Director of Product & Customer Marketing
About the job
- 8+ years of B2B product marketing or customer marketing experience, ideally at a SaaS or technology company; experience with complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles is a strong plus.
- A portfolio demonstrating the ability to take a complicated product and craft messaging that is clear, differentiated, and memorable.
- Deep expertise in positioning methodology, including building frameworks from scratch, stress-testing them with sales teams, and iterating based on win/loss data.
- Excellence in writing, including compelling storytelling, crisp narratives, best-practices blog posts, and punchy value-proposition taglines.
- Proven customer marketing experience owning reference programs, case study pipelines, and expansion campaigns that drove measurable retention and growth outcomes.
- Experience as a player-coach who leads by doing while also thinking strategically.
- Comfort operating in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment where ambiguity is the norm and speed is a competitive advantage.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to engage with C-suite buyers and school district superintendents.
- Experience working closely with Sales, Product, and Customer Success to align go-to-market motions and build shared accountability for pipeline and revenue outcomes.
- A gen AI-native working style, including active use of AI tools for research, drafting, competitive analysis, and campaign ideation, with sound judgment about where human judgment and craft remain essential.
- Define and continuously sharpen the platform positioning so that the value proposition is differentiated, credible, and resonant across buyer personas and market segments.
- Translate roadmap and product releases into compelling narratives.
- Partner with Product and Sales to develop messaging frameworks, product one-pagers, battlecards, and pitch decks that equip the field to win.
- Lead go-to-market planning for new product launches and feature releases, owning the strategy, timeline, and cross-functional execution.
- Build and run the customer marketing engine, including onboarding communications, adoption campaigns, reference programs, and expansion plays.
- Develop customer stories, case studies, and return-on-investment narratives for Sales, Customer Success, and the market.
- Create executive roundtables, advisory councils, and co-marketing opportunities that turn satisfied customers into advocates.
- Partner with Customer Success to track adoption signals and design targeted campaigns that deepen engagement and reduce churn.
- Monitor the competitive landscape and synthesize intelligence into actionable guidance for Sales and leadership.
- Establish the company as a category-defining voice in school transportation technology through thought leadership, awards, analyst relationships, and speaking opportunities.
- Collaborate with Demand Generation to activate messaging and positioning consistently across campaigns, advertisements, content, and events.
- Over time, hire, develop, and inspire a lean team of marketers while setting standards for craft, strategic thinking, and cross-functional partnership.
- Write, edit, present, and build marketing materials while modeling the expected behavior.
- Partner with the CMO to shape the overall marketing strategy and represent the function with executive stakeholders.
- Experience in edtech, govtech, or selling into the public sector or school districts.
- Familiarity with Salesforce, HubSpot, Highspot, Gong, or similar sales and marketing platforms; comfort using generative artificial intelligence tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity.
- A background in category creation or narrative-led marketing at a growth-stage startup.
About the company
Zum provides a technology-driven school transportation service. It operates a fleet—including electric vehicles—focused on safety, efficiency, and sustainability, mainly serving schools and districts. The product is a platform that analyzes routes and operations to optimize schedules, predict traffic, and manage fleets. It includes an app for parents, drivers, and schools to track buses and student rides in real time, increasing transparency and safety while saving time and costs. Drivers and operators get tools to manage staffing and routing, and schools stay securely aligned with families and drivers. Compared with traditional bus services, Zum emphasizes data-driven route optimization, real-time visibility, and environmental sustainability to differentiate itself. The company aims to improve student safety, reduce operational costs, and lower carbon emissions by using smart routing and electric vehicles, growing its footprint through school contracts and parent-based access.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Growth Equity (Venture Capital)
Total Funding
$468.8M
Headquarters
Redwood City, California
Founded
2014
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- September 2026 New York expansion opened the Northeast's largest student-mobility market.
- Howard County renewed Zum through 2031, signaling district retention after early turmoil.
- Philadelphia's August 2026 operations center and hiring event deepen local execution.
What critics are saying
- Johnston parents and town officials accused Zum of delays and contract breach in September 2026.
- A 2026 Virginia federal wrongful-termination lawsuit keeps employee-trust risk alive.
- Philadelphia or Johnston failure triggers contract terminations and stalls Zum's national expansion.
What makes Zūm unique
- Zum CMX unifies routing, dispatch, family communication, and driver workflows in one platform.
- In September 2026, Zum started San Francisco's first districtwide electric school-bus rollout.
- By August 2026, Zum served 6,500 schools in 19 states.
