Description

Position Summary

The Niello Company is seeking a strategic, hands-on Buy Center Manager to lead its centralized vehicle acquisition operation and build the "Niello Buys Cars" brand. This leader will be accountable for sourcing the right used vehicles, at the right cost, through a balanced portfolio of paid and organic channels. The role will lead and develop a team of Acquisition Specialists while creating the processes, standards, technology discipline, and performance culture needed to produce consistent acquisition volume and stronger retail and wholesale profitability.

Working closely with store leadership and reporting to the Sales and Finance Director, the Buy Center Manager will translate dealership inventory needs into daily acquisition priorities, improve the customer selling experience, and ensure the CRM serves as the operating system for every opportunity, follow-up action, appointment, appraisal, and purchase.
Required Qualifications

• Proven experience in used vehicle acquisition, purchasing, appraisal, inventory management, used vehicle operations, or a closely related automotive role.
• Demonstrated success leading, coaching, and holding a production-oriented team accountable.
• Strong understanding of used vehicle market values, demand trends, appraisal risk, reconditioning considerations, inventory turn, and retail and wholesale economics.
• Ability to analyze funnel, source, inventory, and profitability data and convert insights into clear operating decisions.
• Strong negotiation, communication, collaboration, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to implement, manage, document, and improve processes across teams or locations.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and a willingness to use the CRM consistently as the primary tool for workflow management and accountability.
• Professional judgment, urgency, attention to detail, and the ability to balance customer experience with financial discipline.
• Valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any sales or occupational license required for the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading a centralized acquisition or buy-center operation serving multiple dealership locations.
• Experience managing paid consumer acquisition sources, organic sourcing programs, and source-level return on investment.
• Experience launching or scaling an automotive acquisition brand, digital retail program, or consumer-facing lead operation.
• Working knowledge of digital marketing, local search, reputation management, lead routing, CRM automation, and performance reporting.

General Expectations

• Devote himself/herself to insuring satisfaction to customers.
• Determine management, production and quality requirements by asking questions and listening.
• Attend company meetings as required.
• Maintain a follow-up system that encourages follow through with assigned projects.
• Establish personal performance goals that are consistent with company standards of productivity and devise a strategy to meet those goals.
• Maintain manufacturer required certification levels
• Review and analyze actions at the end of each day, week, month, and year to determine how to better utilize time and plans more effectively.
• Understand the terminology of the business and keep abreast of technology changes in products and services.
• Know and understand the federal, state and local requirements which govern the company's business.
• Follow lawful directions from supervisors.
• Understand and follow work rules and procedures.
• Participate in performance management.
• Interact well with others and be a positive influence on employee morale.
• Uphold the company's non-disclosure and confidentiality policies and agreements.
• Work evening, weekend and holiday work hours as required.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements below reflect activities that may be necessary to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Regular sitting, standing, walking, speaking, listening, typing, and repetitive hand or finger movement.
• Occasional bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, squatting, reaching overhead, climbing stairs, pushing, and pulling.
• Occasional work outdoors in varying weather conditions and within dealership, service, auction, and vehicle storage environments.
• Occasional lifting or moving of items weighing up to 25 pounds; infrequent lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Regular travel among Niello Company locations and occasional travel to auctions, vendors, or other business locations.

Core Leadership Accountabilities

• Acquisition strategy: Own the company-wide plan for acquiring vehicles from consumers and other sources, balancing volume, inventory fit, acquisition cost, speed, and profitability.
• Team leadership: Recruit, train, coach, schedule, and hold Acquisition Specialists accountable to clear activity, conversion, quality, and production standards.
• Process ownership: Implement, manage, document, audit, and continuously improve workflows that make the Buy Center faster, more consistent, and more profitable.
• Brand development: Establish "Niello Buys Cars" as a trusted, convenient, and recognizable destination for consumers who want to sell a vehicle.
• Store partnership: Collaborate with dealership leaders to align acquisitions with location-specific demand, sales objectives, inventory age, and wholesale opportunities.

Job-Specific Expectations

• Lead the Acquisition Team
• Build a Balanced Sourcing Portfolio
• Own the Buy Center Operating Process
• Make the CRM the Operating System
• Protect Retail and Wholesale Profitability
• Build the "Niello Buys Cars" Brand
• Collaborate Across The Niello Company

Key Performance Measures

• Performance will be evaluated using a balanced scorecard. Measures may include, but are not limited to:
• Vehicles acquired by store, specialist, source, and intended disposition.
• Lead-to-contact, contact-to-appointment, appointment show, appraisal, offer, and purchase conversion rates.
• Response time, outbound activity, follow-up completion, pipeline aging, and CRM data quality.
• Acquisition cost per vehicle and cost per incremental acquisition by source.
• Purchase-to-frontline time, inventory turn, aged inventory exposure, and wholesale cycle time.
• Front-end gross contribution, wholesale profit contribution, and performance against approved buy parameters.
• Direct, organic, repeat, and referral volume attributed to the "Niello Buys Cars" brand.
• Team productivity, quality, retention, training progress, and customer feedback.

Disclaimer and Approvals:

This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. This information is current at the time of publication. Responsibilities may include other duties as assigned and may be amended at the discretion of The Niello Company with or without notice.

Compensation Range by Position:

The expected pay for this position is $100,000.00 to $175,000.00 per year and may vary based on factors such as location, skills, and relevant experience. Some positions may include additional compensation in the form of bonuses or commissions.

Benefits:

The Niello Company is proud to offer a competitive Benefits package, including Medical, Dental, & Vision plans, to all Full-time Team Members as well as Part-time Team Members who are deemed eligible based on a minimum hours requirement. In addition, TNC offers access to other Benefits such as a Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, 401(k), and an employee discount program. In addition, eligible employees also enjoy paid time off benefits that vary based on position.