What are the responsibilities and job description for the Specialist III, Transportation Compliance position at Cleveland Metropolitan School District?
Position Type:
Administration and Professionals
Date Posted:
2025-11-18
Location:Ridge Road Depot
INTRODUCTION: CONTEXT AND MISSION
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) serves approximately 37,000 students in 100 schools. Over the past several years, the Greater Cleveland community has united behind the collective goal of ensuring every child in Cleveland attends a high-quality school and every neighborhood has a multitude of great schools from which families can choose. The Cleveland Plan defines CMSD’s approach to the reinvention of public education and holds our community accountable for the success of Cleveland’s schoolchildren. The Cleveland Plan is supported by Ohio House Bill 525, which provides much-needed flexibility and autonomy for the district and its schools. Our schools have autonomy over human and financial resources in exchange for accountability for
performance. The principal has primary responsibility and accountability for establishing his or her school as a high-quality, high-expectations academic center with a focus on personalized instruction, professional support for teachers, and school-wide practices that lead to measurable results.
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has developed standards of excellence that the district applies to all parts of the organization inclusive of schools, principals, school leadership teams, networks, and central office. Alignment between Standards of Excellence (SoE) and the district’s Theory of Action helps ensure that principals are able to focus on scholar achievement and that central office supports are timely and effective.
Our Vision for Learning in a Post-Pandemic World:
In our pursuit of a more fair, just, and good system of education, we want each of our learners, both each of our scholars and each of their educators, to be individually and collectively presented with academically / intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their productive struggle and allow them authentic opportunities to demonstrate their work and their learning of academic content and transferable skills in a joyful and adventurous environment.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Specialist III – Transportation Compliance position supports the Transportation Department by ensuring all transportation operations meet state, federal and district compliance requirements. This role maintains oversight of compliance documentation for cab and van vendors, contracted bus companies, and district school bus drivers. The position requires frequent communication with internal staff, vendors, and the public – answering and managing phone calls is a key responsibility. This role will also be responsible for processing department invoices, managing purchasing of supplies, and maintaining accurate digital and physical records.
Location: Administration or As Assigned
Reports to: Manager, Routing and Planning
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 38.75
Compensation: $44,523.14 - $77,065.58
Union: SEIU 1199
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
THIS ROLE WILL:
- Ensure compliance with state and federal transportation requirements, including maintaining required driver and vendor documentation
- Track and review driver credentials, licensure, and required compliance renewals for cab and van services, contracted bus companies, and district-employed bus drivers
- Submit and oversee required reports and documentation using state and federal transportation systems and secure online portals
- Oversee the federal FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse account, including running queries, reviewing and documenting results, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring compliance with federal testing regulations
- Maintain compliance in the OH|ID ODEW School Finance Payment System (SFPS), including monitoring driver and vendor compliance status, updating records, reviewing alerts or discrepancies, and submitting documentation as required by the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce
- Schedule and track driver compliance appointments, including annual and return to duty physicals, randoms, and background checks; monitor and record physical results and ensure timely updates to employee files and compliance systems
- Maintain and update compliance spreadsheets, logs, and digital files
- Assist with auditing transportation records, safety files, and vendor contracts
- Coordinate driver credentials and certification updates
- Prepare reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and updates for department leadership
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive personnel and vendor information, and comply with district policy and data security requirements
- Conduct virtual and in-person vendor compliance training, as needed
- Process department invoices, verify billing accuracy, and submit through district systems for payment; follow up with vendors or district departments as needed
- Manage purchasing and ordering of department supplies
- Answer and respond to high-volume incoming phone calls, providing professional customer service to families, vendors, schools, and staff
- Perform other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
- High school diploma or equivalent (associate/bachelor’s degree preferred)
- Minimum 2-3 years of administrative support, compliance, accounting/financial processing, or transportation-related experience
- Strong communication and customer service skills, including high-volume call handling
- Demonstrated ability to manage detailed documentation and maintain accurate records
- Ability to independently prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Ability to use state and federal websites, online compliance systems, and secure portal logins
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in K-12 education or public-sector transportation
- Workday and Smartsheet experience
- Knowledge of Ohio Pupil Transportation rules and regulations
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Highly organized and detail-focused
- Professional demeanor with strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Excellent customer service and phone etiquette
- Ability to handle sensitive information confidentially
- Compliance and record-keeping accuracy
- Self-directed with strong problem-solving skills
- Adaptable and able to support team needs as they arise
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The characteristics listed below are representative of the work environment typically encountered by an individual while performing the essential duties of this position.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
- Expected moving, walking and standing consistent with an office environment and occasionally lifting up to 15 pounds
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms
- The employee is frequently required to talk and/or hear
- Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal office environment
- Some travel may be required for training/meetings
NOTE: The above stated duties are intended to outline those functions typically performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This description of duties is not intended to be all- inclusive or to limit the discretionary authority of management to assign other tasks of similar nature or level of responsibility.
Education
To Apply
Please submit your resume and application using Workday, our online human capital management system. Please note that an offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of an FBI/BCI background check and drug screen.
EEO Statement
We believe that equity and inclusion at CMSD is an essential call to action, a catalyst to ensure value and appreciation among all our employees, so we may be fair and welcoming now and in the future. CMSD provides equal opportunities for employment, retention and advancement of all personnel by administering all terms and conditions of employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex, disability or genetic information, age, citizenship status, military status, sexual orientation or expression, socio-economic status, title, other dimensions of identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The District’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, and Sexual Harassment and the District’s Title IX grievance procedures, including information on how to report or file a complaint of discrimination, how to report or file a formal complaint of sexual harassment, and how the District will respond, may be accessed on the District’s Civil Rights Notices webpage, available at ClevelandMetroSchools.org/domain/105. The District’s Title IX Coordinator / Director of Equal Employment Opportunity may be reached at:
1111 Superior Avenue East, Suite 1800
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(216)-838-0070
TitleIX_EEO@ClevelandMetroSchools.org
Salary : $44,523 - $77,066