Services Project Manager

First Student, Inc.

$80K — $95K *
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business, operations, project management, or equivalent experience.
  • 7+ years in program management, business operations, strategy, or a leadership role.
  • Experience leading complex, cross-functional programs through all stages.
  • Direct experience interacting with senior leaders like directors and vice presidents.
  • Strong skills in executive communication and stakeholder management.
  • Ability to independently prioritize and handle ambiguity effectively.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools, especially Planner, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and Power BI.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with the Services Senior Director to prioritize and advance initiatives.
  • Translate leadership strategies into clear project plans with set goals and timelines.
  • Maintain an overview of ongoing initiatives, priorities, and risks.
  • Ensure accountability by tracking initiative progress and addressing delays proactively.
  • Coordinate projects that involve multiple departments including Operations and Finance.
  • Prepare agendas, executive summaries, and KPI presentations for leadership.
  • Lead meetings, document decisions, and ensure follow-up actions are completed.
  • Identify capacity issues and dependencies impacting project delivery.
  • Provide actionable recommendations for overcoming challenges.
  • Establish repeatable processes and governance structures for managing initiatives effectively.
  • Monitor outcomes to ensure completed projects achieve operational goals.
  • Anticipate leadership needs to keep focus on strategic priorities.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
  • Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams.
  • Exposure to senior leadership and strategic initiatives.
  • Engagement in high-priority projects with significant impact.
  • Comprehensive support in project management and organizational skills development.
Full Job Description
The FirstAlt Services Project Manager is responsible for helping drive, organize, and execute high-priority initiatives across First Alt Services. Reporting directly to the Services Senior Director, this role will translate strategic direction into clear plans, establish accountability, coordinate cross-functional work, and ensure key initiatives continue moving forward.

Major Responsibilities
  • Partner directly with the Services Senior Director to organize, prioritize, and advance departmental and company initiatives.
  • Translate ideas and leadership direction into structured project plans with defined objectives, owners, milestones, dependencies, and timelines.
  • Maintain a centralized view of active initiatives, priorities, risks, decisions, and outstanding action items.
  • Drive accountability by proactively following up with initiative owners and escalating risks or delays when appropriate.
  • Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving Services, Operations, Product, Technology, Safety, Finance, and other business partners.
  • Prepare meeting agendas, executive summaries, KPI presentations, status reports, and other leadership materials.
  • Lead initiative meetings, document decisions, assign follow-up actions, and ensure commitments are completed.
  • Identify competing priorities, capacity concerns, and dependencies that may impact delivery.
  • Provide clear recommendations and potential solutions-not simply report problems.
  • Develop repeatable processes, templates, and governance structures that improve how initiatives are managed across the department.
  • Monitor business outcomes and help ensure completed initiatives deliver their intended operational or customer impact.
  • Anticipate upcoming needs and help leadership remain focused on strategic priorities rather than day-to-day administrative follow-up.
  • Represent the Services Senior Director in designated meetings and workstreams when appropriate.


Minimum Education and Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in business, operations, project management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Seven or more years of progressive experience in program management, business operations, strategy, or a 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; experience with Planner, Loop, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and Power BI is preferred.


Compensation ranges from $80,000 - $95,000 depending on experience.

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.

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.

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