Operations Supervisor

Zūm is a rapidly expanding Series E startup backed by industry leaders Sequoia Capital, SoftBank, Spark Capital, and GIC, with a bold mission to transform the stagnant school transportation industry. Operating in over 15 states across the United States—with flagship hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle—we are actively extending our reach to the East Coast and Midwest regions. As a technology-driven company, we deploy cutting-edge solutions to manage and operate school district transportation systems while also launching our own charter platform and developing proprietary SaaS offerings. Additionally, we are spearheading a nationwide initiative to electrify school transportation fleets, simultaneously supporting local utilities by feeding much-needed energy back into the grid. We have been recognized as CNBC 50 disruptor, Financial Times 500 fastest growing companies, Fast Company World Changing Ideas.

We're seeking an experienced Operations Supervisor to support daily transportation operations at our Roanoke, VA location. Reporting directly to the Location Manager, you'll oversee front-line supervisory teams, ensure operational excellence, and drive performance across all key operational areas. This role is critical to maintaining service quality, team development, and customer satisfaction while supporting the location's strategic goals and growth initiatives.

You're a hands-on leader who thrives in the controlled chaos of daily operations. You know how to balance competing priorities without losing sight of safety, service quality, and team morale. You're a problem-solver who takes ownership and finds solutions rather than excuses. You build trust with your team through consistency, fairness, and genuine investment in their success. You're comfortable working in the field, whether coaching a supervisor through a tough conversation, troubleshooting a route issue, or jumping in to support operations when needed. You communicate clearly up, down, and across the organization, keeping everyone informed and aligned. You understand that operational excellence comes from empowering your team rather than micromanaging them, and you take pride in seeing your people grow and succeed.

 • Oversee day-to-day transportation operations, including scheduling, staffing, route assignments, and field trip/charter coordination

 • Monitor and analyze operational KPIs using Zum's IT infrastructure, implementing corrective actions to exceed performance targets

 • Partner with the Location Manager to maintain operational readiness, respond to real-time challenges, and ensure facilities are organized, safe, and efficiently operated

 • Collaborate with the Maintenance Manager to ensure fleet readiness and regulatory compliance while supporting budget management through monitoring of labor costs and operational expenses

• Directly supervise and coach the staff, providing guidance, feedback, and professional development

• Collaborate with HR, Recruiting, and Safety teams to execute hiring plans,maintain adequate staffing levels, and investigate and resolve employee concerns

• Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement by conducting regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and development planning with direct reports

• Identify and develop high-potential team members for advancement opportunities

• Champion a behavioral safety culture that prioritizes the well-being of employees, students, and the community while ensuring compliance with all state, federal, DOT regulations, company policies, and customer contract requirements

• Review incident reports, oversee accident/incident reporting procedures, and maintain accurate documentation

• Maintain strong relationships with internal and external customers, ensuring service expectations are consistently met or exceeded

• Respond promptly to customer inquiries, service issues, and operational concerns with professionalism and urgency while acting as an escalation point for problem resolution

• 2+ years of experience maintaining client relationships and managing accounts in an operational setting

• 2+ years of supervisory or people-leadership experience managing teams of 25+ employees in fast-paced, time-sensitive operational settings (e.g., transportation, field services, logistics, hospitality, or similar industries)

• 2+ years of experience managing day-to-day operations in complex, time-sensitive environments such as transportation, field services, logistics, hospitality, or similar industries

• Bachelor's degree in Business Analytics, Business Management, Operations Management, or related field, or 4+ years of equivalent professional experience in operations leadership

• Experience in a unionized environment and familiarity with collective bargaining agreements (CBAs)

• Experience in K-12 transportation or working with school district customers

Proficiency with transportation management systems, fleet management software, or operational IT platforms, and Microsoft or G Suite applications (Sheets, Docs, Slides, etc.)

• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage concurrent priorities and deadlines

• Demonstrated track record of developing direct reports and building high-performing supervisory teams

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization

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 CA, USA is: $90,000- $96,000