Strategic Services Program Manager

First Student, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

First Student, Inc. seeks a Projects Manager to drive high-priority initiatives across the Services organization. You will partner with the Services Senior Director to translate strategic direction into actionable plans, maintain governance, and coordinate cross-functional work for on-time delivery.

Responsibilities include building structured project plans, tracking milestones, and preparing executive materials. Strong leadership, communication, and MS 365 proficiency are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, operations, project management, or related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive experience in program management, business operations, strategy, or similar leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional programs from planning through execution.
• Experience working directly with directors, vice presidents, or other senior leaders.
• Strong executive communication, presentation, organization, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to independently prioritize work, resolve ambiguity, and move initiatives forward with limited oversight.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools; Planner, Loop, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and Power BI are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Services Senior Director to organize, prioritize, and advance initiatives.
• Translate ideas into structured project plans with objectives, owners, milestones, dependencies, timelines.
• Maintain a centralized view of active initiatives, priorities, risks, decisions, and action items.
• Drive accountability by following up with owners and escalating risks or delays when needed.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving Services, Operations, Product, Technology, Safety, Finance, and others.
• Prepare meeting agendas, executive summaries, KPI presentations, status reports, and leadership materials.
• Lead initiative meetings, document decisions, assign follow-up actions, and ensure commitments are completed.
• Identify competing priorities, capacity concerns, and dependencies impacting delivery.
• Provide clear recommendations and potential solutions, not just problems.
• Develop repeatable processes, templates, and governance structures for program management.
• Monitor business outcomes and ensure initiatives deliver intended impact.
• Anticipate upcoming needs and keep leadership focused on strategic priorities.
• Represent the Services Senior Director in meetings and workstreams as needed.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Tools

Planner

Loop

PowerPoint

Excel

Teams

Power BI

Job description

First Student, Inc. seeks a Projects Manager to drive high-priority initiatives across the Services organization. You will partner with the Services Senior Director to translate strategic direction into actionable plans, maintain governance, and coordinate cross-functional work for on-time delivery.

Responsibilities include building structured project plans, tracking milestones, and preparing executive materials. Strong leadership, communication, and MS 365 proficiency are essential.