Senior Operations Manager

Mission Summary:

As Operations Manager for AV Test Engineering, you will lead in-vehicle testing operations at two geographic locations. You are accountable for the supervisors and 50+ specialists who run the tests, and for the vehicles and equipment those tests require. You set staffing and readiness plans, keep both sites executing to the same standard, and give leadership a clear view of what can be run and what is at risk. Test Engineering defines the test content. You make sure the people, vehicles, and equipment are in place to execute it safely and on schedule, on a three-to-six-month horizon tied to company OKRs.

What you'll do:

People leadership and development:

• Lead the Supervisors at both locations, and through them a workforce of 50+ specialists. Set expectations, give timely feedback, and run performance reviews.
• Coach Supervisors so they can run their own crews, handle day-to-day issues, and develop their people. Support development goals and name stretch opportunities early.
• Address performance issues in partnership with HR, and handle difficult conversations directly.
• Own talent planning across both sites: hiring, onboarding, retention of critical operating knowledge, skill gaps, and backup coverage, with your manager and HR.
• Recommend compensation, merit, and promotions for Supervisors and specialists.
• Build one engaged workforce across two locations. Recognize results, and communicate a clear view of what the execution organization is here to do.

Test Execution Operations:

• Own readiness of the vehicles, onboard and support equipment, and specialist crews required to conduct in-vehicle testing at both sites.
• Build the execution plan for the next three to six months: which tests run, at which site, with which vehicles, equipment, and crews, aligned to department and company OKRs.
• Reset that plan when vehicles, equipment, staffing, or site conditions change, and make the tradeoffs visible to Test Engineering and to your Supervisors.
• Keep both sites covered. Balance workload, schedules, and specialist skills so testing continues when people are out or equipment is down.
• Run an operating rhythm that shows status, vehicle and equipment availability, crew coverage, risks, and roadblocks at both locations.
• Hold both sites to the same procedures for safe vehicle operations, test conduct, and equipment care.
• Use company policy to make decisions. Bring Legal, HR, Procurement, or Safety in when a question needs their guidance.
• Manage schedule, site, fleet, and equipment changes, and the stakeholders affected by them.

One-team collaboration:

• Partner with Test Engineering leads on the execution schedule, site assignment, and what the fleet and crews can commit to.
• Run the two locations as one operation, with shared priorities and a shared standard of execution.
• Partner with Fleet, Procurement, Facilities, Safety, and HR on vehicles, equipment, site support, and staffing.
• Resolve cross-site and cross-functional issues that span scheduling, equipment, process, and working relationships.
• Represent test execution to senior and executive leadership: capacity, readiness, schedule, and risk. Communicate company, department, and crew context to both sites without waiting to be asked.

Operational Judgement:

• Judge whether a test can be executed with the vehicles, equipment, crew skills, and site time available, and sequence the work accordingly.
• Review execution plans before the organization commits, and steer changes when vehicle, equipment, or staffing assumptions are thin.
• Improve how tests are scheduled, staffed, and supported, including when requirements are still moving.

What success looks like:

• In-vehicle tests run because the right vehicles, equipment, and specialists are ready at the right site.
• Both locations follow one execution standard, and Supervisors run their crews with limited day-to-day direction.
• Leadership hears early when fleet, equipment, or staffing will constrain the test plan.
• The specialist workforce is staffed, coached, and able to cover the work at both sites.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Proven experience leading a multi-site operations workforce through supervisors, at a scale comparable to 50 or more specialists.
• Experience running field or vehicle operations that depend on fleet readiness, specialized equipment, and skilled crews.
• A track record of owning a schedule and a capacity plan, and of resetting them when resources change.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including presentations to senior leadership and direct communication with crews and supervisors.
• Sound judgment on safety, performance, staffing, and cross-site conflict.
• Working familiarity with in-vehicle or field testing. Specialist test-engineering depth is welcome. It is not required.
  
  

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and at times for long periods; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds.

Working Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions, road conditions, and pedestrian traffic. The team member is regularly exposed to mechanical and computer parts. The team member is occasionally exposed to fumes and airborne particles. The noise level in the environment is low to moderate.

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The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors including but not limited to specific skills, experience and expertise, role location, certifications, licenses, and business needs. The estimated compensation range listed in this job posting reflects base salary only. This role may include additional forms of compensation such as a bonus or company equity. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional’s benefits program. Motional’s benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health saving accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Salary Range $104,000 — $139,250 USD

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