Senior Operations Manager

Jobtailor; Town of Plainfield (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Carvana seeks an experienced operations leader to oversee reconditioning lines, plan production for an entire shift, and drive performance across the site.

You will manage facilities when the GM is not onsite, identifying bottlenecks, performing root cause analysis, and delivering actionable improvements with leadership teams. Strong communication and 8+ years in automotive/lean manufacturing are required.

Qualifications

• Must have relocation willingness; nationwide preferred, at least regional (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West Coast)
• Ability to maintain high volume and high quality in a fast-paced environment
• Experience leading a team of 50+ associates and developing employees
• Proven ability to solve urgent operational challenges through root cause analysis
• Excellent communication skills
• 8+ years of management experience in automotive or lean manufacturing environment
• Valid unrestricted driver’s license with clean driving record in last 3 years
• Must read/write/speak English fluently
• Must be 18+ years of age
• Ability to work variable schedules as necessary
• Must lift up to 60 pounds independently
• Must walk up to three miles daily
• Stand for extended periods with frequent stretching, reaching, walking, stooping, pushing and pulling
• Work in environments that may be cold, hot, noisy, wet with fumes or odors from vehicle maintenance
• Must use safety equipment including face shield/goggles, non-slip shoes, gloves, mask
• Must pass a complete background check
• Role not eligible for visa sponsorship

Responsibilities

• Oversee multiple reconditioning lines and plan production for a full shift
• Manage facilities to meet or exceed production, cost, and quality targets when the General Manager is not onsite
• Identify throughput and efficiency bottlenecks, conduct root cause analysis, develop action plans, and execute with site leadership
• Conduct weekly site performance reviews with Senior Reconditioning leadership, reporting performance vs targets
• Guide daily site manager huddles to establish priorities
• Support Continuous Improvement projects at the home site and region/network
• Implement and train process changes
• Support development plans and provide competency-based feedback to Reconditioning Leads and Managers
• Lead effectively on the shop floor while upholding Carvana values
• Uphold Carvana operating standards and processes
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and loss prevention guidelines

Skills

Team Leadership

Root Cause Analysis

Continuous Improvement

Production Management

Communication Skills

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Job description

• Oversee multiple reconditioning lines within the Inspection & Reconditioning Center and plan production for a full working shift
• Manage facilities to meet or exceed production, cost, and quality targets when the General Manager is not onsite
• Identify throughput and efficiency bottlenecks, conduct root cause analysis, develop action plans, and execute them with site leadership and associates
• Conduct weekly site performance reviews with Senior Reconditioning leadership, reporting performance against targets, challenges, and countermeasures
• Guide daily site manager huddles to establish priorities
• Support Continuous Improvement projects at the home site and, where applicable, throughout the region/network
• Implement and train process changes
• Support development plans and provide competency-based feedback to Reconditioning Leads and Managers
• Lead effectively on the shop floor while embodying Carvana values
• Uphold Carvana operating standards and processes
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and loss prevention guidelines

Requirements

• Must be open to relocation, ideally nationwide but at minimum regionally (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West Coast)
• Ability to maintain high volume and high-quality work in a fast-paced environment
• Experience leading a team of over 50 associates and developing employees
• Proven ability to solve urgent operational challenges through root cause analysis
• Excellent communication skills
• 8+ years of management experience in an automotive or lean manufacturing environment
• Valid unrestricted driver’s license with a clean driving record in the last 3 years
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Ability to work variable schedules as necessary
• Must be able to lift up to 60 pounds independently
• Must be able to walk up to three miles each day
• Ability to stand for extended periods with frequent stretching, reaching, walking, stooping, pushing, and/or pulling
• Ability to work in environments that may be cold, hot, noisy, wet, and contain fumes or odors from vehicle maintenance
• Ability to use required safety equipment, including face shield or goggles, non-slip shoes, gloves, mask, and other protective equipment
• Must pass a complete background check
• Role is not eligible for visa sponsorship

Core Competencies

Demonstrates strong leadership in managing reconditioning operations, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Proven ability to analyze operational challenges and implement effective solutions while maintaining high-quality production standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Team Leadership
• Root Cause Analysis
• Continuous Improvement
• Production Management
• Communication Skills

Hard Skills

• Management Experience
• Lean Manufacturing
• Performance Review
• Action Plan Development
• Operational Efficiency

Soft Skills

• Problem Solving
• Interpersonal Skills
• Adaptability
• Prioritization

Certifications & Qualifications

• Valid Unrestricted Driver’s License

Industry Keywords

• Automotive
• Reconditioning
• Health and Safety Compliance
• Production Targets
• Employee Development