Fleet Operations Manager - Vehicle Maintenance & Lifecycle Edelman-Lyon is seeking an experienced, highly detail-oriented Fleet Operations Manager to take ownership of the condition, maintenance, outfitting and lifecycle management of our growing company vehicle fleet. This is not a traditional fleet-coordinator position, and it is not a mechanic position. Our service vehicles are critical operating assets and represent a significant investment by the company. We maintain them to a high standard, carefully specify new vehicles, closely monitor their condition, and expect issues to be identified and addressed before they become larger problems. The person in this position will be responsible for the vehicle from the time it is ordered until the time it leaves our fleet. The ideal candidate combines strong automotive knowledge with the communication and organizational skills normally found in an experienced automotive service advisor, assistant service manager or fleet manager. You should be comfortable reviewing vehicle inspections, evaluating repair recommendations, challenging questionable estimates, communicating with repair facilities and working directly with company leadership. We already have established service and vehicle-upfitting relationships, including a shop located at our headquarters that handles much of our maintenance, vehicle protection, shelving installation, graphics and new-vehicle preparation. Your responsibility is to manage the process, maintain our standards and make sure nothing gets overlooked. What You Will OwnVehicle Condition & Inspection Program Edelman-Lyon operates a detailed recurring vehicle wash and inspection program. Technicians submit interior and exterior photographs and document vehicle condition, fluid levels, tires and other required inspection points.

The Fleet Operations Manager will:

Carefully review submitted vehicle inspections rather than simply verifying that they were completed. Review interior and exterior photographs for damage, cleanliness, wear and changes in vehicle condition. Review photographs of individual tires and tire faces for abnormal or uneven wear. Review reported oil, coolant and other fluid conditions. Identify missing photographs, incomplete information, inconsistencies or questionable findings. Compare current inspections with prior vehicle condition when necessary. Follow up directly with technicians regarding damage, maintenance concerns or incomplete inspections. Track unresolved items through completion. Identify developing problems before they result in unnecessary downtime or more expensive repairs. Maintain accountability for company vehicle care and condition. Attention to detail is essential. Checking a box that an inspection was submitted is not sufficient for this position. Preventive Maintenance & Repairs Monitor mileage, maintenance intervals and vehicle condition across the fleet. Use GPS Insight and company records to identify upcoming maintenance requirements. Schedule preventive maintenance, repairs, inspections and recalls. Coordinate maintenance with dispatch and field operations to minimize technician downtime. Review diagnoses, estimates and recommended repairs before work is authorized. Determine what requires immediate attention, what should be monitored and what does not justify repair. Question recommendations that do not appear consistent with the vehicle's symptoms, history or condition. Identify warranty, parts-warranty, workmanship-warranty or recall coverage before approving company-paid repairs. Review completed work and invoices for accuracy. Track recurring repairs or patterns that may indicate a larger vehicle or vendor problem. Maintain complete service histories for every fleet vehicle. Service Provider & Vendor Management The Fleet Operations Manager will represent Edelman-Lyon when dealing with dealerships, independent repair facilities, upfitters and other automotive vendors.

Responsibilities include:

Communicating vehicle concerns clearly to service advisors and technicians. Reviewing diagnostic findings and asking appropriate follow-up questions. Negotiating labor rates and service arrangements when appropriate. Challenging unnecessary repairs, excessive charges and inappropriate upselling. Holding vendors accountable for warranties, workmanship and previously completed repairs. Maintaining productive professional relationships while protecting the company's interests. Researching and vetting new repair facilities when needed. Evaluating vendors based on technical capability, reliability, communication, transparency, turnaround time and cost. Establishing clear expectations for repair authorization and communication before work begins. New Vehicle Ordering & Fleet Specifications Edelman-Lyon's vehicles are deliberately specified rather than purchased as basic work vans.

The Fleet Operations Manager will:

Maintain current company vehicle specifications. Order vehicles according to approved configurations. Carefully review order confirmations and vehicle specifications before orders are finalized. Identify changes in manufacturer options, equipment or model-year configurations. Confirm that ordered vehicles match company requirements before accepting delivery. Maintain specifications for different vehicle configurations used throughout the company. Coordinate with dealers, manufacturers and company leadership regarding vehicle orders and availability. Accuracy matters. An incorrectly ordered vehicle can remain in the fleet for years. Vehicle Upfitting & Deployment Manage the process required to convert a new vehicle into a finished Edelman-Lyon service vehicle.

