Manager in Development

First Student; Danbury (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Holidays

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Leadership development

Mentorship from leaders

Hands-on training

Career advancement

Job summary

First Student is seeking a Manager in Development (MID) in Danbury, CT, to join a hands-on leadership development program designed to prepare future leaders.

You'll rotate through dispatch, road supervision, safety, finance, human resources, and maintenance, gaining exposure to operations and people-management while working fully on-site in the Danbury region, with potential placement at one of 12 locations after completion.

Qualifications

• Leadership potential and a strong desire to learn, grow, and advance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, people-focused environment.
• Comfort with managing multiple priorities and adapting to change.
• Hands-on leadership style and willingness to work with frontline teams.

Responsibilities

• Learn the day-to-day operations of a First Student location from the ground up.
• Participate in rotations across dispatch, road supervision, safety, finance, HR, and maintenance.
• Collaborate with experienced managers on staffing, scheduling, employee relations, safety, and customer service.
• Gain hands-on experience supporting daily transportation operations.
• Assist with driver and staff performance, attendance, scheduling, and operational needs.
• Build relationships with staff, drivers, and school district partners.
• Lead projects, troubleshoot operational challenges, and identify process improvements.
• Learn First Student policies, procedures, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop understanding of location financial performance, budgeting, staffing, and metrics.
• Support the Location Manager and leadership team with daily priorities.

Skills

Leadership potential

Strong communication

Problem solving

People management

Adaptability

Team collaboration

Job description

First Student is now hiring a Manager in Development!

Manager in Development (MID) - Danbury, CT Region

Pay: $60,000 - $70,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications

Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday | Hours will vary between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. | On-site

Drive Your Career Forward with Us!

Ready to step into a leadership role and make an impact? First Student is looking for a motivated, hands‑on problem solver to join our Manager in Development (MID) program based in Danbury, CT.

The Manager in Development program is designed to prepare future First Student leaders through hands‑on operational experience, structured development, and direct mentorship from experienced managers.

During the program, you'll gain exposure to the many moving parts that keep a student transportation operation running safely and efficiently. You'll work alongside local and regional leaders while developing the operational, leadership, and people-management skills needed to successfully manage a First Student location.

This is a fully on-site position. Candidates must be based in the Danbury, CT region or be able to reasonably and reliably commute to Danbury. Upon successful completion of the MID program, candidates may be placed into a management opportunity at one of 12 First Student locations within the Danbury, CT region, based on business needs and available opportunities.

What You’ll Do:

• Learn the day-to-day operations of a First Student location from the ground up
• Participate in rotations across multiple departments, including dispatch, road supervision, safety, finance, human resources, and maintenance
• Work side‑by‑side with experienced managers to learn staffing, scheduling, employee relations, safety, compliance, and customer service
• Gain hands‑on experience supporting daily transportation operations
• Assist with driver and staff performance, attendance, scheduling, and operational needs
• Build strong relationships with staff, drivers, and school district partners
• Lead projects, troubleshoot operational challenges, and identify opportunities for process improvement
• Learn First Student policies, procedures, safety standards, and regulatory requirements
• Develop an understanding of location financial performance, budgeting, staffing, and operational metrics
• Support the Location Manager and leadership team with daily operational priorities

What You Bring:

• Leadership potential and a strong desire to learn, grow, and advance
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Sound problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, people‑focused environment
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing operational needs
• A hands‑on leadership style and willingness to work alongside frontline teams
• Previous operations, transportation, supervisory, or management experience is a plus, but not required
• Ability to work Monday through Friday, with hours varying between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
• Ability to work fully on‑site in Danbury and remain flexible for future placement within the Danbury, CT region

Why Join Us?

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Structured leadership development
• Hands‑on mentorship from experienced First Student leaders
• Exposure to multiple areas of transportation operations
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Career advancement opportunities throughout First Student
• Positive, team‑focused work environment

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