Shop Manager

Zūm 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.

Interested in joining us? We’re hiring for several roles with a June 2026 start date, and we’ll be reviewing applications and scheduling interviews in the coming weeks.

We're seeking an experienced Shop Manager to lead maintenance operations at our Shawnee, KS location. This role encompasses the complete maintenance lifecycle—from fleet intake and facility setup to daily shop management and continuous improvement. You'll build high‑performing technician teams, manage maintenance budgets and KPIs, and establish best‑in‑class fleet operations that ensure maximum vehicle availability and safety compliance. You'll be the backbone of our transportation operations, ensuring every vehicle is safe, reliable, and ready to serve students and communities.

You're a hands‑on leader who thrives in the controlled chaos of a busy maintenance facility where priorities shift by the hour. You balance operational urgency with meticulous safety and compliance standards, never cutting corners on what matters most. You're a natural problem‑solver who can diagnose both mechanical issues and operational inefficiencies with equal skill. You see potential in technicians and invest in their development, building teams that take pride in their work and own their outcomes.

You're equally comfortable reviewing work orders and budget reports, troubleshooting a complex electrical issue with your team, or explaining fleet readiness metrics to district administrators. You take pride in running a tight ship—where tools are accounted for, documentation is impeccable, and buses roll out on time.

• Execute complete shop start‑ups for newly awarded contracts, including facility setup, tool and equipment procurement, parts inventory establishment, and fleet intake processes.
• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance programs that meet or exceed state, federal, DOT, and district requirements.
• Ensure maximum daily vehicle availability through strategic maintenance scheduling, efficient repair workflows, and proactive fleet health monitoring.
• Manage shop operations to ensure consistency and excellence across all maintenance activities.
• Partner with Location Manager to coordinate fleet readiness and support operational scheduling needs.

• Utilize Zum's fleet management systems to monitor, analyze, and exceed maintenance KPIs including PMI compliance, mean distance between failures, out‑of‑service time, and first‑time fix rates.
• Lead a safety‑first maintenance culture that protects technicians, drivers, students, and the broader community.
• Ensure complete compliance with FMCSA, DOT, CHP Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, ADA requirements, and all applicable federal and state regulations.
• Maintain meticulous maintenance records, inspection documentation, and regulatory files ready for audit at all times.
• Maintain maintenance budget accountability in alignment with company financial guidelines.

• Collaborate with Human Resources and Recruiting teams to strategize and execute hiring plans for technician positions that support operational needs.
• Develop and coach maintenance…