Operations Manager

OPENLANE; Vars; On-site; CAD 77,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

RRSP with company match (Canada)

Paid vacation, personal and sick time

401K (US) / RRSP (Canada) with company

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

OPENLANE in Vars, Ontario seeks an Operations Manager with automotive reconditioning and general operations experience. You will be part of the senior leadership team directing the Vehicle Logistics Center (VLC) to exceed customer expectations while maintaining efficient, profitable operations aligned with OPENLANE’s vision and values.

You will oversee day-to-day operations of multiple departments, drive profitability, efficiency, safety, and customer satisfaction, and manage reporting in key

Qualifications

• Must have 3-5 years’ operations and management experience.
• Strong business acumen and experience dealing with process & system development.

Responsibilities

• Support leadership in profitability, growth, efficiency, safety and customer satisfaction across VLC operations.
• Provide leadership and direction to employees in the operations departments, including hiring, training, coaching, assigning tasks, prioritizing workload, and monitoring output for quality and efficiency.
• Ensure smooth operations on auction day—vehicles staged and troubleshoot technical needs.
• Ensure production information and reporting are captured in VTrace, AMS, and GDC; respond to portal/internal requests promptly.
• Maintain positive relationships with customers, negotiate fees/contracts, and promote reconditioning services with sales team.
• Serve as escalation point for claims operations (arbitrations).
• Monitor and enhance VLC operations to ensure safety compliance and maintenance of equipment and vehicles.

Skills

Operations management

Business acumen

Process development

Job description

Who We Are:

At OPENLANE we make wholesale easy so our customers can be more successful.

We’re a technology company

building the world’s most advanced-and uncomplicated digital marketplace for used vehicles.

We’re a data company

helping customers buy and sell smarter with clear, actionable insights they can understand and use.

And we’re an innovation company

accelerating the future of wholesale remarketing through curiosity, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Our Values:

Driven Waybuilders. We pursue challenges that inspire us to build, create, and innovate.

Relentless Curiosity. We seek to understand and improve our customers’ experience.

Smart Risk-Taking. We transform risk into progress through data, experience, and intuition.

Fearless Ownership. We deliver what we promise and learn along the way.

We’re Looking For:

We are seeking an Operations Manager with experience in automotive reconditioning and general operations. You will be part of the senior leadership team responsible for providing overall direction for the Vehicle Logistics Center (VLC), ensuring we are exceeding customer expectations while maintaining an efficient and profitable operation that aligns with our vision and values. The Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of operational departments, which may include: the mechanical shop, detail shop, lot operations, maintenance, inspections, and security/stock-in.

Location: Vars, Ontario

You Are:

• Driven. You are focused on results and seek out opportunities to improve the shop’s performance.
• Entrepreneurial. You will identify, communicate, and recommend strategies to grow the VLC’s shop volumes.
• Accountable. You lead by example, fostering a culture of alignment, support, urgency for change, and results.
• Engaging. You create and sustain a high-trust team culture that embraces and values people’s talents, diversity, and contributions to OPENLANE’s goals.
• A Leader. You attract, engage, retain, and grow great people at OPENLANE.
• Business-Savvy. Monitor and manage controllable expenses, ensuring the department is operating efficiently and meeting financial targets including KPIs and profitability.
• Strategic. Manage the financial and operational performance of operational departments, including identifying opportunities, and implementing process improvements and corporate initiatives.

You Will:

• Support leadership in ensuring profitability and growth, efficiency, safety, and consistent customer satisfaction throughout the VLC operations.
• Provide leadership and direction to employees in the operations departments, including hiring, training, coaching, assigning tasks, prioritizing workload, and monitoring work output for quality control and operational efficiency
• Ensure smooth and trouble-free operations on auction day including ensuring vehicles are properly staged, and troubleshooting problems including technical support needs.
• Ensure production information and reporting are accurately captured in company systems, including VTrace, AMS, and GDC, and respond to portal or internal requests promptly.
• Maintain positive business relationships with customers, which may include participating in negotiations regarding fees, costs, contracts, and service agreements, and promoting retail-ready reconditioning services in collaboration with the General Manager & sales team.
• Serve as an escalation point and subject matter expert for the claims operations (arbitrations) team.
• Monitor, inspect, and enhance VLC operations to ensure compliance with corporate and industry safety standards; ensuring that all equipment, facilities, and company-owned vehicles have regular maintenance and repairs completed to remain in good working condition

Must Haves:

• 3-5 years’ operations and management experience
• Strong business acumen and experience dealing with process & system development.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience in the auction or automotive industry preferred;
• Experience in Google Suite is an asset.

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits with employer HSA contributions (US) and FSA options (US)
• Immediately vested 401K (US) or RRSP (Canada) with company match
• Paid Vacation, Personal, and Sick Time
• Paid maternity and paternity leave (US)
• Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D (US)
• Robust Employee Assistance Program
• Employer paid Leap into Service Day to volunteer
• Tuition Reimbursement for eligible programs
• Opportunities to expand your skill set and share your knowledge across a publicly traded, global organization
• Company culture of internal promotions, diverse career paths, and meaningful advancement

Compensation Range of

Annual Salary: $77,318.00 - $90,000.00

(Depending on experience, skill set, qualifications, and other relevant factors.)

Bonus Range

Target Bonus Range: $11,597.70 - $13,500.00 CAD