Manager, Lot Operations - Manheim

Company

Cox Automotive - USAVehicle OperationsManager, Lot OperationsManager - People LeaderNo remote option; must work at a specified Cox locationNoDay

Compensation

Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $67,100.00 - $100,700.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.

The Lot Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing all daily lot operations to ensure a safe, organized, and efficient auction environment. This role oversees labor planning, vehicle logistics, inventory flow, transportation services, and sale-day execution while driving operational excellence and delivering a superior customer experience. The manager leads and develops a team of lot operations professionals, partners with cross-functional departments, and ensures vehicles move seamlessly through the auction process from arrival to sale.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operational Leadership
  • Direct all day-to-day lot operations, ensuring the efficient movement, staging, and management of vehicles before, during, and after auction events.
  • Develop and execute operational plans that support business objectives, improve productivity, and enhance service delivery.
  • Analyze operational performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement process enhancements that increase efficiency and reduce costs.
  • Monitor departmental performance through key metrics and performance indicators, developing strategies to drive continuous improvement.
• Vehicle Logistics & Auction Execution
  • Coordinate closely with Reconditioning, Vehicle Entry, Commercial, and other operational teams to prepare vehicles for sale.
  • Oversee vehicle tracking, placement, transport, and inventory management to ensure accurate and timely processing.
  • Manage all aspects of sale-day lot flow, ensuring vehicles are properly staged and efficiently presented through auction lanes.
  • Partner with Lot Coordinators to ensure vehicles are accurately located, numbered, delivered, and positioned throughout the facility.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead, coach, and develop lot operations team members, including Lot Supervisors, Team leaders, Drivers, Lane Leaders, Lane Captains, Crew Leaders, and administrative staff.
  • Recruit, onboard, train, and mentor employees to build a high-performing and customer-focused team.
  • Conduct performance evaluations, provide ongoing feedback, and address performance concerns through coaching and corrective action when necessary.
  • Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous learning.
• Customer Experience
  • Build and maintain strong customer relationships by delivering responsive, high-quality service.
  • Ensure timely resolution of customer inquiries and operational concerns.
  • Coordinate transportation support services for customers as needed to enhance their auction experience.
• Asset & Facility Management
  • Ensure company assets and equipment are properly maintained, utilized, and accounted for, including radios, scanners, service vehicles, fuel equipment, lot vans, golf carts, wreckers, and lift trucks.
  • Maintain staging areas, inventory zones, and sale lanes to support safe and efficient operations.
  • Monitor lot conditions and vehicle damage concerns, collaborating with leadership to proactively resolve operational issues.
• Safety & Compliance
  • Champion a culture of safety by modeling safe work practices and ensuring compliance with all company safety policies and procedures.
  • Partner with Safety leadership to support safety initiatives and promote a proactive approach to risk management.
  • Enforce company policies, operational standards, and employee conduct expectations while maintaining a respectful and inclusive work environment.
• Cross-Functional Partnership
  • Collaborate with Finance, Human Resources, Safety, Security, Sales, Reconditioning, and Market support teams to drive operational consistency and business success.
  • Ensure operational processes align with company goals, customer expectations, and service commitments.
  • Maintain quality, cost, and delivery standards across all lot operations activities.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
  • Work in an environment with occasional exposure to varying weather conditions, vehicle fumes, and moderate noise levels.

Why Join This Team? This role offers the opportunity to lead a critical operation that directly impacts auction success, customer satisfaction, and business performance. You'll have the ability to develop teams, improve processes, and drive operational excellence in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where your leadership makes a visible difference every day.

Qualifications:

• BA / BS degree and 6+ years of experience with at least 1 year experience in a management or lead role.

• Minimum of 5 years operations experience required

• Experience in the automotive industry or auction business

• Effective management and decision making skills required

• Reconditioning and/or body shop experience preferred

• Excellent communication and interaction skills required

• Effective management, decision-making, and organizational skills required

• Good computer and software knowledge essential

• AS400 experience preferred

• Ability to drive multiple vehicle types, including: standard shift, automatic, 5th wheel, semi, RV and boats preferred

• Physical Demands: Ability to sit, stand and walk for prolonged periods of time. Vision abilities required include close, distance, color, and depth perception.

To be employed in this role, you’ll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited.The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.Through groundbreaking technology and a commitment to stellar experiences for drivers and dealers alike, Cox Automotive employees are transforming the way the world buys, owns, sells – or simply uses – cars. Cox Automotive employees get to work on iconic consumer brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book and industry-leading dealer-facing companies like vAuto and Manheim, all while enjoying the people-centered atmosphere that is central to our life at Cox. Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page. Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer – All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual’s age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship.EOE, including disability/vetsApplicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future.