Used Vehicle Buyer

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Group Used Vehicle Buyer to oversee the sourcing, acquisition, and lifecycle management of pre-owned inventory across six dealerships. This role is responsible for building and maintaining a profitable, fast-turning inventory portfolio through disciplined purchasing, market-based pricing, and aggressive aged-inventory management.

This is not a single-store buyer role. You will manage inventory as a capital investment across multiple rooftops, ensuring optimal turn, margin, and risk control.

Key Responsibilities

Sourcing & Acquisition

• Source inventory through auctions (Manheim, ADESA, OVE, etc.), direct dealer purchases, wholesalers, and off-lane opportunities.

• Develop relationships with auction reps, dealer groups, wholesalers, and fleet/portfolio sellers to secure consistent deal flow.

• Evaluate vehicles using market data (MMR, vAuto, JD Power, Black Book, retail comps) to establish disciplined buy limits.

• Purchase vehicles with defined exit strategies, recon expectations, and target gross.

Multi-Store Inventory Strategy

• Build and balance inventory across six rooftops based on market demand, pricing segments, and store-specific performance.

• Coordinate inventory transfers between stores to maximize turn and minimize over-buying.

• Maintain optimal inventory mix by price point, vehicle type, age, and market velocity.

Aged Inventory Management

• Monitor aging daily and proactively execute markdowns, transfers, or wholesale exits.

• Establish and enforce clear disposal thresholds for non-performing inventory.

• Minimize wholesale losses through disciplined exit strategies and timely remarketing.

Reconditioning & Cost Control

• Work with service and recon teams to control reconditioning expense and time to front line.

• Determine when vehicles should be retail-reconditioned versus wholesaled based on ROI.

• Prevent over-recon and protect margin.

Financial Performance & Reporting

• Manage inventory with a focus on turn, return on capital, and front-end gross.

• Track and report on:

  • Purchases by segment and source

  • Average days-to-turn

  • Aged inventory levels

  • Gross performance vs. projections

  • Wholesale results and losses

• Provide weekly performance updates to executive leadership.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with title standards, disclosures, arbitration rules, and internal policies.

• Identify and avoid high-risk inventory (structural damage, title brands, buybacks, etc.).

• Protect the organization from inventory write-downs and floorplan exposure.

Qualifications & Requirements

Experience

• Minimum 5+ years of hands-on used vehicle buying experience.

• Demonstrated success purchasing at scale through auctions and direct sourcing.

• Experience managing inventory across multiple rooftops or large-volume operations strongly preferred.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Expert proficiency with vAuto, JD Power, Black Book, Manheim MMR, and retail market analysis.

• Strong financial acumen: understands inventory turn, ROI, aging curves, and capital risk.

• Ability to evaluate recon cost vs. retail and wholesale value quickly and accurately.

Operational Strength

• Proven ability to manage inventory lifecycle: acquisition → recon → retail → wholesale exit.

• Comfortable enforcing disciplined buying standards and aged-inventory policies.

• Strong organizational and reporting skills with attention to detail.

Professional Traits

• Data-driven, disciplined, and emotionally detached from inventory decisions.

• Confident communicator who can push back on sales managers when needed.

• Highly accountable, with a consistent record of improving turn and reducing aged inventory.

Preferred Experience (Not Required but Strongly Valued)

• Group-level or multi-store inventory management

• Bulk or portfolio purchasing

• Off-lane and dealer-direct sourcing networks

• Deep understanding of recon operations and service department workflows

Compensation

Compensation will be competitive and performance-based, aligned with:

• Inventory turn

• Aged inventory reduction

• Gross performance

• Wholesale exposure control

(Details discussed with qualified candidates.)