Sr Location Manager

Job Description:
First for a reason
First Student is the largest school transportation provider in North America with more than a century of experience providing safe and reliable transportation. We work with 1,250 school districts in 39 states and 8 Canadian provinces carrying approximately five million students in 21,000 schools daily.

Major Responsibilities

• Ensures the safe and timely transportation of passengers to and from their destinations. Manages operational expenses to optimize all cost per bus. Manage all contractual services to include administrative functions, information systems, parts purchasing, and inventory control. Ensures purchases (including parts) follow company processes and policies.
• Lead the Location in managing the day-to-day activities to support operations, safety, maintenance, dispatch, fleet and facility management, payroll, routing/scheduling, AR/AP and other interrelated functions. Foster and maintain positive relationships within and outside of the Location, including senior management and customer contacts. Provide prioritization of work assignments and management of functional team resources and their activities as needed or required.
• Leads and oversees all aspects of customer contract compliance and management with a concentrated focus on retaining the customer. Includes adherence to all staff, driver, and vehicles requirements, as well as KPI, billing and budget management. Also, covers delivery of all contract-specific technologies and other requirements. Ensures delivery of training and other needs as per company, location, state and customer requirements.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with employees, local school officials, parents and the community. Resolves concerns with employees, local school officials, parents, and the community. Implements fair and consistent recognition and/or corrective discipline.
• Communicates with customer by telephone, electronically or in regular face-to-face meetings. Responds promptly to customer inquiries, identifies and escalates priority issues, obtains and evaluates all relevant information to resolve inquiries and complaints. Follow-ups with customers as required. Develops action plans to ensure customer retention. Provides and promotes effective communication with customer and escalates issues if needed to AGM and/or Senior Management.
• Ensure services are provided within budget and action plans developed and implemented to improve operational efficiencies. Manages location budget through but not limited to: development, preparing and analyzing of the budget and forecast. Ensures any budget variances are identified and can be addressed. Provides accurate timely operational and financial reporting as requested by AGM and/or finance.
• Leads by example. Builds and maintains a strong positive Location team through effective recruiting, on-boarding, training, coaching, team building and succession planning. Prepare and participate in the preparation of staff development plans for each functional employee who is a member of the Location team. Assess the skills and skill levels necessary to achieve Location objectives. Ensures all on-line learning courses required have been completed by location staff including their own individual completion.
• Maximizes all charter revenue and supports AGM on identifying or biding on local commercial growth opportunities
• Manages and monitors location compliance with federal, state, local, contractual, and company policies and procedures.
• Ensures FS safety practices and applicable regulations are obeyed by all employees. Manages injury and collision claims.
• Ensure location compliance to all security policies and procedures. In the event of a security issue, involves appropriate leadership from AGM, Sr. Director of Security and Human Resources.
• Maintains company assets (vehicles, facilities, inventories, tools and equipment). Ensures facilities and buses are maintained to FS safety and applicable regulatory standards, including environmental standards, i.e., idling time.
• Sets accurate scheduled hours for routes. Minimizes route drive times and mileage while adhering to contractual and regulatory mandates.
• Assesses resource needs, problems, and trends and plans accordingly. Tracks and addresses labor variances, efficiently uses stand-by drivers, minimizes driver labor schedule. Partners with Corporate Recruiting for strategies on driver shortages as needed.
• Administers and executes the terms and conditions of the local and national collective bargaining agreements (as applicable). Ensures compliance with all aspects of the CBA. Investigates and defends union grievances, including meeting with union officials as required. Prepares for and participates in union negotiations, in coordination with Regional leadership and Corporate Labor Relations. Maintains a proactive and productive relationship with local union officials (as applicable).
• Drives employee engagement and recognition within the location. Champion and is visible at location sponsored events for the community or for location employees.
• Promotes new company initiatives and assist AGM in supporting changes and being the local champion at the location. May act as a mentor for lower level Location Managers.
• Other responsibilities as required or requested

Minimum Education or Certifications Required

• 4-year degree or equivalent experience
• High School Diploma or equivalent

Minimum Experience or Skills Required

• 5+ years management experience, transportation preferred
• Strong commitment to safety
• Proficient computer literacy essential with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Experience with other software such as timekeeping and payroll systems is preferred.
• Literacy in technology used to manage the operation to include but not limited to FGA approved Smart technology, Apps, encrypted drives, shared drives and other Smart technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, analytical and time management skills
• Ability to interpret data and perform root cause analysis and assist others
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with others in a team setting
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach and provide leadership5+ years management experience, transportation preferred
• Strong commitment to safety
• Proficient computer literacy essential with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Experience with other software such as timekeeping and payroll systems is preferred.
• Literacy in technology used to manage the operation to include but not limited to FGA approved Smart technology, Apps, encrypted drives, shared drives and other Smart technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, analytical and time management skills
• Ability to interpret data and perform root cause analysis and assist others
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with others in a team setting
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach and provide leadership

First for a Reason

Benefits
We offer competitive compensation and benefits (which vary based on role, location, and business), including physical and mental health initiatives, medical/dental/vision, 401(k), and paid holiday/vacation.
Professional Advancement
Start here. Go far. We believe in promoting from within which means tremendous opportunities for you, thanks to our strong presence across North America. In addition, our 3 to 5 month Manager-In-Development program prepares future leaders at First Student.
Extensive Training
Build skills and knowledge in such areas as safety and security, injury prevention, technology and equipment, and job efficiency.
Diversity & Inclusion
Because we're stronger together, we aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We're committed to providing an inclusive and diverse working environment for everyone every day.
Community Service & Impact
Go where opportunity meets community. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. As the face of First in your community, you'll have a positive impact on others.

Apply today and get your career on the road with First Student!

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/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.
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