How to apply for Strategy & Operations Principal, Partner Operations

About Via Transporation

Via transforms public and private transportation systems worldwide with software that powers efficient, affordable, and sustainable networks—from microtransit to paratransit. Working here means joining a mission-driven, fast-scaling tech company where you directly shape how cities move, often launching and running services on the ground with real community impact.

About the role

As Strategy & Operations Principal, Partner Operations, you’ll own the on-site daily operations of Via’s service for a key partner in New York, acting as the real-time point of contact for drivers and dispatchers while managing a round-the-clock team. You’ll blend people leadership, data-driven process improvement, and external relationship-building to ensure world-class customer service, compliance, and operational efficiency.

A typical day

You might start with a morning stand-up with shift managers to review overnight KPIs and staffing gaps, then jump into driver escalations, partner check-ins, and a data deep-dive to improve scheduling efficiency. Later, you’d coach a dispatcher, prep a report for Via senior management, and meet with a local community organization—all while keeping the 24/7 operation running smoothly.

Who Via Transporation is looking for

• 6–10 years in operations management (e.g., transportation, logistics, mobility, or high-growth tech ops) with a Bachelor’s degree and a track record of running 24/7 teams.
• A hands-on, independent self-starter who thrives under high responsibility and can make quick, tactful decisions in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
• A savvy communicator and relationship-builder who can engage drivers, dispatchers, partner leadership, community leaders, and Via senior management with equal ease.
• A detail-oriented executor obsessed with KPIs, compliance, and continuous improvement—someone who coaches and develops teams while fostering a collaborative, energetic culture.

Tips for this application

• Quantify operational scale in your resume: number of drivers/dispatchers managed, fleet size, daily trips, on-time performance %, cost-per-trip reductions, or KPI improvements you drove.
• Highlight 24/7 or shift-based operations experience explicitly—Via’s service runs around the clock, so show how you scheduled, mentored, and retained shift managers and dispatchers.
• Name-drop relevant NYC or partner-facing context: if you’ve worked with MTA, NYC DOT, paratransit, or local community organizations, connect it directly to Via’s partner operations.
• Show tech fluency: mention tools like dispatch software, SQL/Excel dashboards, Tableau, or any experience translating data into operational playbooks—Via is a software company first.
• Mirror Via’s language: use terms like 'partner operations,' 'driver partners,' 'real-time point of contact,' and 'world-class customer service' to signal you understand their model.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize: (1) a concrete example of managing a 24/7 operation and improving KPIs; (2) your ability to lead, coach, and develop a team of dispatchers/shift managers; (3) experience being the external face of an operation with partners, drivers, and community leaders; (4) comfort with data and compliance in a fast-paced, high-responsibility environment. Tie each to Via’s mission of transforming transport systems.

Research before applying

• Via’s business model and product suite: microtransit, paratransit, school transportation, and how partner operations fit into their B2B/B2G contracts.
• Recent Via news and case studies—especially any NYC or U.S. partner launches, expansions, or partnerships with transit agencies.
• Via’s company values and culture (e.g., 'Via is a team of teams') and how they talk about driver partners and customer service in blog posts or press.
• The competitive landscape in NYC mobility (e.g., MTA, Curb, Revel, Chariot’s history) to speak credibly about operational challenges.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you handle a real-time operational crisis—e.g., a driver shortage during peak hours or a service disruption affecting a partner’s customers?
• Describe how you’ve built and tracked KPIs for a 24/7 operations team; which metrics matter most for Via’s partner service?
• Give an example of coaching an underperforming dispatcher or shift manager—what was your approach and outcome?
• How would you build relationships with driver partners, community leaders, and a demanding external partner simultaneously?
• Via is a software company running on-the-ground operations—how do you balance data-driven process improvement with the human, real-time needs of drivers and customers?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on strategy and analytics without proving you can roll up your sleeves for on-site, real-time operations and shift management.
• Underestimating the people-leadership aspect—talking about drivers/dispatchers as resources rather than partners you coach, motivate, and retain.
• Ignoring Via’s tech-first identity—applying like it’s a traditional transport company and not showing comfort with data, software, and rapid iteration.