First things First: Who are we?

Twice the size of our next largest competitor, First Student is the leading school transportation solutions provider in North America. Every day, we complete 5 million student journeys, moving more passengers than all U.S. airlines combined. With a team of highly trained drivers and the industry’s strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, route optimization and scheduling, maintenance, and charter services for 1,100 school district contracts.

The Sr. Director of HR Operational Excellence will be responsible for identifying and leading HR strategic projects focused on process improvements to support the delivery of HR services. This position will be responsible for shaping, implementing and continuously refining the delivery of seamless employee experiences in partnership with HR leaders and subject matter experts, various First Student functional teams, and vendor partners. This role will contribute to organizational success in selecting, engaging, and developing employees, reducing driver shortage, driving efficiencies and lower costs, improving performance, and ultimately enhancing the experiences of the people we serve.

Major Responsibilities:

• Partner with CHRO, VP, Human Resources, and HRLT team to formulate the people strategy and key priorities.
• Facilitate quarterly operational reviews with the HR Leadership team, highlighting progress, and identifying risks to the plan in order to drive greater effectiveness.
• Lead process design and continuous improvement efforts, partnering with key stakeholders in HR, Legal, IT, and Finance for sustainability and compliance. Recommend and implement improvements, making reasoned trade-offs between ongoing effort, and efficiency to deliver an optimal and consistent employee experience. Identifies efficiency opportunities, defines vision and leads team through process improvements, using benchmarking, employee needs, HR, and business objectives.
• Builds roadmap for enabling technology effectiveness for HR Operations processes.
• Lead analysis of experience and process performance (cost, speed, quality) to provide quantitative assessments for demonstrating value as well as strategic planning and investments.
• Leverage employee/customer/data insights to drive prioritized service, process, and technology solutions to further enhance global service delivery.
• Collaborate with technology teams and external vendors to create and deliver resources and tools/applications that support employee engagement initiatives.
• Coordinate and synchronize efforts of regional HR, COEs, and Operational Excellence to ensure operational standards are deployed to drive a consistent employee experience that is both effective and efficient.
• Identify vendor solution and manage the employee engagement survey process.
• Monitor the effectiveness of implemented process improvement recommendations through quantitative and qualitative KPIs.
• Adapt and implement project management methodologies and tools to design and deliver key HR processes, coordinate various workstreams and ensure projects are rolled out to the business in a timely, well-coordinated, and high-impact manner.
• Establish project governance, outcomes and measures, scope, and recommend resourcing.
• Organize teams, structure the work and set timelines through comprehensive project plans, and ensure timely deliverables, assessing risks and anticipating obstacles.
• Manage the HR budget process.
• Other responsibilities as required or requested.

Minimum Experience & Skills Required:

• Previous experience as Shared Services, HR Business Partner or Center of Excellence team member preferred.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects.
• Strong skills in moving from strategy to operational execution.
• Passionate about process improvement and making the employee experience the best in class.
• Skilled in working with a variety of employee communication apps and platforms (e.g., PowerPoint, intranets, collaboration tools, blogs, video, photography, etc.).
• Strong analytical, strategic-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Outstanding communicator with strong executive presence.
• Excellent facilitation and collaboration with demonstrated ability in gaining trust, securing buy-in and managing change by influence at all levels.
• Strong leadership skills that focus on developing, engaging, and empowering talent.
• Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to thrive in a team-based environment that is fast-paced, rapidly changing, and service-oriented.
• Experience in business process re-engineering and process design.
• Able to assess and prioritize conflicting business priorities, quickly resolve issues, and address root causes while multi-tasking in a high-pressure environment.
• Able to lead by influence outside of hierarchy and build collaborative relationships within and outside of HR.
• Minimum 10 (ten) years of relevant experience with a BS/BA degree OR 8 (eight) years of relevant experience with an MS/MBA degree.
• SPHR or SHRM-SCP HR Certification preferred.
• Travel up to 10%.

This is a remotely based opportunity. Candidates may reside anywhere in the United States. 

First for a Reason

• Community Service & Impact

Go where opportunity meets community. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. As the face of First in your community, you’ll have a positive impact on others.

• Extensive Training

Build skills and knowledge in such areas as safety and security, injury prevention, technology and equipment, and job efficiency.

• Professional Advancement

Start here. Go far. We believe in promoting from within … which means tremendous opportunities for you, thanks to our strong presence across North America. In addition, our 18-month Aspiring Manager Program prepares future leaders at First.

• Diversity & Inclusion

Because we’re stronger together, we aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and diverse working environment for everyone every day.

• Benefits

We offer competitive compensation and benefits, including physical and mental health initiatives, medical/dental/vision, 401(k), and paid holiday/vacation.

Apply today and get your career on the road with First Student!

We aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce therefore 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. For candidates applying to positions in San Francisco or Los Angeles California, First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance or Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance. First is an equal opportunity employer and by doing so we will sustain and promote an inclusive culture that supports future growth for all.