*** Candidates based in Atlanta, GA market highly preferred, we are open to considering qualified remote candidates throughout the United States. Candidates working remotely must be available during Eastern Time business hours to effectively collaborate with the team and business partners.
The Senior Manager of Strategic Planning (CAI Inventory Solutions) serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) supporting Commercial, Dealer, and Front Office operations. This role is accountable for shaping and executing strategic initiatives that modernize business processes across titling, payments, commercial services, dealer services, and client support operations. The position will also play a key role in driving greater efficiency through automation and supporting the evolution to digital self-service.
This position partners closely with Manheim auction leadership, auction front office teams, contact centers, and shared service centers to ensure timely and efficient transaction processing at scale. The person in this role will also interface directly with enablement partners such as learning and development, enterprise technology, and change management to translate strategy into action. Finally, this position will own and manage the roadmap of people, process, and technology improvements that drive timely achievement of operational goals while maintaining exceptional client outcomes.
The ideal candidate will have an extensive management consulting background blended with years of industry experience. They will demonstrate the ability to combine strategic frameworks with practical experience to create realistic solutions for complex challenges.
PRIMARY DUTIES/KEY RESPONSIBILITES
Strategic Planning & Execution – Inside Operations
- Perform strategic planning and analysis that shapes a single, cohesive client experience, developing outcome scenarios that inform investment decisions and long-range plans
- Translate strategy into action by partnering with auction operations team members on processes and policies that support an outstanding client experience.
- Develop and deliver a sequenced, time-bound roadmap to achieve goals
- Own specific workstreams within strategic initiatives, ensuring comprehensive analysis from multiple perspectives including market positioning, competitive dynamics, and business impact
- Partner with Product and Technology teams to develop innovative, scalable capabilities that address evolving client needs and align with long-term strategic objectives while delivering measurable improvements to operational efficiency
Operational Analysis & Business Impact
- Develop business cases and operational analyses tied to labor efficiency, throughput, and revenue protection
- Define and track success metrics for modernization initiatives
- Conduct post‑implementation reviews to assess impact and identify improvement opportunities
Stakeholder & Change Leadership
- Serve as key contributor to execution on specified strategic initiatives, engaging with diverse cross-functional colleagues and business leaders
- Build and sustain relationships with business leaders and stakeholders to understand strategic objectives, challenges, and opportunities
- Act as a bridge between Operational Excellence (Opex) team, shared services functions, and auction field operations
- Influence cross‑functional partners without direct authority
- Support change adoption by translating strategy into clear, operationally relevant messaging
Required Experience & Specialized Knowledge and skills
Industry & Domain Expertise:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and 8 years of relevant experience. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master’s degree and 6 years’ experience; a Ph.D. and 3 years’ experience in a related field; or 12 years’ experience in a related field.
- 8+ years of experience across management consulting, business process design, operations leadership, strategic planning, or operational transformation disciplines
- Strong understanding of auction execution, including sale day, post-sale, and client support operations
- Proven experience working in client experience or front office operations, preferably within shared services or outsourced operating models
- Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into execution across multi‑site operations
Skills & Capabilities
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a bias toward execution
- Ability to influence and lead across diverse stakeholder groups
- Experience developing business cases, operational metrics, and performance insights
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Excel)
- Strong executive presence and comfort with presenting to audiences of various leadership levels across an organization.
- Strong organizational skills, with demonstrated use of related tools and templates such as project plans.
- High adaptability, including the ability to react and adjust based on new knowledge or circumstances.
- Ability to lead and/or manage multiple workstreams with competing priorities and deadlines.
Additional Information
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- Ability to travel up to 25 - 40% (Typically on week per month, but varies)
- Work environment primarily office‑based with regular auction site engagement
Organizational Position:
Does this position have direct reports? ☒ NO ☐ YES
Drug Testing:
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.
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $122,600.00 - $204,400.00. 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.
Benefits:
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.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.
Application Deadline: 09/04/2026
EOE, including disability/vets
