Zum is a student transportation company headquartered in the United States that provides technology-driven school bus and ride services for K-12 students. The company partners with school districts to modernize student transportation through a platform that connects drivers, schools, parents, and students in real time, offering improved safety, visibility, and efficiency compared to traditional school bus operations. Zum emphasizes the use of data and technology to optimize routes and improve the overall transportation experience for families and school administrators.
A core part of Zum's mission is accelerating the transition to clean transportation by deploying electric vehicles for student transit. The company has committed to electrifying its fleet and has partnered with school districts and utilities to introduce electric school buses, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality for children and communities. Zum positions itself as a leader in sustainable student mobility, aligning fleet electrification with broader climate goals.
What makes Zum unique is its integrated approach combining a managed services model with proprietary technology and a growing electric vehicle fleet. Rather than simply selling software, Zum takes on the full operational responsibility of running transportation programs for school districts, making it easier for districts to transition to greener, more efficient systems without the burden of fleet ownership or logistics management.
About Zūm:
Zūm is revolutionizing mass mobility with its Connected Mobility Experience (Zūm CMX™) system that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the $50 billion student mobility market – the largest segment of the mass mobility industry – Zūm CMX is transforming a daily source of anxiety and disruption into a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Today, more than 6,500 schools rely on Zūm CMX. Recognized globally for its innovative approach and operational execution, Zūm has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, CNBC Disruptor 50 and Changemakers, the World Economic Forum, and the Financial Times’ Fastest Growing Companies lists. Zūm is backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, GIC, TPG, and Softbank.
The targeted base salary range for this role is listed in the compensation section below. Actual salary may be above or below this range based on factors such as location, skills, and relevant experience. In addition, this position may include additional compensation in the form of bonus, equity, or commissions. If you are a full-time salaried or hourly worker, we offer the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Holidays, Wellness, Vacation, and more. The targeted pay range for this role in US is: $150,000 - $200,000
Zūm Services, Inc. and all its subsidiaries provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Who You Are:
This role is about relationships, not cold outreach. We're looking for a seasoned business development professional with experience in K-12 school districts, who is already known, and knows K-12 School District Leaders, including but not limited to Superintendents, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Chief Operating Officers (COOs), Business Officials, and Transportation Directors in IL and the Midwest and NY and the Northeast),who shape student mobility decisions. You’ve spent time building relationships in the room with these stakeholders: at conferences, over dinner, on the phone at odd hours. You understand the rhythm of public-sector budget cycles and RFPs, and you know how to move a relationship from a handshake to a signed contract without coming across as transactional. You'll be on Zūm's front lines - building the pipeline, shaping the strategy, and earning business that lets Zūm reach more students.
What You'll Do:
Lead new-business growth for Zūm across a defined state or regional territory (e.g., New York or Illinois), building and executing a strategic account and government-relations plan
Build and personally maintain deep, durable relationships with Superintendents, district Transportation Directors, Business/Finance Officials, and state-level transportation or education officials
Represent Zūm in person — conferences, association events, district visits, and relationship-building engagements (dinners, site visits, industry functions)
Identify and qualify new business opportunities by tracking district budget cycles, contract expirations, RFP calendars, and state policy or funding shifts that create openings
Support competitive public-sector RFP processes, assembling and coaching internal teams through written responses and oral/interview presentations
Serve as the trusted advisor and go-to relationship for named accounts even after close, ensuring smooth handoff to Operations and protecting the relationship through renewal
Represent Zūm with state pupil transportation associations, school board associations, and relevant government affairs forums to build brand presence and credibility
What You Bring To Zūm:
10+ years of business development, sales, or government relations experience in student transportation, transit, or a closely related public-sector-facing industry
Existing, active relationships with Superintendents, COOs, CFO / CBOs, Transportation Directors, and/or state transportation or education officials— this is a relationship-first hire, not a cold-start territory builder
Demonstrated success managing long, multi-stakeholder public-sector sales cycles and competitive government RFP processes, including oral/interview presentations
Strong consultative selling skills: ability to diagnose a district's pressures and position Zūm CMX credibly
High degree of personal integrity and discretion. This role represents Zūm to public officials and must navigate procurement ethics rules and gift/hospitality policies correctly
Existing membership or active involvement in state pupil transportation associations (e.g., TAPT in Texas, NYAPT in New York) or national bodies (NAPT, NSTA)
Bachelor's degree, though relevant relationship depth and track record will outweigh formal education requirements
