Manager in Development

First Student, Inc.; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Chime MyPay access

Job summary

First Student, Inc. in New Haven, CT seeks a Manager in Development (MID) to learn location operations, manage a team, and deliver safe, dependable service. The program offers rotations through dispatch, safety, finance, HR, and more, with mentorship from experienced leaders.

Salary is $70,000-$80,000 annually, with on-site, full-time hours. Placement in New Haven or Central Connecticut may occur after program completion, with potential commute implications.

Qualifications

• Desire for leadership track with hands-on learning.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving abilities.
• Willingness to work on-site and relocate within Central Connecticut if needed.

Responsibilities

• Learn daily location operations including staffing and scheduling.
• Participate in rotations across dispatch, road supervision, safety, finance, and HR.
• Support hiring, development, safety initiatives and compliance.
• Lead projects and help improve processes.
• Build relationships with drivers, monitors, admin, and school partners.
• Assist Location Manager to deliver safe, reliable transportation daily.
• Gain hands-on experience with payroll, dashboards, and P&L reporting.

Skills

Leadership potential

Communication skills

Organization skills

Problem-solving

Hands-on approach

Safety commitment

On-site work adaptability

Tools

Payroll procedures

Financial dashboards

Job description

Now Hiring: Manager in Development

First Student | New Haven, CT

Pay: $70,000-$80,000 annually
Schedule: Monday-Friday | 6:00 AM-4:00 PM
Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site

Build your management career with hands‑on experience and support from people who know the business.

First Student is hiring a Manager in Development (MID) based in New Haven, Connecticut. This program offers the opportunity to learn how a student transportation location operates, work alongside experienced leaders, and develop the skills to manage a team and deliver safe, dependable service.

If you enjoy solving problems, working with people, and taking responsibility, this is an opportunity to turn those strengths into a long‑term management career.

Location and Placement Expectations

The MID program will be based in New Haven, CT. Applicants must be able to work on‑site during the program.

Placement in New Haven proper after completing the program is not guaranteed. Successful candidates may be assigned to another location within Central Connecticut and should consider potential commute times when applying.

What You’ll Do

Operations and Leadership

• Learn daily location operations, from staffing and scheduling to fleet readiness and customer service.
• Participate in departmental rotations, including dispatch, road supervision, safety, finance, and human resources.
• Work alongside experienced managers to understand how operational decisions affect employees, students, families, and school partners.
• Support hiring, employee development, safety initiatives, and compliance activities.
• Lead projects, resolve operational issues, and help improve processes.
• Build productive relationships with drivers, monitors, administrative staff, maintenance teams, and school partners.
• Support the Location Manager in delivering safe, reliable transportation every day.

Finance and Accounting

• Learn to manage current assets, current liabilities, and working capital to support sound operational decisions.
• Gain hands‑on experience with payroll procedures, financial dashboards, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fuel reconciliation, and related systems.
• Maintain client‑required financial and operational records.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and profit‑and‑loss (P&L) reporting, including accruals and financial analysis.
• Learn farebox procedures where applicable.

What You’ll Bring

• Leadership potential and a willingness to learn.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills.
• A hands‑on approach and the ability to adapt when priorities change.
• Comfort working in a fast‑paced environment with employees and customers.
• A commitment to safety, dependable service, and treating people with respect.
• Ability to work the posted schedule on‑site in New Haven.
• Willingness and ability to accept a location assignment within Central Connecticut after successfully completing the program.
• Residence within commuting distance of New Haven, or willingness to relocate before starting.

Desiered Experience

• Previous retail management or transportation experience is preferred, but not required.
• Experience in finance and accounting is highly desired, particularly budgeting, forecasting, payroll, and P&L analysis.

Why Join First Student?

• $70,000-$80,000 annual salary
• Hands‑on management training and mentorship
• Career development and advancement opportunities
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance benefits offered after 30 days from your start date
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program for personal and work‑related support
• Access to earned wages before payday through Chime® MyPay at Work™*
• Salt® Rewards Program for employee savings and rewards
• A supportive team environment where you can learn and take on increasing responsibility

Benefits and programs are subject to eligibility and applicable plan terms.

First Student is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. First Student is committed to providing a drug‑free workplace.

Language Requirement
This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job‑related communications be conducted in English.

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.