Area General Manager

Provides operational oversight, day-to-day management, customer interface, and required reporting and compliance mandates (both internal and external) for a specific area within a region. Represents company management with school officials concerning issues of passenger management, route scheduling, billing, charter activities, driver issues, safety, fleet maintenance and general logistics matters. Directly supervises exempt and non-exempt staff and manages financial performance. Position has full supervisory responsibility for recruitment, hiring, retention, performance development, performance management, teammate relations, salary adjustments, and termination of direct reports. Responsible for on-line learning courses and completion of courses individually and for the locations within their area. Will coach and develop employees in their area to support company initiatives and location/area/region goals. Identifies issues related to resources needs (driver shortage) for the area/locations needs and customer requirements. Responsible for stimulating local commercial and/or charter growth. Manages the development, preparation and analysis of area/location budget and financial controls. Accountable for the development and implementation of processes which support lean practices and standardization across area/locations.

Major Responsibilities

• Ensures the safe and timely transportation of passengers to and from their destinations. Manages operational expenses to optimize all cost per bus. Manage all contractual services to include administrative functions, information systems, parts purchasing, and inventory control. Ensures purchases (including parts) follow company processes and policies.
• Responsible for overall cost structure and pricing for locations within area.
• Lead the Location’s within specific area in managing the day-to-day activities to support operations, safety, maintenance, dispatch, fleet and facility management, payroll, routing/scheduling, AR/AP and other interrelated functions. Foster and maintain positive relationships within and outside of their area, including senior management and customer contacts.
• Leads and oversees all aspects of customer contract compliance and management with a concentrated focus on retaining the customer in conjunction with the local management team. Includes adherence to all staff, driver, and vehicles requirements, as well as KPI, billing and budget management. Also, covers delivery of all contract-specific technologies and other requirements. Ensures delivery of training and other needs as per company, location, state and customer requirements.
• Builds positive relationships with employees, local school officials, parents and the community. Resolves concerns with employees, local school officials, parents, and the community. Implements fair and consistent recognition and/or corrective discipline. Responsible to drive employee engagement, community engagement, culture and growth for First Student but more specifically to the locations within area.
• Communicates with customer by telephone, electronically or in regular face-to-face meetings. Responds promptly to customer inquiries, identifies and escalates priority issues, obtains and evaluates all relevant information to resolve inquiries and complaints. Follow-ups with customers as required. Develops action plans to ensure customer retention. Provides and promotes effective communication with customer and escalates issues if needed to SVP and/or RVP or other Senior Management.
• Ensure services are provided within budget and action plans developed and implemented to improve operational efficiencies. Manages area/location budget through but not limited to: development, preparing and analyzing of the budget and forecast. Ensures any budget variances are identified and can be addressed. Provides accurate timely operational and financial reporting as requested by RVP/AGM and/or finance.
• Leads by example. Builds and maintains a strong positive Area/Location teams through effective recruiting, on-boarding, training, coaching, team building and succession planning. Prepare and participate in the preparation of staff development plans for each functional employee who is a member of the Area/Location team. Assess the skills and skill levels necessary to achieve Location objectives. Ensures all on-line learning courses required have been completed by location staff including their own individual completion.
• Maximizes all charter revenue and leads initiatives within their area on identifying or biding on local commercial growth opportunities. Support Business Development Team in identifying and/or relationship building opportunities for potential large contracts.
• Manages and monitors area/location compliance with federal, state, local, contractual, and company policies and procedures.
• Ensures FS safety practices and applicable regulations are obeyed by all employees. Manages injury and collision claims.
• Ensures all locations within a specific region are compliant and follows all security policies and procedures. In the event of a security issues with the area, ensures location management is involving appropriate leadership from SVP/RVP, Sr. Director of Security and/or Human Resources. Depending on the situation, may be required to be on-site at the impacted location to support location management as needed.
• Maintains company assets (vehicles, facilities, inventories, tools and equipment). Ensures facilities and buses are maintained to FS safety and applicable regulatory standards, including environmental standards, i.e., idling time.
• Ensures all locations within a specific region are compliant and follows all security policies and procedures. In the event of a security issues with the area, ensures location management is involving appropriate leadership from SVP/RVP, Sr. Director of Security and/or Human Resources. Depending on the situation, may be required to be on-site at the impacted location to support location management as needed.
• Assesses resource needs, problems, and trends and plans accordingly. Tracks and addresses labor variances, efficiently uses stand-by drivers, minimizes driver labor schedule. Partners with Corporate Recruiting for strategies on driver shortages as needed.
• Administers and executes the terms and conditions of the local and national collective bargaining agreements (as applicable). Ensures compliance with all aspects of the CBA. May participate as needed in union grievances meetings with union officials. Oversees preparation for union negotiations and participate as needed, in coordination with Regional leadership and Corporate Labor Relations. Maintains a proactive and productive relationship with local union officials (as applicable).
• Drives employee engagement and recognition within the area and/or locations. Champion and is visible at within area and/or location sponsored events for the community or for location employees.
• Promotes new company initiatives and supports changes. Champions new changes or company initiatives within their area. Ensures all locations are supporting the changes or initiatives.
• Other responsibilities as required or requested

Minimum Education or Certifications Required

• 4-year degree or equivalent experience
• High School Diploma or equivalent

Minimum Experience or Skills Required

• 7 years proven experience in passenger and/or student transportation or comparable service industry showing a consistent successful upward employment progression with multi-site responsibilities or 5+ years management experience
• Demonstrate leadership, decision-making and team building skills
• Strong commitment to safety
• Strong proficiency in computer literacy essential with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Experience with other software such as timekeeping and payroll systems is preferred.
• Advanced skills in technology used to manage the operation to include but not limited to FGA approved Smart technology, Apps, encrypted drives, shared drives and other Smart technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, analytical and time management skills
• Ability to interpret data and perform root cause analysis and assist others
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with others in a team setting
• Strong business background in financial, strategic, and organizational analysis
• Excellent financial and budgetary skills with ability to interpret and analyze P&L, budgets and forecasts
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach and provide leadership

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Must be able to move about the office and between floors; utilize standard office equipment; access filing system/cabinets; and communicate effectively and efficiently in person or by telephone.
• Travel up to 60%