Shop Manager

Location: North Hampton, NH
Serving: SAU 21, SAU 50, SAU 90, SAU 16 - Hampton, Seabrook, Greenland, Rye, Exeter, Newmarket, and Epping
Salary: $85,000 annually, based on skills and experience
Schedule: Monday-Friday | Approximately 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Approximately 50 hours per week
Lead the Shop. Support the Fleet. Keep Students Moving.

If you're an experienced maintenance leader who knows how to keep a fleet moving, support technicians, solve problems, and keep safety at the center of everything, this could be a great opportunity for you. As a Shop Manager, you'll oversee maintenance operations across two shops supporting a fleet of approximately 100-110 vehicles, made up primarily of Type C diesel school buses, along with a small number of minivans.

This role is hands-on, leadership-focused, and essential to keeping students safely transported every day.

About the Role

The Shop Manager manages all location maintenance operations and provides direct oversight to shop staff. This role is responsible for ensuring the fleet is safe, available, and properly maintained to support daily transportation service for the surrounding school districts.

The Shop Manager works closely with the Location Manager and Regional Maintenance leadership to provide visibility into vehicle availability, maintenance performance, budget needs, repair status, and overall shop operations.

This position requires someone who can lead people, manage priorities, stay organized, communicate well, and step in to perform hands-on maintenance work when needed.

What You'll Do

As a Shop Manager, you will:

• Schedule and administer fleet maintenance
• Assist with troubleshooting equipment issues
• Communicate vehicle availability to dispatch and operations teams
• Oversee day-to-day maintenance performance across the location
• Directly supervise maintenance employees
• Support hiring, training, development, performance management, and employee accountability
• Partner with the Location Manager and Regional Maintenance leadership on shop status, maintenance needs, and budget requirements
• Review repair orders and maintenance documentation
• Review budget variances and approve maintenance-related expenses as needed
• Order parts, fuel, and subcontracted repair work when appropriate
• Ensure compliance with state, federal, company, and safety requirements
• Maintain a safe shop environment
• Ensure technicians are trained, properly equipped, and prepared to complete work safely and efficiently
• Help improve shop efficiency and reduce operating costs
• Supervise bus fueling
• Arrange building and grounds services as needed
• Complete special projects as assigned
• Perform hands-on maintenance work when required

Fleet and Shop Details

This location supports:

• 2 shops
• Approximately 100-110 vehicles
• Fleet is approximately 95% Type C diesel school buses
• Approximately 5% minivans
• Service area includes Hampton, Seabrook, Greenland, Rye, Exeter, Newmarket, and Epping

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a maintenance leader who is experienced, organized, safety-focused, and comfortable leading a shop in a fast-paced transportation environment.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong hands-on mechanical experience
• Prior supervisory or shop leadership experience
• Experience repairing and maintaining diesel engines
• School bus or heavy-duty fleet maintenance experience preferred
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop technicians
• Strong communication skills
• Good computer skills
• Ability to manage repair priorities, vehicle availability, and maintenance documentation
• A safety-first mindset

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Technical training preferred
• 5+ years of hands-on mechanical supervisory experience
• Valid driver's license required
• Willingness to obtain a CDL while employed - we provide training
• Willingness to participate in the ASE certification program - training, testing, and bonuses provided
• Ability to lift approximately 20-50 lbs
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Computer skills
• Diesel engine and school bus maintenance experience preferred

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

This role is based in a maintenance shop environment. Candidates must be able to work in and around motor vehicle equipment, including working in crouched positions or lying on a mechanic's dolly beneath vehicles.

This position may involve exposure to dust, dirt, grease, shop noise, and typical maintenance shop conditions.

Build a Stronger Shop with First Student

At First Student, our maintenance teams play a critical role in keeping students safe. Behind every reliable route is a well-maintained bus, a prepared technician team, and a Shop Manager making sure the operation is ready to roll.

If you're ready to lead a shop, support a strong fleet, and make a direct impact on student transportation, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help keep North Hampton-area students moving safely.