Senior Director, Labor and Employee Relations

About Zum:

Zum is a rapidly expanding Series E startup backed by industry leaders Sequoia Capital, Soft Bank, 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 Chief People Officer, this People Leader will play a critical role in building and leading our Labor and Employee Relations function s role will work with our field locations across 15 states and counting. You will have deep knowledge of how to handle delicate and sensitive employee matters paired with a unique ability to navigate the complexities of Zūm’s business.

This role can be based remotely and will require regular travel to our different locations across the United States. Experience working in a multi‑state and unionized environment is a must‑have.

• Drive Zum’s national Labor Relations Strategy:
  Develop and implement a comprehensive employee and labor relations strategy that aligns with the organization's mission, values, and legal requirements across multiple jurisdictions
• Demonstrated ability in complex labor negotiations and experience as first chair negotiator
• Manages union contracts and is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with union leadership and agents
• Prepares and negotiates initial and renewal labor agreements in accordance with line of business and corporate mandates
• Working knowledge and interpretation of the National Labor Relations Act
• Represent the Company in arbitrations and before the National Labor Relations Board
• Effectively respond to union organizing activity and train managers on employee relations matters including card check neutrality (CCN) campaigns
• Prepares for and assists Operations, regional leadership and HR in dealing with potential labor disputes, strikes, work stoppages and other concerted activity
• Prepares and distributes contract settlement summaries to operations managers, HR partners and regional leadership
• Collaborates with other departments including HR, Operations, Finance, Security, Corporate Communications, Legal and Compliance

• Advise and assist HR and Operations on complex unionized employee investigations; ensuring adherence to the CBA, and compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations
• Manages complex situations, in partnership with Operations and HR, relating to union grievances, labour disputes, past precedences, and other unique employment issues with bargained for employees
• Partners with Operations, HR, and Legal to review and respond to grievances, legal charges, and other formal communication to union representatives
• Policy Development:
  Collaborate with Operations and HR leadership to develop, update, and enforce policies and procedures related to employee and labor relations, ensuring they are culturally appropriate, legally compliant, and operate within the management rights of the CBA
• Compliance:
  Monitor and interpret changes in Federal and State specific employment laws, labor laws and regulations; ensuring the organization's policies and practices remain compliant and adapt to emerging trends

• Analyze labor costs, trends, and operational impact of contractual provisions
• Provide executive summaries and recommendations to leadership on labor strategy, risk, and opportunities
• Collaborate with finance and operations to forecast wage/benefit costs and budget impacts