Operations manager school

This position is an anticipated vacancy. It is expected to be vacant by 10/03/2025. However, the current incumbent has a right to rescind their retirement, leave, or resignation up until the day of the expected vacancy date. Your hire will not be confirmed until the position is vacated.

“Climate justice is racial and economic justice. And this moment requires an urgent, all hands on

deck approach from every level of government to reduce emissions and boost the health,

safety, and opportunity of our communities. Not only are we working to electrify our school

buses and municipal fleet for cleaner air throughout our neighborhoods, but these workforce

development pipelines connected to electric vehicles will help support career pathways into the

green economy.”

• Mayor Michelle Wu
  
  

The City of Boston seeks to hire a School Fleet Electrification manager to lead school bus electrification efforts in the City. As part of implementing our climate and public health goals, Boston Public Schools (BPS) has set a goal of fully electrifying its school bus fleet by 2030. An initial pilot was rolled out during the 2022/2023 school year, and since that time all new bus purchases have been electric. Transitioning the BPS fleet to electric school buses will play a critical role in the City’s effort to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions affecting our climate and community, and build a more equitable, sustainable, and green future for our City. The School Fleet Electrification Manager will be responsible for delivering this high priority initiative for the Mayor, BPS, and the entire City government. The full electrification of the City’s school buses will be closely tied to our broader efforts to electrify the full City fleet and to advance a Green New Deal for BPS. The School Fleet Electrification Manager will report to the Assistant Director of Contract Operations and Fleet in the Boston Public Schools Department of Transportation (BPS-DOT), and work in partnership with the City of Boston Environment Department, the Mayor’s Office of Policy, and other key partners to implement the BPS fleet electrification strategy and our electric school bus initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure that the day-to-day, on-the-ground work of Boston Public School bus electrification moves forward expeditiously to meet the City goals of full fleet electrification by 2030.
• Creates and manages program budgets, in collaboration with City and BPS Finance departments, and pursues external grants and state and federal funding opportunities.
• Lead equitable procurement processes and manage contracts for electric school buses, electric vehicle supply equipment, and technical assistance.
• Lead coordination with Eversource, vendors and operations to deploy electrical infrastructure and deployment of buses and charging equipment in parking lots and garages.
• Serve as the main point of contact responsible for ensuring vendor coordination and successful, efficient implementation of vendor work.
• Monitors projects with an organized and transparent methodology that enables all stakeholders to understand progress and places in which the work is stalled.
• Ensure that project stakeholders are fully informed of all relevant information to support the forward momentum of the project.
• Coordinate with operational and maintenance staff to develop and implement maintenance programs for maximum efficiency, innovative charging strategies to optimize infrastructure investments.
• Lead market research for electric school buses and electric vehicle (EV) supply equipment.
• Stay current with EV technology, including vehicle-to-grid and other innovative energy infrastructure technologies.
• Work with internal and external partners to coordinate and mainstream fleet electrification and develop a long-term sustainable operations framework.
• Centers equity and justice in their work, and that all decisions are made with awareness and rigorous consideration of relevant community-centered frameworks.
• Performs related work as required.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Commitment: Personal commitment to a Green New Deal for Boston that involves transforming the Boston Public School bus system toward full fleet electrification and advancing social justice and equity in the City of Boston to improve the lives of all residents.
• Years of experience: At least (5) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience in environmental science or policy, transportation planning, electrical or mechanical engineering, business or a related field. A bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred, and may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.
• Complex project management: Track record of success in fast-paced, high profile working environments to successfully leading, project managing, and implementing complex, strategic projects for organizations. Preference for candidates with previous experience overseeing major construction or infrastructure projects.
• Technical background: Strong preference for candidates with previous experience with EV technology and infrastructure, fleet electrification, charging infrastructure planning and deployment, mechanical or electrical engineering, and vendor relationship management. Additional preference for candidates with previous experience with long-term strategic planning for fleet electrification strategy and/or energy infrastructure, grant writing, public procurement and contract management. Demonstrated excellence in quantitative and qualitative analytical thinking.
• Licensed driver: Position requires traveling during the work day to work sites throughout Boston.
• Stakeholder engagement: Demonstrated experience and success leading cross-functional teams of multiple stakeholder groups to work together to tackle complicated problems and align on creative, effective solutions.
• Communication skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences with different communication styles, including executive leadership across the City to enable decision making.
• Organizational skills: Excellent organizational and prioritization skills and ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Good judgment: Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.
  
  

Terms: D61

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record, physical or mental disability, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics, natural or protective hairstyle, military status, immigration status, English language proficiency, or any other factor prohibited by law in its programs and activities. BPS does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to work or learn. If you require an accommodation pursuant to the ADA for the application process, please contact the Accommodations Unit at [email protected].