Partnerships Manager (New York or Illinois Preferred)

Zum; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k)

Holidays

Wellness

Vacation

Job summary

Zūm Services, Inc. seeks a seasoned business development and partnerships professional with deep K-12 district relationships to drive opportunities across the Midwest and Northeast.

You will shape strategy, build a robust pipeline, and lead conversations with district leaders including Superintendents and CFOs. In this role you’ll guide RFP responses, represent Zūm at conferences and district visits, and ensure seamless handoffs to Operations after close.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of partnerships, business development, sales, or government relations in student transportation or related public-sector fields.
• Existing relationships with district leaders (Superintendents, CFOs, COOs, Transportation Directors) at state and regional levels.
• Proven ability to move deals through procurement cycles and respond to RFPs with credibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead new-business growth for defined states/regions by building strategic plans and pipeline.
• Maintain deep relationships with district leaders and state officials to drive opportunities.
• Represent Zūm at conferences, events, site visits, and industry forums to raise credibility.
• Identify timing and funding shifts that create openings and guide internal responses.
• Coach teams through RFPs and ensure smooth handoff post-close to operations.

Skills

Relationship building

Public sector sales

K-12 district relationships

Strategic account planning

Government relations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About Zūm:

Zūm is revolutionizing mass mobility with its Connected Mobility Experience (Zūm CMX)™ system that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the $50 billion student mobility market - the largest segment of the mass mobility industry – Zūm CMX is transforming a daily source of anxiety and disruption into a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Today, more than 6,500 schools rely on Zūm CMX. Recognized globally for its innovative approach and operational execution, Zūm has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, CNBC Disruptor 50 and Changemakers, the World Economic Forum, and the Financial Times’ Fastest Growing Companies lists. Zūm is backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, GIC, TPG, and Softbank.

Who You Are:

This role is about relationships, not cold outreach. We're looking for a seasoned business development and/or partnerships professional with experience in K-12 school districts, who is already known, and knows K-12 School District Leaders, including but not limited to Superintendents, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Chief Operating Officers (COOs), Business Officials, and Transportation Directors in IL and the Midwest and NY and the Northeast),who shape student mobility decisions. You’ve spent time building relationships in the room with these stakeholders: at conferences, over dinner, on the phone at odd hours. You understand the rhythm of public-sector budget cycles and RFPs, and you know how to move a relationship from a handshake to a signed contract without coming across as transactional. You'll be on Zūm's front lines - building the pipeline, shaping the strategy, and earning business that lets Zūm reach more students.

What You'll Do:

• Lead new-business growth for Zūm across a defined state or regional territory (e.g., New York or Illinois), building and executing a strategic account and government-relations plan


• Build and personally maintain deep, durable relationships with Superintendents, district Transportation Directors, Business/Finance Officials, and state-level transportation or education officials


• Represent Zūm in person — conferences, association events, district visits, and relationship-building engagements (dinners, site visits, industry functions)


• Identify and qualify new business opportunities by tracking district budget cycles, contract expirations, RFP calendars, and state policy or funding shifts that create openings


• Support competitive public-sector RFP processes, assembling and coaching internal teams through written responses and oral/interview presentations


• Serve as the trusted advisor and go-to relationship for named accounts even after close, ensuring smooth handoff to Operations and protecting the relationship through renewal


• Represent Zūm with state pupil transportation associations, school board associations, and relevant government affairs forums to build brand presence and credibility

What You Bring To Zūm:

• 10+ years of partnerships, business development, sales, or government relations experience in student transportation, transit, or a closely related public-sector-facing industry


• Existing, active relationships with Superintendents, COOs, CFO / CBOs, Transportation Directors, and/or state transportation or education officials— this is a relationship-first hire, not a cold-start territory builder


• Demonstrated success managing long, multi-stakeholder public-sector sales cycles and competitive government RFP processes, including oral/interview presentations


• Strong consultative selling skills: ability to diagnose a district's pressures and position Zūm CMX credibly


• High degree of personal integrity and discretion. This role represents Zūm to public officials and must navigate procurement ethics rules and gift/hospitality policies correctly


• Existing membership or active involvement in state pupil transportation associations (e.g., TAPT in Texas, NYAPT in New York) or national bodies (NAPT, NSTA)


• Bachelor's degree, though relevant relationship depth and track record will outweigh formal education requirements

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 pay range for this role in US is: $150,000 - $200,000

Zūm 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.