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.)