Program Manager

The Program Manager, Student Services is responsible for implementation and execution of key initiatives that positively impact student behavior, customer relationships, and transportation of students in general and special education, including, but not limited to, First Serves. This position will implement strategic safety and growth initiatives as well as manage ongoing quality improvement and location support through the development and deployment of program materials and enhancement plans. This high impact, critical position requires a strong, decisive, results-oriented innovative thinker who can develop, coach, and manage relationships.

Major Responsibilities

• Define expectations for locations that meet desired outcomes and provide ongoing support to locations to obtain those results.

• Exhibit a passion for supporting students with diverse needs, including students with disabilities.

• Demonstrate ability to influence others effectively and navigate ambiguity, while working independently and as part of a team

• Demonstrate excellent communication and consulting abilities cross-functionally, cross-culturally and cross-varyin levels

• Partners with all key stakeholders, internal and external, on continuous program and initiative improvements.

• Manage program activities, content, and execution, to include managing action items, identifying risks, and implementing abatement plans for those risks

• Manage, coordinate, and execute training, ensure all presentation material, required technology, and presenters are prepared to maximize the quality of the training experience

• Manage, coordinate, and execute customer presentations in conjunction with location and growth teams.

• Collaborate with internal teams to develop, execute, and maintain metrics on usage, efficacy and impact of programs and initiatives.

• Creates, maintains, and shares reports and metrics to Sr. Leadership demonstrating both impact and opportunities.

• Manage relationships with subject matter experts and organizations contracted to support and/ or develop the programs.

• Mentor others in the use of program tools and best practices.

• Stays informed on new developments relative to student behavior support and transportation of students with diverse needs, including students with disabilities.

• Create, support, and manage use of program materials including, but not limited to, About Me Form, Location Enhancement Plans (LEP), on-bus collateral, slide decks, etc.

• Ensures program activities follow organizational policies and any relevant external regulations

• Manage special projects as required.

Minimum Experience & Skills Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience required.
• Passion for students and their success
• Ability to manage and lead cross functional initiatives
• Ability to drive process and performance improvements
• Experience managing the implementation of complex projects (though need not possess formal project management credentials, e.g., PMP certification)
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft® software applications, including PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel.
• Proficiency in virtual delivery platforms, such as Zoom.
• Ability to work within a team structure, collaborating closely with colleagues and operating interdependently to achieve assigned tasks.
• Ability to build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Exceptional communication skills - both written and oral
• Ability to prioritize work, handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high level of accuracy, and attention to detail and organization
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Flexible and adaptable in a fast paced, changing environment.
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements
• Experience with special education and/or transportation industry is a plus.
• Must be willing to travel up to 50%

Compensation ranges from $90,000 - $100,000, depending on experience.

Language Requirement
This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications be conducted in English.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/0847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.

About us
An industry leader famous for our yellow school buses and service and safety excellence, we’ve provided student transportation services to schools for over 100 years. Continually investing in the services of the future, we’re proud to be part of FirstGroup America – the largest provider of safe, reliable and sustainable surface passenger transportation services in North America.

Industry leader
We safely operate more than one third of all contracted school buses in North America.
Together our 50,000 school buses travel nearly 600 million miles per year the equivalent of 1,200 round trips to the moon.
We operate in around 550 locations throughout 38 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces.

Innovation
We were the first school bus company to utilize global positioning systems (GPS), so at any one time we know where all of our buses are and how fast they’re travelling.
Passionate about safety, we’ve installed Safety Crossing Gates on the front of all of our school buses and use the Child Check-MateTM electronic reminder system to make sure no sleeping children remain inside a bus at the end of each route.

Awards & recognition
We won the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award from the National Safety Council two years in a row.
Dedicated to safety, FirstGroup received the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Green Cross for Safety Medal - the highest award for safety in North America.

Teamwork and trust
It takes a diverse team of skilled professionals to provide a safe, effective and efficient student transportation system. From our school bus drivers and location managers to routers, dispatchers and fleet technician mechanics, the work we do every day makes a big impact on the daily lives of students, parents, local communities and school district partners.

We’re very proud of our elite team of over 55,000 dedicated, caring and diverse professionals. And they are the #1 reason we’re trusted by over 1,400 school districts - more than any other provider. Everybody here plays their part in creating a positive school bus experience.

Our culture
We live and breathe our vision and values. They are embedded in our culture and drive our commitment to our customers and communities. Our culture fosters growth and promotes respect, reliability, responsibility and safety. And we recruit people who share these values and will work together to build strong and trusting partnerships in the communities we serve.

Safety – Although our safety record is twice as safe as the industry average, we continually seek out opportunities to enhance our operational and safety initiatives.
Learning – Through our learning culture that spans over 550 locations, we receive and share insight from our people to enhance our service now and in the future.
Making a difference - By doing our job well, we make a positive impact on many lives – including the millions of students who travel with us every school day.
Careers for all – We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Employer of Choice.
By consistently encouraging and supporting an open dialogue with our people and partners, we’re able to share new ideas and develop new ways to meet the needs of our customers and passengers. At First Student, you’ll feel empowered to serve your community. So join the team and start to make a difference.