Description

Role Mission: The Transportation Finance and Procurement Manager will be responsible for all the financial and procurement aspects associated to the Transportation department. In this capacity, the Finance and Procurement Manager will manage a variety of tasks including but not limited to: budgeting/forecasting, financial modeling, strategic planning, accounts payable, vendor procurement (RFP and RFQ), decision support, and various other special projects associated to the Transportation, Warehousing, White Fleet and Black Fleet operations.

Specifically, the Finance and Procurement Manager is responsible for ensuring the department’s financial sustainability of the different entities that coexist within the Transportation Department (School Bus, White, Black and Warehouse fleets). Additionally, the Finance and Procurement Manager will be responsible for the effective management and implementation of all the special events associated to the department (SLI, College Signing Day, Back to School Bash, 5K, etc.).

Accountabilities

Achieves financial excellence in Transportation through direct management of 100% of campuses meet the campus Cost Per Rider or Cost Per Mile goal by June 30.

• Assists in creating, implementing, presenting and managing the Transportation budget of over $20 million and staffing model of over 400 employees
• Oversees the evaluation of contracts and vendor selection process to ensure federal, state and local compliance requirements are met
• Build upon BOY execution to develop tools (i.e. Quick Start guides, Playbooks, Checklists, etc.) to drive results in terms of successful finance and procurement replication of processes
• Provides strategic and tactical leadership in the areas of revenue and expense management, budget tracking, commodity entitlement allocation and depletion, and procurement procedures

100% of campuses meet or exceed Cost Per Rider and/or Cost Per Mile goal

• Coordinate with the Transportation Director of Operations or the Transportation Operations Manager to develop trainings on operational efficiencies and best practices for campus Transportation managers throughout the academic year
• Monitor the monthly Transportation Performance Tracker and identify opportunities to decrease expenses and increase reclassified revenue in collaboration with Transportation Managers, District Mechanics, and the APO.
• Conduct semi-annual campus audits to ensure alignment to state guidelines and compliance

8% reduction in transportation operating cost over prior year

• Negotiate with current vendors on an annual basis for best pricing that decreases district cost
• Identify potential vendors that can provide product or service as we expand to new regions
• Coordinate with the Maintenance team to remove or modify vendor contracts to decrease operating cost and increase vendor value propositions
• Partner with Regional Directors of Operations (RDO) and Assistant Principals of Operation (APO) to verify financial operational process are taking place at the campus through the use of the Observational Tool

85% retention of Transportation staff

• Participate in the developing and improvement of recruitment tools (screening exercises, interviewing protocol) to screen and hire Transportation applicants
• Assist in the improvement of the onboarding process for Transportation HQ and Campus Managers; participate in the customization of the experience as needed
• Review departmental job satisfaction survey results and develop strategies for continuous improvement
• Write departmental policies and procedures, with operational context, that align with IDEA’s Human Resources and DOT compliance

98% of requisitions are processed within 2 business days of service request

• Coordinate with Campus Transportation Managers to improve requisition entries from core vendors
• Cascade changes pertaining to the Business Office while ensuring the compliance of the Transportation Department
• Coordinate with the Transportation Director of Operations or the Transportation Operations Manager to develop and execute trainings with a focus on the effective usage and execution of Tyler Munis
• Develop strategy for adhering to compliance guidelines as we expand to out of state markets
• Ensure the proper reconciliation of the P-cards assigned to the department.

Live values of IDEA

• Believes and is committed to our mission: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
• Is driven by outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
• Embodies IDEA’s core values

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required
• Master of Business Administration or other related advanced degree preferred
• Experience: At least three years of experience in a finance and/or data analyst related field
• At least five years of progressive experience in employee hiring, screening and development
• At least five years of progressive experience in Transportation Operations (Planning, scheduling and dispatching)

Knowledge and Skills:

• 
  Excellent communication skills both oral and written (Spanish Bilingual Strongly Preferred)
• Develop records management processes and policies
• Identify areas to increase efficiency and automation of processes
• Create and maintain automated data processes
• Identify, evaluate and implement external services and tools to support data validation
• Produce and track key performance indicators
• Develop and support reporting processes
• Monitor and audit data quality
• Liaise with internal and external clients to fully understand data content
• Design and carry out surveys and analyses survey data
• Create data dashboards, graphs and visualizations
• Strong work ethic with personal drive for success exemplifying “whatever it takes” attitude
• Ability to work with schedules and deadlines as required, in a timely manner
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong financial analytical skills including cost control
• Excellent Microsoft Outlook, Project, Excel, Word and Power Point skills

Compensation:

• Salaries for this role typically fall between $66,626 and $80,618, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications. This role is also eligible for a performance bonus based on individual and organizational performance and goal attainment