Associate Operations Manager

Reporting to the Operations Manager, AV Depot, the Associate Operations Manager is the second leadership layer at the Nashville AV depot. This role exists because one Operations Manager cannot provide the people leadership, floor coverage, and operational bandwidth a 24/7 depot of this scale requires.

The Associate Operations Manager carries ownership across two critical business workstreams: workforce scheduling support and process standards compliance. Fleet Operations Leads report to the Operations Manager — but during mid shifts, the Associate Operations Manager is the operational authority on the floor, directing their work, setting the quality standard, and serving as their most experienced resource and mentor.

This is a management role with a floor orientation. The Associate Operations Manager is present, coaching, directing, and executing alongside the team — while simultaneously carrying business responsibilities that directly impact depot readiness and partner compliance. This role is the bridge between the Fleet Operations Lead layer and the Operations Manager.

Responsibilities

Scheduling & Workforce Planning Support

• Owns the depot schedule — building, maintaining, and adjusting shift coverage across all teams to ensure the depot is consistently staffed and operationally ready.
• Monitors attendance, manages real-time coverage gaps, and proactively addresses workforce trends before they become operational problems.
• Partners with the Operations Manager on workforce planning, surfacing scheduling risks and recommendations with enough lead time to act.

Training Program Execution & Certification Compliance

• Owns the planning and coordination of training program execution across all shift teams- ensuring Fleet Operations Associates and Fleet Operations Leads are scheduled, prepared, and on track to complete required partner certifications, safety refreshers, and qualification renewals.
• Maintains certification and qualification records for the team, flagging upcoming renewals and escalating compliance risks to the Operations Manager before they become audit findings.
• Partners with the Program Lead Trainer to ensure qualified trainers are in place, training resources are available, and delivery stays consistent across shift teams.

Floor Execution & Quality Standards

• Lead the day-to-day execution of critical operational systems and processes for our 24/7 AV fleet management operations, including depot layout adherence, vehicle flow (charging, cleaning, maintenance, staging, diagnostics), parts management, and data handling.
• Serves as the operational authority during mid shifts — directing Fleet Operations Leads and Fleet Operations Associates on task execution, resolving workflow conflicts, and holding the floor accountable to depot performance targets.
• Owns quality on shift: vehicle readiness, safety inspections, and quality standards — inspecting, enforcing, and setting the standard by working alongside the team.
• Maintains accurate shift documentation and manages shift handoffs with discipline, ensuring the incoming Fleet Operations Lead has full situational awareness and no items fall through the gap.

Fleet Operations Lead Mentorship & Operational Direction

• Directs Fleet Operations Leads operationally on shift — task priorities, execution decisions, real-time escalations.
• Serves as the most experienced senior leader in the building in absence of the Operations Manager, providing in-the-moment coaching and surfacing structured performance observations to the Operations Manager.

Experience

• 5+ years of progressive experience in operational leadership, with a strong understanding of autonomous vehicle (AV) or complex fleet operational environments.
• Proven track record of launching and scaling new operational sites or programs, including accountability for facilities, team performance, and operational outcomes.
• Demonstrated expertise in safety management and regulatory compliance within transportation, automotive, or similar regulated industries.
• Experience executing incident response and coordinating multi-vendor support in complex operational environments.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed, to effectively support and lead a 24/7 AV depot operation.
• Exceptional leadership in training execution and team development, with the ability to lead high-performing teams in safety-critical operations at scale.
• Strong analytical and data-driven mindset, with the ability to translate operational data into actionable decisions and surface clear recommendations to leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership ability in fast-paced, high-accountability environments, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills to drive cross-functional alignment and lead on-site operations.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field.

Compensation: $88,560 - $110,700 base salary