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 7,500 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.
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:
Zūm is seeking a Senior Program Manager, Operations Excellence to drive process improvement, standardization, and performance management across our transportation network. This role focuses on building scalable processes and KPI frameworks across fleet operations, safety, compliance, and maintenance to improve efficiency, reliability, and cost performance.
This role is ideal for candidates with backgrounds in consulting, strategic finance, logistics, or manufacturing, who bring strong analytical rigor and the ability to translate complex operational challenges into scalable, data-driven solutions.
You will partner closely with Operations, Fleet, Safety, Finance, Product, and field teams to ensure consistent execution and measurable impact across locations.
This is a hybrid position based out of our headquarters in Redwood City, CA. You will be required to be onsite 3 days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday). We will only consider candidates already located in the Bay Area.
What You'll Do:
Process Improvement & Standardization
Identify inefficiencies and design scalable SOPs across fleet, safety, compliance, and maintenance workflows
Simplify and modernize manual or inconsistent processes (e.g., inspections, audits, incident management, maintenance cycles)
Ensure processes are practical, audit-ready, and consistently adopted across locations
KPI & Performance Management
Define and implement KPIs across key areas (fleet utilization, safety performance, compliance adherence, maintenance reliability)
Build dashboards and reporting frameworks to track performance at site, regional, and company levels
Establish performance cadences (weekly/monthly) to drive accountability and continuous improvement
Cross-Functional Program Leadership
Own and drive high-impact initiatives across Operations, Fleet, Safety, Finance, and Product
Align stakeholders, clarify ownership, and improve cross-functional workflows
Act as the central connector to unblock issues and ensure progress
Execution & Continuous Improvement
Drive disciplined execution with clear milestones, timelines, and measurable outcomes
Identify risks—especially in safety and compliance—and implement mitigation plans
Conduct post-implementation reviews and continuously refine processes
Change Management & Adoption
Lead rollout and adoption of new processes, tools, and KPI frameworks
Influence stakeholders from frontline operators to senior leadership
Ensure solutions are embedded into daily operations and sustained over time
What You Bring To Zūm:
5–10+ years of experience in operations, program management, or process improvement in a fast-paced environment
Background in consulting, strategic finance, logistics, manufacturing, or related operational environments
Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from problem definition through execution
Strong communication skills with experience presenting to senior leadership
Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into insights and actionable decisions
Demonstrated ability to improve efficiency, safety, compliance, and cost performance
High ownership with the ability to operate independently and manage competing priorities
Experience building KPI frameworks, dashboards, and performance management cadences
Advanced Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs); SQL preferred
Experience in transportation, fleet operations, safety, compliance, or tech-enabled operations is a plus
Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or relevant advanced degree is a plus
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 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 CA is: $155,000 to $185,000