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Benefits
Competitive compensation, including cash and equity
Medical, dental and vision benefits, including paid membership to One Medical
Unlimited vacation policy
Free daily catered lunches + fully stocked kitchen at HQ
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 1%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↑ 1%Zum named to Financial Times list of The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2024. Press Contact Jenny Mayfield VP Communications REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 4, 2024 - Today the Financial Times announced that Zūm ranks among "The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2024," a recognition that supports Zum's position as the leader in modern student transportation. This is the second year in a row that Zum has won this prestigious award. The Financial Times names Zum one of "The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2024," a recognition that supports Zum's position as the leader in modern student transportation. The annual list, compiled by the Financial Times in partnership with Statista, features the top 500 companies in the Americas that have achieved the strongest growth in revenues between 2019 and 2022. Data was collected through official sources like publicly available earning presentations, investor relations, websites and annual reports. "We are honored to be named one of The America's Fastest Growing Companies by the Financial Times for the second year in a row. I started Zum to ensure that every child has access to safe, reliable and sustainable transportation, and have been moved by the traction across the US," said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO at Zum. "This ranking on the 2024 list underscores widespread support of our mission, and we're grateful to all of the school districts, families, drivers and communities nationwide that are making it possible." Zum recently announced a $26.5 million grant from the EPA and a $140 million funding round from investors that will be used to help school district partners electrify their school bus fleets and accelerate the expansion of Zum's AI-driven technology platform, a key tool in the company's effort to fully decarbonize the school bus industry. Zum is the first and only 100% carbon neutral student transportation company in the U.S., and through its Net Zero Initiative, the company is leading in electric school bus conversion. Zum manages and operates student transportation in Massachusetts, Maryland, California, Washington, Texas, Illinois, and Tennessee with significant operations launching this year in Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Missouri and Connecticut. To learn more about how Zum is working with thousands of schools across the nation to deliver safe, reliable and modern student transportation, please visit Zum's website. About Zum:Zum has modernized student transportation, the nation's largest mass transit system, and developed sustainable ways to charge the grid. Zum's robust operations and integrated end-to-end cloud-based platform provides a modern student transportation service for school districts purpose-built around the needs of kids and the expectations of modern families. Zum provides one seamless, real-time interface for parents, drivers, schools, districts, administrators, and operators to transport children safely and with increased visibility and personalized care. Always investing in the wellbeing of communities, Zum is also the only carbon neutral student transportation provider in the nation with plans to go Net Zero with its transition to EV electric buses. Zum is available nationwide, serving more than 4,000 schools across the U.S. Learn more at www.ridezum.com. SOURCE Zūm View all posts September 15, 2026 Zum Recognized by the Fast Company 2026 Innovation by Design Awards August 17, 2026 Meet Ritu Narayan, whose transportation startup has revolutionized the US school bus system with technology, becoming a $1.7 billion unicorn
The Most Important Commute by Zum Founder and CEO Ritu Narayan named #1 Amazon bestseller in Education Administration. Sep 01, 2026, 17:43 ET New book makes the case that reliable student mobility is fundamental to access to education REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - The Most Important Commute, the new book by Zūm Founder and CEO Ritu Narayan, has reached #1 on Amazon's bestseller list in Education Administration, underscoring growing recognition of student mobility as a critical part of educational access and outcomes. Every day, approximately 26 million students rely on school buses to get to and from school, making student mobility one of the largest mass mobility systems in the United States. Yet the system has historically operated with fragmented technology, limited visibility and outdated infrastructure. In The Most Important Commute, Narayan draws on more than a decade building Zum and working with school districts, families, drivers and transportation leaders to examine why the journey to school is much more than a transportation challenge - it is an education issue. "Every conversation about improving education starts in the classroom, but for millions of students, access to education begins long before they walk through the school doors," said Narayan. "The school bus is the bridge between a child and everything education can make possible. Seeing The Most Important Commute reach #1 in Education Administration reinforces how important this conversation has become." The book highlights transformations underway in school districts across the country and explores how technology, AI and modern operations can improve reliability, reduce student commute times, provide greater transparency for families and make transportation systems more efficient. "Zum's track record, along with its enhanced communication and equity-focused decision making, has greatly benefited our students, families and drivers," said Dr. Jennifer Collier, Superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools. "It has been a game-changer for KCPS and our community." Today, Zum supports more than 6,500 schools