Auction Operations Manager

Machine Tool Bids; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Machine Tool Bids is seeking an Auction Operations Manager to own post-auction execution from contract to final equipment removal, ensuring profitability and a flawless buyer experience. You will coordinate internal teams, buyers, sellers, riggers, trucking, and accounting, ensuring invoices, asset lists, and removal details are accurate and on schedule, protecting margins.

Ideal candidates bring outstanding organizational, communication, and vendor management skills, with a track record of

Qualifications

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication.
• Experience in a fast-paced, self-driven environment.
• Financial accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience coordinating multiple projects simultaneously.
• Comfortable working with vendors and customers.
• Ability to prioritize rapidly changing workloads.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Auction Operations: review contracts for accuracy and coordinate with Account Managers; coordinate Accounts Payable; ensure customer payments are collected; verify vendor invoices; protect profitability.

Skills

Organizational skills

Verbal and written communication

Fast-paced environment

Financial accuracy

Multi-project coordination

Vendor/customer relations

Prioritization

MS Office & Google Workspace

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Own the execution of every Machine Tool Bids auction post contract signature through final equipment removal by creating operational clarity, financial accuracy, and an exceptional experience for buyers, sellers, and vendors.

This role exists to ensure every auction is profitable, organized, and professionally executed while allowing the sales and auction teams to focus on winning business.

Position Summary

The Auction Operations Manager owns everything that happens operationally after an auction is secured.

You'll coordinate internal teams, buyers, sellers, riggers, trucking companies, and accounting while ensuring every detail is accurate, from invoices to asset lists to equipment removal.

Success in this position means auctions finish smoothly, customers remain happy, vendors get paid correctly, and Machine Tool Bids consistently protects and grows its profit margins.

Core Responsibilities

Auction Operations

• Review Auction Contracts for accuracy and coordinate with Account Managers to verify/clarify as needed.
• Coordinate Accounts Payable
• Ensure customer payments are collected
• Verify vendor invoices prior to payment
• Protect company profitability through operational accuracy

Coordinate all equipment removal activities including:

• Managing facility loading schedules
• Resolving logistical conflicts
• Working directly with buyers throughout equipment removal

Buyer Experience

Serve as the primary operational contacts for auction buyers.

Responsibilities include:

• Answer inbound customer calls
• Assist with invoicing questions
• Connect buyers with financing resources
• Route technical equipment questions to the appropriate sales representative
• Resolve customer issues professionally

Build book of Vendors and develop strong working relationships with:

• Trucking companies
• Warehouses

What Success Looks Like

• Auctions execute without operational surprises
• Buyers consistently have a positive experience
• Vendor relationships continue to strengthen
• Financial records are accurate
• Rigging costs stay within budget
• Asset lists are error-free
• Equipment removal stays on schedule
• Internal teams trust operational information
• Problems are solved before they become crises

Ideal Candidate

You are someone who enjoys bringing order to complexity.

You naturally think several steps ahead and understand how small operational mistakes can create expensive downstream problems.

You remain calm under pressure, communicate professionally, and know how to negotiate without damaging relationships.

You enjoy solving problems and take pride in making difficult projects look easy.

Skills & Qualifications

Required

• Excellent organizational skills
• Exceptional verbal and written communication
• Experience working in a fast paced and self-driven environment
• Financial accuracy and attention to detail
• Experience coordinating multiple projects simultaneously
• Comfortable working with vendors and customers
• Ability to prioritize rapidly changing workloads
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace

Preferred

• Industrial machinery experience
• Auction industry experience
• Logistics or transportation coordination especially with machinery