Area Human Resources Manager

First Student | Hartford, Connecticut - Hybrid

Salary: $115,000-$125,000 annually, depending on experience
Location: Hartford, CT area
Travel: Regular travel throughout Connecticut and New England; assigned territory spans approximately 250 miles

This is a hybrid position requiring a regular site presence at all assigned area locations. Candidates must reside in the Hartford, CT area or be willing to relocate to the area before starting.

First Student is seeking an experienced Area Human Resources Manager to provide HR leadership and support across multiple operating locations. This position partners with regional and local leaders on employee relations, labor relations, workplace investigations, compliance, and employee development.

You will support teams that include drivers, monitors/aides, technicians, administrative employees, and management staff.

• Candidates must reside in the Hartford, CT area or be willing to relocate before starting.
• Residence within driving local distance of a First Student location is preferred.
• The hybrid arrangement combines work from home or an operating location with regular in-person visits.
• Maintain a site presence at all assigned area locations based on employee and business needs.
• Travel throughout the assigned Connecticut and New England territory is required.

• Advise regional and location leaders on employee relations, dispute resolution, policy interpretation, performance management, leave administration, and compensation.
• Support labor relations, including grievance handling and labor contract administration, in partnership with management and labor counsel.
• Maintain regular contact with assigned locations to build effective relationships with employees and managers.
• Conduct fair, thorough workplace investigations and support responses to agency complaints and internal or external audits.
• Coach managers on addressing employee concerns consistently and appropriately.
• Support compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including wage-and-hour requirements.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition on hiring initiatives and staffing needs associated with new operations.
• Deliver training on employee relations, performance management, and employment practices.
• Develop employee engagement action plans and monitor progress.
• Support leadership development, organizational changes, and location openings and closings.
• Implement HR initiatives and report results to regional leadership.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources.
• At least five years of HR experience, including employee relations, labor relations, employment law, and training and development.
• Experience supporting unionized workforces and managing labor relations.
• Residence in the Hartford, CT area or willingness to relocate before starting.
• Ability to travel and maintain a regular site presence at all assigned area locations.
• Working knowledge of employment laws and wage-and-hour requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and administrative skills.
• Sound judgment and the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.
• Proficiency with standard office software and HR systems.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and partner effectively with employees and leaders.

Preferred: Experience providing HR support across multiple operating locations.

• Annual salary of $115,000-$125,000, depending on experience
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off, paid sick time, and paid holidays
• Access to earned-wage and employee rewards programs
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• A supportive, collaborative work environment

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

Submit your resume to join First Student and support the employees who deliver safe, dependable transportation for our communities.

First Student strives to attract and retain a diverse workforce. 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 Student is an equal opportunity employer and 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/0847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.

About us
An industry leader famous for our yellow school buses and service and safety excellence, we’ve provided student transportation services to schools for over 100 years. Continually investing in the services of the future, we’re proud to be part of FirstGroup America – the largest provider of safe, reliable and sustainable surface passenger transportation services in North America.

Industry leader
We safely operate more than one third of all contracted school buses in North America.
Together our 50,000 school buses travel nearly 600 million miles per year the equivalent of 1,200 round trips to the moon.
We operate in around 550 locations throughout 38 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces.

Innovation
We were the first school bus company to utilize global positioning systems (GPS), so at any one time we know where all of our buses are and how fast they’re travelling.
Passionate about safety, we’ve installed Safety Crossing Gates on the front of all of our school buses and use the Child Check-MateTM electronic reminder system to make sure no sleeping children remain inside a bus at the end of each route.

Awards & recognition
We won the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award from the National Safety Council two years in a row.
Dedicated to safety, FirstGroup received the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Green Cross for Safety Medal - the highest award for safety in North America.

Teamwork and trust
It takes a diverse team of skilled professionals to provide a safe, effective and efficient student transportation system. From our school bus drivers and location managers to routers, dispatchers and fleet technician mechanics, the work we do every day makes a big impact on the daily lives of students, parents, local communities and school district partners.

We’re very proud of our elite team of over 55,000 dedicated, caring and diverse professionals. And they are the #1 reason we’re trusted by over 1,400 school districts - more than any other provider. Everybody here plays their part in creating a positive school bus experience.

Our culture
We live and breathe our vision and values. They are embedded in our culture and drive our commitment to our customers and communities. Our culture fosters growth and promotes respect, reliability, responsibility and safety. And we recruit people who share these values and will work together to build strong and trusting partnerships in the communities we serve.

Safety – Although our safety record is twice as safe as the industry average, we continually seek out opportunities to enhance our operational and safety initiatives.
Learning – Through our learning culture that spans over 550 locations, we receive and share insight from our people to enhance our service now and in the future.
Making a difference - By doing our job well, we make a positive impact on many lives – including the millions of students who travel with us every school day.
Careers for all – We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Employer of Choice.
By consistently encouraging and supporting an open dialogue with our people and partners, we’re able to share new ideas and develop new ways to meet the needs of our customers and passengers. At First Student, you’ll feel empowered to serve your community. So join the team and start to make a difference.