Manager, Lot Operations (Manheim Portland)

Cox Enterprises•Portland, OR

5d•$80,600 - $120,800•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Lot Operations manages the daily operations of the lot department, including labor scheduling, work assignments, vehicle logistics and placement, vehicle movement and transport, lot coordinators, vehicle tracking, and sale-day lot flow. The role ensures efficient operations before and after sales and oversees sale-day vehicle staging and movement through auction lanes. The manager supervises and develops lot operations employees, establishes schedules and staffing levels, monitors performance and key metrics, and works with senior management and cross-functional teams to improve operational efficiency, customer service, and alignment with company objectives. The position also oversees lot assets and equipment, staging and inventory areas, sale lanes, safety practices, customer inquiries, and compliance with company policies and procedures. This is an onsite position at a specified Cox location, with no remote option. The role may involve occasional exposure to weather conditions, fumes, and noise. Candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test; marijuana is not currently included in that test for this position, though the company maintains a drug-free workplace policy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and six years of experience in a related field; alternative combinations include a master’s degree and four years of experience, a Ph.D. and one year of experience in a related field, or ten years of experience in a related field.
At least one year of experience in a management or lead role.
Experience in the automotive industry or auction business.
Effective management and decision-making skills.
Excellent communication and interaction skills.
Effective organizational skills.
Good computer and software knowledge.
Ability to sit, stand, and walk for prolonged periods.
Vision abilities including close, distance, color, and depth perception.
Must pass a pre-employment drug test.

Nice To Haves

Reconditioning and/or body shop experience.
AS400 experience.
Ability to drive multiple vehicle types, including standard-shift and automatic vehicles, fifth wheels, semis, RVs, and boats.

Responsibilities

Manage daily lot operations to ensure efficient operations before and after sales.
Assist senior management with developing and executing operational business plans, analyzing expenses, and implementing efficiency-improvement procedures.
Coordinate with Reconditioning, Vehicle Entry, and Commercial departments to schedule and prepare vehicles for sale.
Manage sale-day operations, ensuring vehicles are properly staged and efficiently run through auction lanes.
Maintain positive customer relations and provide transportation to and from the auction for out-of-town customers.
Supervise, recruit, select, orient, train, and develop lot operations staff and provide educational opportunities.
Coach and train lot drivers, lane leaders, lot coordinators, lane captains, crew leaders, and administrative staff.
Counsel and discipline employees as necessary; plan, monitor, and evaluate performance and conduct performance appraisals.
Monitor lot damage and meet regularly with general management to review and resolve potential operational problems.
Work with Lot Coordinators to ensure vehicles are located, delivered to the lot, properly numbered, and parked.
Ensure company assets used in operations are maintained and accounted for; maintain or supervise maintenance of operational equipment.
Maintain staging and inventory areas and sale lanes for operational efficiency.
Develop and maintain effective schedules for drivers and lot personnel.
Follow and model safety and health procedures and cooperate with safety leadership on Safety Excellence activities.
Assist with customer inquiries and provide timely feedback.
Maintain operational requirements by enforcing production and control standards and procedures, and ensure cost, quality, and delivery commitments are met.
Review work volumes, plan and monitor staffing levels, assess departmental performance against KPIs and metrics, and develop and execute improvement strategies.
Lead by example, champion Cox/Manheim values, and ensure employees are treated with respect.
Enforce company policies and procedures related to employee and customer conduct.
Partner with market support teams, including Finance, HR, MFS, Recon, Safety, Security, and Sales, to support effective operations and customer service aligned with company objectives.
Perform other duties as assigned by a manager or supervisor.

Benefits

Flexible paid vacation, subject to duties, company needs, and obligations.
Seven paid holidays annually.
Up to 160 hours of paid wellness time annually for the employee’s or family members’ wellness.
Bereavement leave.
Time off to vote.
Jury duty leave.
Volunteer time off.
Military leave.
Parental leave.
Potential health care insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement planning through a 401(k), and paid days off, which may include sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO.