Field Operations Manager, Via Student Transit
Designer Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage tech companies using design to improve health, sustainability, or prosperity for people. It backs founding teams, particularly those with design backgrounds, across sectors like fintech, healthcare, climate tech, and developer tools.
About Designer Fund
Designer Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in tech companies leveraging design to drive positive outcomes in health, sustainability, and financial prosperity. Its portfolio spans a wide range of sectors including financial infrastructure (Stripe), preventative health (Omada), collaborative tools (Notion), developer tools (Netlify), product management (Linear), payroll and benefits (Gusto), design tools (Framer), and healthcare infrastructure (Commure), among dozens of other companies across fintech, climate tech, healthcare, EdTech, and AI. The firm also runs 'Designer Founders,' a community and platform highlighting designers who have gone on to found and lead companies, reflecting its focus on backing design-driven founders and design-centric startups from early stages through growth and acquisition.
Skills
About the Role
You will be the force that keeps critical student transportation services running reliably for the communities that depend on them. This is a high-ownership, boots-on-the-ground role where you'll lead daily operations, tackle real-time challenges, and continuously elevate the student, district, and driver experience in one of Via's fastest-growing and most impactful business lines. This is a fully in-person position with the expectation that you will be onsite 4-5 days per week.
Requirements
- Operationally experienced, with a background in people management, logistics, customer service, or process-oriented work
- Relationship oriented, earning trust from drivers, school partners/districts, and teammates
- Hands-on and proactive, preferring to be in the field and solving problems where they happen
- Tactical and strategic, able to problem-solve issues as they arise and think long term
- Mission driven, understanding the value of student transportation
- Based in the Sacramento, San Jose, or Santa Rosa area, ready to be onsite 4-5 days a week
Responsibilities
- Run the daily onsite operations of the service to ensure safe, reliable, and accessible transportation
- Make informed, real-time decisions about driver supply, compliance, student needs, and unexpected issues
- Guide and support drivers by building strong relationships, addressing concerns, and ensuring they feel equipped to deliver great service
- Turn student and district feedback into tangible improvements by spotting patterns and collaborating with internal teams
- Use data and technology to understand service performance, diagnose problems, and implement solutions
- Act as a key operational bridge between school partners, drivers, and Via central teams
Benefits
- Free medical plans
- 401K matching