Manager in Development (MID)

Job Description

Manager in Development | First Student

The Tone:
This is a full-time leadership development role at First Student, located in Danbury, CT. First Student is a robust organization of over 60,000 employees dedicated to safely transporting millions of students and passengers daily. This role is integral to cultivating the next generation of leaders who will drive the operational efficiency and safety standards of the company’s transportation services. The Manager in Development program offers a structured path to acquire essential management skills and operational expertise.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Danbury, CT
• Pay: $60,000–$70,000 annually
• Team: Part of a leadership development program, mentored by experienced managers.
• Mission: Prepare future First Student leaders through hands-on operational experience and structured development to successfully manage a transportation location.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Operational Oversight: Master the daily operations of a student transportation location through extensive hands-on experience and rotations across key departments like dispatch, safety, and human resources.
• Leadership Development: Learn critical management functions including staffing, scheduling, employee relations, safety compliance, and customer service by working directly with experienced leaders.
• Team Support: Provide direct support for daily transportation operations, assisting with driver and staff performance, attendance tracking, scheduling needs, and general operational priorities.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, lead initiatives to resolve challenges, and contribute to continuous process improvements within the location.
• Stakeholder Relations: Cultivate strong working relationships with staff, drivers, and school district partners to ensure smooth service delivery and effective communication.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Demonstrated leadership potential and a strong desire to learn, grow, and advance into a management role within the transportation sector.
• Experience: No specific prior experience is required, as the program is designed for comprehensive development from the ground up.
• Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal abilities, sound problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, the capacity to manage multiple priorities in a people-focused environment, a hands-on leadership style, and the ability to work fully on-site in Danbury, CT, with flexibility for future placement within the region.
• Bonus: Previous experience in operations, transportation, supervisory roles, or general management.