Manager, Lot Operations (Manheim Portland)

Cox Enterprises; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 81,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Cox Enterprises in Portland seeks a Lot Operations Manager to run daily lot activities and oversee staff, ensuring efficient preparation of vehicles for sale. You will coordinate with reconditioning, entry, and commercial teams to stage vehicles and optimize sale day logistics.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and excellent communication to manage operations, safety, and customer service across the auction process.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years in a related field, or an equivalent mix of education and experience.
• 1+ year in management or lead role.
• Experience in the automotive industry or auction business.
• Excellent communication and interaction skills.
• Effective management, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• AS400 experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily lot operations to ensure efficiency before and after sale.
• Coordinate with Reconditioning, Vehicle Entry, and Commercial departments to prepare vehicles for sale.
• Supervise and develop lot operations staff, including recruiting, training, and performance reviews.
• Coach and train lot drivers, lane leaders, coordinators, and administrative staff.
• Maintain and monitor equipment and assets used in operations.
• Ensure safe and compliant operations and timely customer service.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

AS400

Job description

This position manages the daily operations of the lot department, including: labor scheduling, directing work assignments, vehicle logistics, placement of vehicles, vehicle movement and vehicle transport. Additionally manages the lot coordinators, tracking of vehicles and sale day lot flow.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage lot operations on a daily basis to ensure efficient operations prior to and after sale.
• Assist senior management in developing and executing operational business plans, analyzing operational expenses, and implementing procedures to improve efficiencies.
• Coordinate with Reconditioning, Vehicle Entry, and Commercial departments to schedule and prepare vehicles for sale. Effectively manage all aspects of sale day operations, ensuring all vehicles are properly staged and efficiently run through auction lanes.
• Maintain positive customer relations and provide out-of-town customers with transportation to and from the auction.
• Supervise and develop lot operations staff, their professional and technical knowledge by: recruiting, selecting, orienting, training employees and by providing educational opportunities.
• Provide coaching and training for: lot drivers, lane leaders, lot coordinators, lane captains, crew leaders and administrative staff.
• Counsel and discipline employees as necessary. Plan, monitor, evaluate job performance and conduct performance appraisals.
• Monitor lot damage, meet with general management on a regular basis to review and resolve potential lot operation problems.
• Work with Lot Coordinators to ensure all vehicles are located, delivered to the lot, properly numbered and parked.
• Ensure all company assets used in operations are properly maintained and accounted for. Maintain/supervise maintenance of equipment including radios, PT scanners, service trucks, wreckers, fuel trucks/equipment, jump boxes, lot vans, golf carts, and lift trucks.
• Maintain staging & inventory areas and sale lanes to ensure operational efficiency.
• Develop and maintain effective schedules for all drivers and lot personnel.
• Visibly demonstrate safety commitment by following all safety and health procedures and modeling the behaviors related to such. Work in cooperation with safety leadership in support of all safety activities aligned with Safety Excellence.
• Provide assistance and timely feedback to customer inquiries
• Maintain operational requirements by initiating, coordinating and enforcing production and control standards and procedures. Ensure all established costs, quality, and delivery commitments are met.
• Review work volumes, plan and continuously monitor staffing levels to ensure efficiency, quality work product, and effective customer service; review departmental performance against key performance indicators and metrics and develop and execute strategies for improvement.
• Effectively leads the team at the location by setting an example in behavior, championing Cox/Manheim values and ensuring that all employees are treated with respect.
• Enforce all company policies and procedures related to employee and customer conduct.
• Partner with various market level support teams (i.e. Finance, HR, MFS, Recon, Safety, Security, Sales) to ensure effective and efficient operational processes that align with company objectives and strategies and high quality customer service and support.
• Perform other duties as assigned by manager or supervisor.
• Occasional exposure to weather conditions, fumes, and noise.
• Physical Demands:

  Ability to sit, stand and walk for prolonged periods of time. Vision abilities required include close, distance, color, and depth perception.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in (list any requirements of discipline here) and 6 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 4 years' experience; a Ph.D. and 1 year experience in a related field; or 10 years' experience in a related field
• 1+ year of experience in management or lead role
• Experience in the automotive industry or auction business
• Effective management and decision making skills required
• Reconditioning and/or body shop experience preferred
• Excellent communication and interaction skills required
• Effective management, decision-making, and organizational skills required
• Good computer and software knowledge essential
• AS400 experience preferred
• Ability to drive multiple vehicle types, including: standard shift, automatic, 5th wheel, semi, RV and boats preferred

USD 80,600.00 - 120,800.00 per year

Compensation:

Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $80,600.00 - $120,800.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.

Benefits:

The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.

Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.

EOE, including disability/vets