Management Trainee - Operations

Suburban Automotive Services • Troy, MI

6d

About The Position

As an Operations Management Trainee, you will participate in Suburban Accessories’ 12-month Operations Management Trainee Program designed to develop future Operations Leaders. This role is intended for high-potential, early-career professionals who want hands-on exposure to warehouse operations, inventory management, transportation, customer service, and enterprise operations strategy. Through structured rotations, leadership shadowing, and an Operations Leadership Pilot assignment, you will gain end-to-end visibility into how Suburban Accessories’ operational ecosystem supports sales performance, dealer satisfaction, and profitability. Successful completion prepares participants for consideration into supervisory, analyst, or operations leadership roles based on performance and business needs. Completion of the program does not guarantee placement into a management role. Operations Management Trainee Responsibilities: Foundations & Enterprise Exposure Learn Suburban Accessories’ operating model, OEM relationships (GM & Ford), and how operations enable sales and financial performance. Shadow Operations Managers and Directors to understand daily priorities, escalation management, and leadership decision-making. Participate in weekly operational reviews, KPI discussions, and capacity planning meetings. Cross-Functional & Operational Exposure Gain exposure to Inventory Planning, Data & Systems, Sales Operations, Customer Service, and Finance. Learn demand forecasting, replenishment strategies, inventory turns, and obsolescence management. Utilize NetSuite and operational dashboards to monitor KPIs such as fill rate, order cycle time, and backorders. Understand operational cost drivers, including labor, freight, and inventory carrying costs. Warehouse, Fulfillment & Transportation Operations Gain hands-on experience in receiving, putting away, picking, packing, staging, scanning, and quality assurance. Learn warehouse layout, bin strategy, and productivity flow. Participate in wheel operations, including wheel building, damage prevention, and returns handling. Ride along with drivers to understand route planning, delivery execution, and dealer expectations. Customer Impact & Service Integration Support Customer Service by assisting with dealer inquiries, order status updates, RMAs, credits, and delivery issue resolution. Serve as a liaison between Warehouse, Inventory, Sales, and Customer Service teams. Identify recurring service issues tied to operational execution and support root-cause analysis efforts. Operations Leadership Pilot & Continuous Improvement Own a defined operational scope such as shift supervision, process ownership, inventory accuracy initiatives, or transportation efficiency projects. Track daily operational KPIs, labor utilization, and productivity metrics. Lead at least one continuous improvement initiative focused on service, cost, safety, or throughput. Collaborate cross-functionally to implement and measure process improvements. Leadership Development & Strategic Exposure Shadow Operations leadership in capacity planning, budgeting, vendor and carrier management, and performance management. Participate in enterprise alignment discussions across Sales, Inventory, Finance, and Customer Service. Complete a Final Project Presentation demonstrating operational insight, cross-functional impact, and data-driven recommendations. Adhere to Suburban Automotive Services’ DRIVEN values and align operational decisions with the SAS mission and vision.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required (Operations Management, Supply Chain, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Business, Analytics, or related field preferred)
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills
• Demonstrated leadership potential through internships, campus involvement, athletics, or work experience
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and communicate insights clearly
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across all organizational levels
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Willingness to work in warehouse, office, and field environments
• Willingness and ability to travel and relocate to any company location as required
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screening

Responsibilities

• Learn Suburban Accessories’ operating model, OEM relationships (GM & Ford), and how operations enable sales and financial performance.
• Shadow Operations Managers and Directors to understand daily priorities, escalation management, and leadership decision-making.
• Participate in weekly operational reviews, KPI discussions, and capacity planning meetings.
• Gain exposure to Inventory Planning, Data & Systems, Sales Operations, Customer Service, and Finance.
• Learn demand forecasting, replenishment strategies, inventory turns, and obsolescence management.
• Utilize NetSuite and operational dashboards to monitor KPIs such as fill rate, order cycle time, and backorders.
• Understand operational cost drivers, including labor, freight, and inventory carrying costs.
• Gain hands-on experience in receiving, putting away, picking, packing, staging, scanning, and quality assurance.
• Learn warehouse layout, bin strategy, and productivity flow.
• Participate in wheel operations, including wheel building, damage prevention, and returns handling.
• Ride along with drivers to understand route planning, delivery execution, and dealer expectations.
• Support Customer Service by assisting with dealer inquiries, order status updates, RMAs, credits, and delivery issue resolution.
• Serve as a liaison between Warehouse, Inventory, Sales, and Customer Service teams.
• Identify recurring service issues tied to operational execution and support root-cause analysis efforts.
• Own a defined operational scope such as shift supervision, process ownership, inventory accuracy initiatives, or transportation efficiency projects.
• Track daily operational KPIs, labor utilization, and productivity metrics.
• Lead at least one continuous improvement initiative focused on service, cost, safety, or throughput.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to implement and measure process improvements.
• Shadow Operations leadership in capacity planning, budgeting, vendor and carrier management, and performance management.
• Participate in enterprise alignment discussions across Sales, Inventory, Finance, and Customer Service.
• Complete a Final Project Presentation demonstrating operational insight, cross-functional impact, and data-driven recommendations.
• Adhere to Suburban Automotive Services’ DRIVEN values and align operational decisions with the SAS mission and vision.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level