This may include coordination of:

Paint-protection film Vehicle graphics and logos Ranger shelving systems Bulkheads and partitions Ladder racks and toppers Storage and organization equipment Vehicle-specific accessories and components Responsibilities include maintaining current installation specifications, confirming materials are available, coordinating vendors, reviewing completed work and making sure finished vehicles conform to company standards before being deployed. Once completed, coordinate delivery or transportation of vehicles to the appropriate company location or technician throughout our Midwestern operating territory. Vehicle Lifecycle & Replacement Planning Maintain accurate records of vehicle mileage, age, operating costs, repair history and condition. Identify vehicles approaching established replacement thresholds. Evaluate repair cost versus continued ownership and replacement. Identify vehicles experiencing excessive downtime or recurring repair expense. Present replacement recommendations to leadership with supporting information. Coordinate disposal or trade of vehicles when authorized. Assist leadership with long-term fleet purchasing and replacement planning. Records, Systems & Reporting Maintain accurate fleet information using systems including: Google Sheets Google Forms Google Docs GPS Insight Vehicle records will include, as applicable: Mileage Inspection history Vehicle-condition photographs Maintenance and repair history Outstanding issues Estimates and invoices Warranty information Recall information Upfitting specifications Installed equipment Accident or damage history Vehicle assignments Replacement information Provide leadership with clear updates regarding major repairs, downtime, abnormal vehicle conditions, maintenance compliance, vendor problems, incoming vehicles and anticipated replacement requirements. What We Are Looking For This position requires someone who understands vehicles but can also communicate effectively with technicians, vendors and management.

A strong candidate will have:

Significant working knowledge of automobiles, light trucks and commercial vans. Experience evaluating maintenance and repair recommendations. Understanding of common vehicle systems, preventive maintenance and repair terminology. Ability to interpret repair estimates, diagnostic findings and inspection reports. Strong understanding of warranties and the difference between warrantable and customer-pay repairs. Excellent attention to detail. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Confidence communicating with automotive technicians and service professionals. Strong organization and follow-through. Good judgment regarding vehicle safety, reliability, cost and operational impact. Ability to manage multiple vehicles and open issues simultaneously. Comfort questioning incomplete information or recommendations that do not make sense. Ability to work within established company standards and procedures while still bringing forward informed recommendations. Proficiency with common computer systems and the ability to learn fleet-management software. Valid driver's license and acceptable motor vehicle record. Experience We Especially Value We are particularly interested in candidates with backgrounds such as: Automotive Service Advisor Senior Service Advisor Assistant Service Manager Automotive Service Manager Commercial Fleet Service Advisor Fleet Maintenance Manager Fleet Operations Manager Automotive technician who later moved into service management or customer-facing automotive operations Experience with commercial vans, fleet vehicles, vehicle upfitting, dealership service departments or independent automotive repair facilities is especially valuable. ASE certifications, including ASE C1 Automobile Service Consultant , or professional fleet credentials such as

NAFA CAFM

, are a plus but are not required. The Right Fit We operate our fleet to a higher standard than simply keeping vehicles running. We expect company vehicles to be maintained properly, kept presentable and inspected carefully. Small changes in vehicle condition matter because small problems frequently become expensive problems when nobody is paying attention. At the same time, this position requires judgment. Not every recommendation from a repair facility needs to be approved, and not every cosmetic issue warrants the same response. We are looking for someone who can understand our standards, learn how we make those decisions, provide knowledgeable input and then execute consistently. As our field operation continues to grow, fleet management can no longer be something handled as a secondary responsibility. This individual will become the dedicated owner of that function.

Position:

Full-time, in person

Location:

Edelman-Lyon headquarters, Grandview, Missouri Benefits Retirement plan with company contribution/match Health insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Paid time off Employee referral program

Pay:

$60,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Referral program Vision insurance Application Question(s): What are the primary reasons you are seeking a new opportunity? Would you submit to the Federal background check, drug screen, & MVR report in accordance within applicable governing laws & regulations. Tell us about a time you disagreed with a technician or repair facility's recommendation. What did you do and what was the result? A technician submits his required vehicle inspection. All boxes are checked, but the right-front tire photo appears to show substantially more shoulder wear than the other three tires. Walk us through what you would do. A repair shop recommends $3,200 of work on one of our vans. The technician originally brought it in for a vibration at highway speed. Explain how you would evaluate what gets approved. A shop wants to charge us for a battery that it installed four months ago. How would you handle the situation? A vehicle has only accumulated 1,000 miles during the last year. How would you determine whether the engine oil should be changed? What information would you want before deciding whether a vehicle should receive a repair or be replaced? A technician repeatedly submits incomplete vehicle inspections despite being reminded of the requirements. How would you handle it? You discover that a newly delivered van was built without an option contained in our approved vehicle specification. What would you do before the vehicle is placed into service? A technician reports that coolant is slightly low, but there are no visible leaks and the vehicle is operating normally. What would you want checked or documented?

Work Location:

In person