Safety Manager

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. About the Role We're seeking an experienced Safety Manager to lead safety operations at our [location] location. This role encompasses the complete safety lifecycle—from program development and training implementation to incident management and regulatory compliance. You'll build a culture of behavioral safety, manage safety department staff, and establish best-in-class safety standards that protect employees, students, and the communities we serve. You'll be the guardian of our most important value, ensuring every person arrives home safely every day. What Makes You Successful in This Role You're a passionate safety advocate with a commitment to zero incidents. You balance proactive prevention with responsive incident management in dynamic transportation environments. You make safety training engaging and memorable, turning compliance requirements into genuine behavior change. You analyze incident data, conduct field observations with drivers, present safety metrics to district administrators, and investigate accident scenes with equal confidence. You interpret regulations, influence behavior through clear communication, and build a culture where safety is everyone's responsibility. Responsibilities Safety Culture & Training Leadership Champion behavioral safety principles throughout the organization. Design, develop, and implement comprehensive initial and recurrent training programs for all transportation personnel including drivers, monitors, and support staff Oversee all training activities including new driver training, safety training, in-service training, driver road evaluations, special education training, first aid training, and all other required training Conduct regularly scheduled safety meetings, recognition programs, and award programs that reinforce Zum's safety-first culture and meet or exceed state, federal, FMCSA, DOT, and district requirements Performance Management & Compliance Utilize Zum's safety management systems to monitor, analyze, and exceed safety KPIs including accident frequency, severity rates, training compliance, and behavioral observation metrics Ensure complete compliance with FMCSA regulations, state pupil transportation laws, OSHA standards, DOT requirements, and maintain meticulous safety records, training documentation, and regulatory files ready for audit Monitor Netradyne alerts and vehicle camera systems to proactively address retraining opportunities, and maintain individual driver files including training dates and accident history Team Development & Safety Operations Manage and lead safety department staff including Field Supervisors and Driver Trainers by establishing clear objectives, performance standards, work schedules, and accountability measures Collaborate with Recruiting teams to recruit, select, and maintain authorized staffing levels, coordinate drug testing requirements, and ensure all required certifications are up to date Supervise and oversee the work of Master Trainers and certified drivers/trainers who assist with general bus driver training, ensuring training delivery meets standards Incident Management & Investigation Serve as primary point of contact for all personnel injuries and vehicle accidents, ensuring immediate response and proper case management Lead thorough accident and incident investigations using root cause analysis methodologies and prepare all required incident reports in accordance with Zum policy and regulatory requirements Coordinate with insurance adjusters, claims administrators, and workers' compensation providers to ensure proper documentation and timely resolution. Interface directly with customers to communicate incident details and corrective actions Qualifications Basic Qualifications: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in safety management within the transportation industry, with a strong preference for experience in school bus or passenger transportation In-depth knowledge of FMCSA regulations, state pupil transportation laws, OSHA/DOT standards Commercial Driver's License Preferred Qualifications: Supervisory experience, specifically in supervising and training a driver workforce Commercial Driver's License with Passenger and School Bus Endorsements Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex data and findings clearly Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Director of Pupil Transportation (CDPT), or other relevant safety certifications are preferred SBDI (School Bus Driver Instructor) certification Prior experience with vehicle camera and monitoring systems The targeted pay range for this role: $70,000 - $80,000