across 19 states through Zum CMX(TM), its unified, AI-powered operating system purpose-built for student mobility. "The story of student mobility is ultimately a story about opportunity," Narayan said. "When a child can count on getting to school safely and reliably every day, an entire world opens up to them. That is why this is - and always will be - the most important commute." The Most Important Commute is available on Amazon. To learn more about how Zum is leading the nation in redefining student mobility, visit www.ridezum.com. About Ritu Narayan Ritu Narayan is the Founder and CEO of Zum, a technology entrepreneur and working mother who founded Zum after experiencing firsthand the challenges families face getting children safely and reliably to and from school. Under her leadership, Zūm has grown to support more than 6,500 schools across 19 states. Zum is redefining mass mobility with Zum CMX, which connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the student mobility market, Zum is addressing a daily source of anxiety and disruption by providing a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Learn more at www.ridezum.com. Today, more than 6,500 schools in 199 states have relied on the Zum CMX(TM) system. Media Contact SOURCE Zūm
Zum reaches 19 states with New York expansion. The addition of the Empire State to the student transportation company's roster marks a growing expansion in the Northeast as it scales its tech and school bus services. August 24, 2026 2 min to read * Zum has expanded its student transportation services to New York, making it the 19th state in its operations. * The company's entrance into New York signifies its growing presence in the Northeast region. * Zum provides tech-integrated school bus services, aligning with its expansion strategy. *Summarized by AI Zūm has expanded its presence into New York, marking the 19th state in Zum's growing national footprint. The expansion establishes a strategic presence in one of the country's largest student mobility markets and creates a foundation to bring safe, reliable, and technology-driven student mobility to more districts in the Northeast. "Expanding into New York is an exciting milestone for Zum and an important step in our continued national growth," said Ritu Narayan, founder and CEO of Zum. "Every expansion brings us closer to our goal of ensuring every student has access to safe, reliable transportation to school. Establishing a presence in New York gives us an important foundation in the broader Northeast, and we look forward to bringing a fundamentally better student mobility experience to more students, families and school districts throughout the region." New York adds to Zum's Northeast growth. Zum's expansion reflects demand from school districts nationwide for an alternative to fragmented, legacy transportation systems, the company said in its announcement. Its new tech platform, Zum CMX is designed to help districts transform transportation from a daily logistical challenge into a connected, transparent, and reliable experience. As of March 2026, Zum operated in 15 states. This past June, it added Rhode Island. It now operates across 19 states and serves more than 6,500 schools. Zum expands operations for the new school year. Going into the new school year, Zum began its third school year in Omaha and Santa Barbara, and year two in St. Louis. Earlier this month, Washoe County School District in Nevada selected its CMX platform. This year it begins offering special education route service in Fresno, California. Last month, Zum also announced it was opening a new lot in Seattle to better serve its drivers and support Zum's growing operations across Seattle Public Schools. Earlier this month, it opened a new Philadelphia operations center. Ad Loading... "Back to school is when months of preparation come to life," said Liz Sanchez, executive vice president of student mobility at Zum. "Our teams spend months hiring and training drivers, validating routes and working alongside our district partners to prepare. Then you see the drivers arrive and the buses roll on that first morning. They understand the responsibility they carry and the difference they make for students and families." Last June, Zum also announced a new five-year contract with Stamford Public Schools in Connecticut beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Recent recognition for Zum's growth. The company was recently recognized on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, was a finalist in the 2026 Reuters Global Sustainability Awards its CEO made Forbes 50 Over 50 and was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year.
Zum, a student mobility company, has expanded into New York state, its 19th state nationwide. The company now serves more than 6,500 schools across the US. The expansion establishes Zum's presence in one of the country's largest student mobility markets and creates a foundation for growth across the Northeast. Specific district partnerships will be announced in the coming weeks. "Expanding into New York is an exciting milestone for Zum and an important step in our continued national growth," said Ritu Narayan, founder and chief executive officer of Zum. Zum uses its CMX platform to connect and coordinate people, vehicles, and operations in real time, aiming to provide reliable, transparent transportation for students and families.
Zum, a student mobility company, has appointed Matthew Klein as Vice President of Software Sales. Klein will lead Zum's software-only business as the company expands its AI-powered Zum CMX solution nationwide. Prior to joining Zum, Klein spent eight years at Coursera, where he built and led the company's government business. He holds an MBA from UC Berkeley and a BA in Political Science from Haverford College. Zum CMX is a unified, AI-powered platform designed for student mobility, connecting routing, dispatch, drivers, schools, families, safety, and operations in real time. The company currently supports more than 6,500 schools across 19 states, with partnerships including major districts such as Los Angeles Unified, Boston Public Schools, and Seattle Public Schools.