Director of Operations, Strategic Initiatives

Title: Director of Operations, Strategic Initiatives

Location:

locations

US - IN - Carmel (OPENLANE)

time type

Full time

Job Description:

Who We Are:

At OPENLANE we make wholesale easy so our customers can be more successful.

We're a technology company building the world's most advanced-and uncomplicated-digital marketplace for used vehicles.

We're a data company helping customers buy and sell smarter with clear, actionable insights they can understand and use.

And we're an innovation company accelerating the future of wholesale remarketing through curiosity, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Our Values:

Driven Waybuilders. We pursue challenges that inspire us to build, create, and innovate.

Relentless Curiosity. We seek to understand and improve our customers' experience.

Smart Risk-Taking. We transform risk into progress through data, experience, and intuition.

Fearless Ownership. We deliver what we promise and learn along the way.

We're Looking For:

We are seeking a Director of Operations, Strategic Initiatives with experience in driving growth, shaping operational strategy, and influencing C-suite decision-making. You will be part of a high-impact team responsible for driving growth and strategic direction at OPENLANE Canada.You will be involved in serving as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, shaping multi-year priorities, and driving alignment across global business units. In this role, you will have the opportunity to use your experience in structured problem-solving, cross-functional initiative leadership, and balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience in business strategy & operations or consulting, with demonstrated progression into leadership roles.

You Are:

• A Strategic Partner. You will serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, shaping multi-year priorities and influencing C-suite decision-making. You will be a trusted partner to the SVP of Canada Marketplace to identify, prioritize, and execute high-impact initiatives across the business.

• Action-Oriented and Executional. This position requires intellectual curiosity, structured problem-solving, and a bias toward execution-you'll be both a thinker and a doer. You will foster a culture of bias for action, problem-solving, and results orientation. You're comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

• A Cross-Functional Influencer. You will lead through soft power, influence, and collaboration, effectively managing stakeholders at all levels of the organization. You are adept at managing senior stakeholders and driving consensus.

• A Structured Problem-Solver. You possess strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills. You are able to structure ambiguity into clear actions and outcomes.

• Accountable and Adaptable. You thrive in ambiguity and adapt quickly, eager to "get things done". You will ensure coordination and alignment between departments, removing roadblocks and driving accountability for outcomes.

You Will:

• Serve as a trusted partner to the SVP of Canada Marketplace to identify, prioritize, and execute high-impact initiatives across the business.

• Oversee a portfolio of cross-functional initiatives across Sales, Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Product.

• Develop data-driven solutions and implement scalable processes, tools, and reporting frameworks to support executive decision-making.

• Develop and govern multi-year roadmaps, resource allocation models, and risk frameworks.

• Create executive-ready communication and insights for leadership discussions, board updates, and strategic planning cycles.

• Facilitate workshops and planning sessions to drive cross-functional alignment and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

• Establish KPIs and success metrics to track initiative performance and operational effectiveness.

• Ensure the senior team is focused on top priorities, and key meetings, reviews, and decisions are well-prepared and action-oriented.

• Drive cadence for business reviews, operational check-ins, and strategic planning processes.

• Lead through soft power, influence, and collaboration: effectively managing stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Where you Work:

Your work is performed as a Hybrid or Remote employee. If Hybrid, the location is at our global headquarters in Carmel, Indiana.

Must Have's:

• 10+ Years of experience in business strategy & operations or consulting, with demonstrated progression into leadership roles.

• Education requirements: Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, or a related field; MBA or other relevant advanced degree preferred.

• Basic responsibilities: Shaping the operational strategy of existing business units, driving alignment with overall company goals and objectives, and helping to keep business unit leaders accountable for their results.

• Department-specific required experience: Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional initiatives and driving measurable business impact.

• Position-specific required experience: Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills - able to structure ambiguity into clear actions and outcomes.

• Hard/Soft Skills based on specific required experience: Exceptional communication and influence skills; adept at managing senior stakeholders and driving consensus. Comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Nice to Have's:

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree.

• Experience in the automotive remarketing industry.

• Experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, or high-growth operations.

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits with employer HSA contributions (US) and FSA options (US)

• Immediately vested 401K (US) or RRSP (Canada) with company match

• Paid Vacation, Personal, and Sick Time

• Paid maternity and paternity leave (US)

• Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D (US)

• Robust Employee Assistance Program

• Employer paid Leap into Service Day to volunteer

• Tuition Reimbursement for eligible programs

• Opportunities to expand your skill set and share your knowledge across a publicly traded, global organization

• Company culture of internal promotions, diverse career paths, and meaningful advancement