Used Vehicle Buyer

Salt Lake Valley Automotive•Provo, UT

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Group Used Vehicle Buyer to oversee the sourcing, acquisition, and lifecycle management of pre-owned inventory across six dealerships. This role is responsible for building and maintaining a profitable, fast-turning inventory portfolio through disciplined purchasing, market-based pricing, and aggressive aged-inventory management. This is not a single-store buyer role. You will manage inventory as a capital investment across multiple rooftops, ensuring optimal turn, margin, and risk control.

Requirements

Minimum 5+ years of hands-on used vehicle buying experience.
Demonstrated success purchasing at scale through auctions and direct sourcing.
Experience managing inventory across multiple rooftops or large-volume operations strongly preferred.
Expert proficiency with vAuto, JD Power, Black Book, Manheim MMR , and retail market analysis.
Strong financial acumen: understands inventory turn, ROI, aging curves, and capital risk.
Ability to evaluate recon cost vs. retail and wholesale value quickly and accurately.
Proven ability to manage inventory lifecycle: acquisition → recon → retail → wholesale exit.
Comfortable enforcing disciplined buying standards and aged-inventory policies.
Strong organizational and reporting skills with attention to detail.
Data-driven, disciplined, and emotionally detached from inventory decisions.
Confident communicator who can push back on sales managers when needed.
Highly accountable, with a consistent record of improving turn and reducing aged inventory.

Nice To Haves

Group-level or multi-store inventory management
Bulk or portfolio purchasing
Off-lane and dealer-direct sourcing networks
Deep understanding of recon operations and service department workflows

Responsibilities

Sourcing & Acquisition Source inventory through auctions (Manheim, ADESA, OVE, etc.), direct dealer purchases, wholesalers, and off-lane opportunities.
Develop relationships with auction reps, dealer groups, wholesalers, and fleet/portfolio sellers to secure consistent deal flow.
Evaluate vehicles using market data (MMR, vAuto, JD Power, Black Book, retail comps) to establish disciplined buy limits.
Purchase vehicles with defined exit strategies, recon expectations, and target gross.
Multi-Store Inventory Strategy Build and balance inventory across six rooftops based on market demand, pricing segments, and store-specific performance.
Coordinate inventory transfers between stores to maximize turn and minimize over-buying.
Maintain optimal inventory mix by price point, vehicle type, age, and market velocity.
Aged Inventory Management Monitor aging daily and proactively execute markdowns, transfers, or wholesale exits.
Establish and enforce clear disposal thresholds for non-performing inventory.
Minimize wholesale losses through disciplined exit strategies and timely remarketing.
Reconditioning & Cost Control Work with service and recon teams to control reconditioning expense and time to front line.
Determine when vehicles should be retail-reconditioned versus wholesaled based on ROI.
Prevent over-recon and protect margin.
Financial Performance & Reporting Manage inventory with a focus on turn, return on capital, and front-end gross.
Track and report on: Purchases by segment and source Average days-to-turn Aged inventory levels Gross performance vs. projections Wholesale results and losses Provide weekly performance updates to executive leadership.
Risk Management & Compliance Ensure compliance with title standards, disclosures, arbitration rules, and internal policies.
Identify and avoid high-risk inventory (structural damage, title brands, buybacks, etc.).
Protect the organization from inventory write-downs and floorplan exposure.