Senior Buyer

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.

Reporting to our Director of Procurement, the Senior Buyer is responsible for supporting, developing, and overseeing the procurement of all non-vehicle assets, including parts, tires, fuel, and shop supplies. The primary objective is to ensure optimal inventory stock levels and drive cost-effectiveness across the fleet’s national footprint.

This is a hands-on role that balances strategic oversight with operational execution. The Senior Buyer acts as a vital bridge between Procurement, Fleet and Maintenance functions, ensuring fleet readiness while partnering closely with Operations and Finance/Accounting teams. A key priority for this role is the implementation and management of our procure-to-pay (P2P) lifecycle and the standard PR/PO (Purchase Requisition/Purchase Order) process.

• Develop and implement effective procurement strategies to optimize spend on fleet parts, tires, fuel, and equipment

• Drive vendor negotiations to secure favorable pricing, terms, and service-level agreements

• Proactively cultivate and manage relationships with new and existing vendors to ensure a reliable supply chain

• Lead the implementation of the company's new Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and PR/PO processes across various locations

• Provide direct support to regional locations regarding fleet parts procurement and emergency sourcing needs

• Monitor part inventories across the company to prevent stockouts while minimizing carrying costs

• Partner with the Maintenance teams to support locations with Warranty Claims, ensuring maximum cost recovery from OEMs

• Support the broader Procurement, Fleet, and Maintenance functions through process improvement and standardization

• Serve as the primary owner for Fleet systems and manage local team escalations regarding: Telematics & Management - GeoTab & Fleetio; Fuel Management - Fuel card programs and vendor interfaces; Asset Compliance - Vehicle registrations and title work; Onboard Technology - Cameras, two-way radios, and tablets

• Hold local and regional teams accountable for ensuring all onboard systems (GPS, cameras, tablets) are functioning and compliant on a daily and weekly basis

• Generate and analyze Fleet & Facilities ad-hoc reports to provide visibility into spend, asset uptime, and operational performance

• Monitor and report on vendor performance metrics and compliance with procurement policies

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or a related field. Specific experience in fleet parts procurement (heavy-duty, diesel, or school bus industry) is highly preferred

• Process Expertise: Proven experience implementing and managing Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and PR/PO workflows

• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Fleet Management Information Systems (FMIS) such as Fleetio

• Skills: Negotiation: Demonstrated ability to drive cost savings through strategic sourcing. Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to influence stakeholders across Operations, Finance, and Maintenance. Project Management: Ability to implement new processes and procedures in a decentralized environment.

• Leadership: A hands-on leader who can move between high-level strategy and granular operational tasks

• SOX + Internal Controls: Deep familiarity in executing with the SOX + Internal Controls function when it comes to the purchasing function

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 base pay range for this role in US is: $120,000 to $135,000