needs.

BENEFITS

The State of Idaho offers a robust total compensation package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance; PERSI retirement benefits; paid sick, vacation, and parental leave; and 11 paid holidays per year. For additional information related to benefits and/or State programs, please visit https://dhr.idaho.gov/StateEmployees/Benefits.html.

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ADDITIONAL BENEFITS INCLUDE

Vesting in the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI): All employees of the Idaho Department of Education are non-classified. They are appointed by the elected official and serve at the pleasure of the elected official. As such, employees working at a non-classified agency are considered vested in the PERSI retirement system after five (5) consecutive months of service, versus five (5) years of service at a classified agency.

Tuition Fee Waiver:

All Idaho Department of Education employees in permanent full-time positions may register for instructional courses during any academic period, at any participating state funded institutions of higher education, for a $20.00 nonrefundable registration fee per semester and $5.00 per credit hour charge.

TO APPLY

To apply for this position, please submit 1.) a customized cover letter, 2.) a resume, and 3) a list of three professional references. Please upload your resume, cover letter, reference list, and any additional supporting documents in the Supporting Documents section of the application. Your cover letter should specifically address how your education, training and work experience meet the responsibilities, qualifications, and required skills of the position. A writing sample, such as a cover letter, provides an opportunity to evaluate your writing skills as well as your ability to demonstrate you meet the qualifications of the position. Your resume must clearly support the information provided in your cover letter. A resume does not substitute for a cover letter. Applications that do not include a cover letter will not be accepted.

EEO/ADA/VETERAN

The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (

TTY/TTD:

711), or email ada.coordinator@dhr.idaho.gov. Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.