People Operations Manager
Redwood City, CA
People – People Ops /
Full-time /
Hybrid
About Zum:
Zum 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.
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, & Thursday). We will only consider candidates already located in the Bay Area.
Who You Are:
To be successful in the People Operations Manager role, you are a confident generalist who thrives in high-growth, fast-paced environments. Benefits may be an area you’re particularly passionate about, but you’re ready (and eager) to go broader. You relish the idea of creating structure where there was ambiguity and complexity. You've supported organizations with large non-exempt populations and understand the real-world challenges of building equitable, compliant, and employee-friendly programs at scale. You're analytical and empathetic, tactical and strategic.
What You'll Do:
• Help define benefits strategy and own operationalizing it company wide , including PEO, MERP, union benefits, 401(k), and Leaves of Absence
• Manage annual benefits, open enrollment, broker relationships, and employee education
• Ensure benefits compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, etc.)
• Monitor benefit utilization and cost trends and drive strategic recommendations
• Support and own select People Programs including compliance, compensation, performance, and learning
• Lead and improve related People programs like wellness, recognition, and employee communications
Act As A Hands-On Generalist:
• Partner with HR leadership to support broader People initiatives across the employee lifecycle
• Collaborate with field HRBPs, payroll, legal, and finance to operationalize policies and programs
• Support employee relations, compliance initiatives, and special projects at HQ as needed
• Own and continuously improve People systems, documentation, and internal processes
• Build scalable programs with the foresight needed for a growing, distributed workforce
• Support workforce initiatives across exempt and non-exempt populations, including union and non-union environments
• Work cross-functionally to translate People Ops strategy into practical, field-ready processes
• Provide guidance and support on complex employee questions, especially regarding benefits and leaves
• Provide guidance and support on complex employee questions, especially regarding benefits and leaves
What You Bring To Zūm:
• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally in early-stage or scaling startups
• Deep expertise in benefits strategy, compliance, and administration
• Demonstrated success managing HR programs for large, distributed, hourly workforces
• Strong systems and process orientation, with a love for solving messy problems
• A natural collaborator and communicator, equally effective with employees, brokers, and executives
• Proficiency in HRIS platforms, benefits systems, and comfort navigating ambiguity
• Strong Excel / Google Sheets expertise
Bonus Points If You Have:
• Built or scaled HR programs in a Series B–E stage startup
• Experience managing across unionized environments
• Led HR initiatives beyond benefits: onboarding, performance, policy, change management, compliance, etc
• A point of view on what makes people programs meaningful, not just efficient
• An interest in exploring how AI can increase effectiveness and the will to experiment
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: $145,00 to $180,000
Zum 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.
