Operations Manager

Wayve; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Wayve in Detroit, Michigan, is seeking an Operations Manager to translate our customer-focused on-road testing strategy into actionable plans, ensuring deployment and scalable execution of our ADAS testing program in North America.

You will lead a diverse team, own end-to-end testing operations, coordinate fleet and staff schedules, drive continuous improvement, and align plans with strategic goals across US and Canada.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in operational management, preferably in automotive testing, tech, or related field.
• Ability to translate high-level strategies into practical plans.
• Strong leadership and people-management capabilities.
• Experience with fleet and personnel management.
• Excellent communication with diverse stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end deployment of on-road ADAS testing strategy in Detroit with tactical plans.
• Deliver testing outputs and on-road performance metrics against goals.
• Optimize resource allocation balancing fleet availability with team schedules.
• Directly manage and allocate work to Shift Leads and team members.
• Regularly adjust plans to meet changing customer needs and tech advances.
• Collaborate with planning and field teams to align priorities and ensure safety.
• Implement continuous improvement in testing procedures, safety, and performance.

Skills

Operational management

Strategic thinking

People management

Resource planning

Communication

Adaptability

Leadership

Job description

The role

The Operations Manager will play a pivotal role in translating our customer-focused on-road testing strategy into actionable, tactical plans. This role is essential for ensuring the continued successful deployment and scaling of our on-road development in Eastern North America.

Key responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end process of deploying our on-road ADAS testing strategy in Detroit, MI, converting strategic milestones into detailed tactical plans.
• Responsible for delivering key testing outputs and on-road performance metrics, ensuring that goals are met efficiently and effectively.
• Optimise resource allocation by balancing fleet availability with team schedules, ensuring maximum productivity and operational efficiency.
• Directly manage, oversee and allocate work to team members including a group of operational Shift Leads, ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities within the team.
• Regularly evaluate and adjust operational plans to align with changing customer needs, technological advancements, and strategic key results.
• Serve as a key liaison between strategic planning teams and on-ground operational staff, ensuring seamless communication and alignment.
• Implement continuous improvement practices to enhance testing procedures, safety protocols, and overall team performance.
• Collaborate with our Systems & Enablement Division to deliver on-road testing: our Fleet Servicing and Maintenance, Field Engineering, Operational Safety, Training, Systems and Insights and Quality Assurance functions in the US and Canada

About you

In order to set you up for success as a Operations Manager at Wayve, we’re looking for the following skills and experience.

Essential

• Proven experience in operational management, preferably in automotive testing, tech, or a related field.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate high-level strategies into practical operational plans.
• Excellent leadership and people management abilities, with experience managing diverse teams.
• Demonstrated capability in resource planning and allocation, including fleet and personnel management.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with various stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, adapting quickly to changing priorities

Desirable

• A keen understanding of ADAS technology and on-road testing requirements is highly advantageous.

This is a full-time role based in Detroit, Michigan. This role is designed to Monday to Friday, overseeing a division that operates seven days a week. It will include on-call responsibilities at times, including occasional evenings and weekends.

At Wayve we’re committed to creating a diverse, fair and respectful culture that is inclusive of everyone based on their unique skills and perspectives, and regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law.

For more information visit Careers at Wayve. To learn more about what drives us, visit Values at Wayve. For US candidates only, please visit E-Verify Notice and Participation and Right to Work.

DISCLAIMER: We will not ask about marriage or pregnancy, care responsibilities or disabilities in any of our job adverts or interviews. However, we do look to capture information about care responsibilities, and disabilities among other diversity information as part of an optional DEI Monitoring form to help us identify areas of improvement in our hiring process and ensure that the process is inclusive and non-discriminatory.