General Manager in Residence

Via; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free medical plans

401(k) matching

Job summary

Via is seeking a General Manager in Residence to lead a transit network transformation in Boston. This unique role involves managing service performance and partner relationships while leading a team of over 30. Strong operational and leadership skills are essential for success in this high-impact position.

Qualifications include an MBA, 5+ years of experience in a relevant field, and a demonstrated ability to lead teams. A comprehensive benefits package and competitive salary ranging from $140,000 to $175,000 per year are offered.

Qualifications

• Min 5 years of pre-MBA experience in operations or consulting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams.
• Willingness to relocate after first year.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage Via’s end-to-end operating strategy.
• Lead a team of 30+ field operators including hiring and coaching.
• Drive continuous improvement in operations and service delivery.

Skills

Leadership instinct and experience

Ownership mentality

Analytical rigor and operational judgment

Partner and stakeholder sophistication

Mission alignment

Flexible and adaptable

Effective multitasking

Education

MBA preferred

5+ years in operations, consulting, strategy, tech

Job description

Via is using technology to transform transportation around the world. From changing a single person’s daily commute to reducing humanity’s collective environmental footprint — we’ve got huge goals.

As a General Manager in Residence, you will start with a 2‑month onboarding sprint in NYC. After that, you will spend your first year in a local market running a transit network transformation; taking full ownership of service performance, partner relationships, a 30+ frontline team, and $15M+ P&L. You will be deployed on Via's newest services in high‑visibility markets that require building new operational systems from the ground up, not just managing existing ones. The decisions you make here will shape how the market runs for years.

At the end of this local deployment, you will transition into a General Manager role in one of Via's major markets: New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, or Dallas. These are complex portfolios, generally with larger partner organizations, and strong strategic scope. You'll arrive with the credibility and operational fluency to lead at that level from day one.

This is a unique leadership and operating opportunity for anyone who is eager to lead and manage a high‑stakes, high‑visibility, and high‑impact new market at Via.

What You’ll Do

• Service Performance
  • Own and manage the end‑to‑end operating strategy of Via’s service on behalf of our partner
  • Define and manage against KPIs spanning on‑time performance, rider satisfaction, safety, and cost efficiency
  • Translate weekly and monthly performance data into decisions
• Lead a 30+ team of field operators and drivers, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and culture setting
• Build an operation where people feel accountable, supported, and proud of what they're delivering
• Develop frontline leaders within your team who can grow into expanded roles
• Partner & Stakeholder Management
  • Own Via's relationship with the transit agency partner, a public entity with its own board, elected officials, and community accountability
  • Represent Via to community stakeholders, local officials, and riders
• Operational Excellence
  • Drive continuous improvement across vehicle operations, maintenance protocols, and service delivery
  • Identify and execute cost and efficiency improvements that strengthen margin without compromising service
• Product Development
  • Influence the product roadmap for Via's newest Fixed Route products

Who You Are

• Leadership instinct and experience: You know how to motivate and inspire individuals, from drivers all the way to a transit agency’s CEO
• Ownership mentality: You can build systems that prevent things from going wrong and, if they still do, you find what’s going wrong, own it, and fix it
• Analytical rigor and operational judgment: You use data to make decisions, not just to describe situations. You're equally comfortable in a spreadsheet as in the field
• Partner and stakeholder sophistication: You know how to manage relationships that are complex, high‑stakes, and not fully in your control
• Mission alignment that goes beyond the talking points: You embrace that Via's partners are public agencies serving communities that often don't have other options
• Flexible and adaptable: You love the challenge of adapting to change rapidly and making things work on the fly
• Effective at managing multiple tasks simultaneously: You can delegate, prioritize, and take responsibility

Qualifications

• MBA preferred
• 5+ years of pre‑MBA experience in operations, consulting, strategy, tech or a field with meaningful P&L or client accountability
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams
• Willingness to be based in a specific location for the first year of the program, with relocation to a major metro market thereafter
• Full on‑site presence required

Compensation and Benefits

• Final salary will be determined by the candidate’s experience, knowledge, and skills. Salary reflected does not include equity or variable pay, where applicable
• Salary range: $140,000 - $175,000 / year
• We are proud to offer a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including free medical plans and 401(k) matching

Via is an equal opportunity employer.