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.

At First Student, the Assistant Location Manager supports the Location Manager, Senior Location Manager, and/or Area General Manager (AGM) in delivering safe, reliable, and compliant transportation services. This leadership role provides operational oversight, supervises staff, manages customer relationships, and supports financial and performance goals for one or more locations.

This position carries full supervisory responsibility and works closely with school officials, customers, employees, and community partners to meet contractual, regulatory, and company standards.

Salary & Incentive

$125,000 annually
Eligible for up to a 10% annual bonus, based on location performance metrics

Position Overview

The Assistant Location Manager provides hands-on leadership across daily operations, safety, customer service, staffing, compliance, and financial controls. This role coaches and develops teams, supports company initiatives, and helps achieve location and regional objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the safe and timely transportation of passengers

• Support daily location operations, including safety, maintenance, dispatch, fleet, facilities, payroll, routing/scheduling, and AR/AP

• Manage work priorities and functional team resources

• Support and oversee customer contract compliance, customer retention, KPIs, billing, budgets, and contract requirements

• Ensure delivery of contract-specific technologies, training, and customer requirements

• Build and maintain positive relationships with customers, employees, school officials, parents, and the community

• Resolve concerns using fair, consistent recognition and corrective discipline

• Communicate with customers via phone, electronic, and in-person methods; respond promptly, escalate issues, and follow up as needed

• Support LM/AGM with budget development, forecasting, analysis, and financial controls; identify variances and provide accurate reporting

• Maximize charter revenue and support local commercial growth opportunities

• Lead recruiting, onboarding, training, coaching, succession planning, and staff development plans

• Ensure completion of required online learning for self and location staff

• Support compliance with federal, state, local, contractual, and First Student policies

• Ensure adherence to safety practices and regulations; manage injury and collision claims

• Ensure compliance with security policies and escalate issues as required

• Protect company assets, including vehicles, facilities, tools, and equipment

• Ensure buses and facilities meet safety, regulatory, and environmental standards

• Set accurate route hours; minimize mileage and drive time while meeting mandates

• Manage labor resources, track variances, efficiently use standby drivers, and partner with Corporate Recruiting on driver shortages

• Administer applicable collective bargaining agreements (CBA), including grievance handling, union relations, and participation in negotiations with Regional Leadership and Corporate Labor Relations

• Promote company initiatives and serve as a local change leader

• Perform other duties as assigned

Education & Certifications

• 4-year degree or equivalent experience

Experience & Skills

• 5 years of operations experience, including progression from driver roles, or completion of a Management in Trainee (MIT) program

• Strong commitment to a Safety Lifestyle

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

• Experience with timekeeping, payroll, and operational systems preferred

• Comfortable using company-approved smart technology, apps, and secure systems

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Effective interpersonal skills with customers, parents, and community partners

• Solid financial and budgeting skills, including interpretation of P&L, budgets, and forecasts

• Strong organizational, analytical, and time-management skills

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-based environment

• Demonstrated ability to train, coach, and lead teams

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Ability to move throughout office spaces and between floors

• Ability to use standard office equipment and access filing systems

• Ability to communicate effectively in person and by phone

• Work environment includes office settings and school bus yards

• Occasional on-the-road responsibilities

#startup

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.