What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Garage Operations position at The School District of Lee County?
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Automotive/Diesel Technology, Transportation Management, Business Administration, Mechanical Technology, or a closely related field.
- Six years of progressively responsible experience in school bus, heavy-duty vehicle, or fleet maintenance, including leadership in transportation.
- Valid Florida commercial Class B (CDL) driver’s license with School Bus (S), Passenger Vehicle (P), Tank Vehicle (N), Hazardous Materials (H) and Air Brake endorsements.
- Valid Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification in School Bus S-series, Automobile and Light Truck A-series, and Advanced Level Specialist Certification in L-series.
- Any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications may be considered.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience managing transportation garage operations in a public school district or comparable organization.
- Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Certification in Medium/Heavy Truck (T Series).
- Knowledge of alternative-fuel and electric vehicle technologies.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Knowledge of fleet maintenance, preventive maintenance programs, and safety regulations.
- Knowledge of pertinent regulations, policies, and procedures for the transportation department
- Knowledge of HIPAA, Public Records, Sunshine Law, FERPA, and other laws/regulations related to student and employee privacy, public information, and records retention.
- Knowledge of best practices in school bus and heavy-duty vehicle repair, inspection, and preventive maintenance.
- Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Skill in planning, scheduling, and evaluation the efficiency and effectiveness of garage operations.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines.
- Ability to work with and lead diverse groups of people and manage projects and activities to successful completion.
Revised: 05/12/2026
Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Typical duties include but are not limited to:
- Plan, direct, and oversee daily garage operations, including repair, inspection, and preventive maintenance of school buses and support vehicles.
- Supervise and evaluate garage supervisors, lead mechanics, and maintenance staff.
- Develop, implement, and monitor preventive maintenance programs in compliance with Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
- Recruit, train, and develop staff through professional development and performance evaluations.
- Oversee required safety inspections and maintain compliance documentation and reports.
- Plan, schedule daily work, organize, adjust workloads of staff, and prioritize repairs to assure efficient operations of the garage and availability of buses.
- Assist in developing and managing the garage operations budget; approve purchases and monitor expenditures for tools, parts, and equipment.
- Analyze maintenance data to identify trends, control costs, and recommend operational improvements.
- Collaborate with district administrators, vendors, and external agencies regarding fleet and compliance issues.
- Monitor the use of fleet management systems, work orders, and diagnostic tools to improve efficiency and accountability.
- Develop long-term fleet replacement and acquisition schedules in coordination with the Director of Transportation.
- Provide technical assistance in diagnosing and resolving complex mechanical and electrical issues.
- Ensure safe work practices, regulatory compliance, and staff adherence to workplace safety standards.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Revised: 05/12/2026
Additional Job Information
U12, $62,301.60, 255 days
Compensation may increase based upon relevant education and experience.
Salary : $62,302