Regional HR Leader: Field Operations & Talent Strategy

First Student, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits (medical, dental, vis​

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and PTO

Early wage access via Chime MyPay at W

Salt rewards and savings program

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

First Student, Inc. is hiring an Area Human Resources Manager to partner with managers, supervisors, and employees on policies, employee and labor relations, and compliance across locations.

This hybrid role requires regular travel to Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah to support field operations and regional HR initiatives. The position emphasizes workforce planning, recruiting strategies, training, and organizational development, with strong collaboration across operational

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of five years of diverse HR experience including recruiting, compensation, planning, employee and labor relations, and training.
• Strong employee relations experience including investigations and thorough documentation.
• Willingness to travel regionally to support field operations.

Responsibilities

• Maintains favorable employee and labor relations within the assigned area.
• Implements and administers corporate and regional HR policies.
• Provides leadership to field operations on dispute resolution and policy compliance.
• Leads training programs on performance management, interviewing, and employment law.
• Oversees HR program implementation and monitors results.
• Partners with leadership to support staffing, workforce planning, and engagement initiatives.
• Acts as recruiting coordinator for the region and supports travel to locations.
• Builds relationships with employees and leaders at all levels.

Skills

HR leadership

employee relations

labor relations

training and development

policy interpretation

investigations

stakeholder communication

workforce planning

recruiting strategies

travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Job description

First Student is currently hiring an Area Human Resources Manager!

Come join North America's largest school bus transportation team and help us drive our future in providing unmatched care and the safest ride to school! Are you a HR leader with a passion for business strategy? If so, we want to talk to you. In this role, you will partner with managers, supervisors, and employees on policies, procedures, employee relations, labor relations, and compliance initiatives across assigned First Student locations. You will serve as a trusted HR partner to field operations, providing support on employee issues, investigations, workforce planning, recruiting strategies, training, and organizational development. This hybrid role requires regular travel to locations throughout Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah to support field operations, business objectives, and regional HR initiatives.

This is a great opportunity to enhance your skill set, build strong partnerships with operational leaders, and contribute to a dynamic and growing organization.

Location Preference:
Candidates located in Southern California or Arizona are preferred due to the travel requirements of the territory.

We Offer:

• Salary Range: $95,000 - $130,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to earned wages before payday through Chime® MyPay at Work™
• Salt® employee rewards and savings program
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement

Job Responsibilities:

• Maintains favorable and effective employee and labor relations within the assigned area.
• Ensures effective implementation and administration of corporate and regional HR policies.
• Creates recommendations related to workforce planning and organizational development.
• Provides leadership and guidance to field operations in the areas of dispute resolution, labor contract administration, employee handbook interpretation, and policy compliance.
• Conducts training programs that address First Student needs, including performance management, interviewing, employee relations, and employment law.
• Oversees implementation of HR programs and monitors results.
• Conducts workplace investigations and maintains thorough documentation related to employee relations matters.
• Partners with operational leadership to support staffing strategies, workforce planning, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Acts as recruiting coordinator for the region.
• Visits locations on a periodic and as-needed basis to support field operations and business objectives.
• Builds effective relationships with employees and leaders at all levels of the organization.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five years of diverse Human Resources experience with broad knowledge of recruiting, employment, compensation, organizational planning, employee relations, labor relations, and training and development.
• Strong employee relations experience, including conducting workplace investigations and maintaining thorough documentation, required.
• Experience supporting field operations and partnering directly with operational leaders preferred.
• Multi-facility experience desired.
• Strong administrative, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Computer literate.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the assigned region.

Work Environment:

• Hybrid role consisting of approximately two remote workdays and three days of field support per week.
• Regular travel required throughout Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.

Apply today, for an exciting and challenging position within the First Family!

We aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce therefore 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 is an equal opportunity employer and by doing so we will sustain and promote an inclusive culture that supports future growth for all.

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.