OEM Partnership Operations Manager

About Tekion: Positively disrupting an industry that has not seen any innovation in over 50 years, Tekion has challenged the paradigm with the first and fastest cloud-native automotive platform that includes the revolutionary Automotive Retail Cloud (ARC) for retailers, Automotive Enterprise Cloud (AEC) for manufacturers and other large automotive enterprises and Automotive Partner Cloud (APC) for technology and industry partners. Tekion connects the entire spectrum of the automotive retail ecosystem through one seamless platform. The transformative platform uses cutting-edge technology, big data, machine learning, and AI to seamlessly bring together OEMs, retailers/dealers and consumers. With its highly configurable integration and greater customer engagement capabilities, Tekion is enabling the best automotive retail experiences ever. Tekion employs close to 3,000 people across North America, Asia and Europe. Job Introduction The OEM Partnership team is expanding its engagement with automotive OEM clients and large dealer groups. As the volume and complexity of partnership opportunities grow, there is a critical need for a dedicated operations professional who can manage, track, and organize complex data sets, pipeline activity, and cross-functional deliverables. This role will serve as the operational backbone of the OEM Partnership team, ensuring that all client-facing activities are supported by accurate data, streamlined processes, and well-prepared materials. Without this role, the team risks losing visibility into key opportunities, experiencing delays in reporting, and being unable to scale efficiently. This position directly supports Tekion's strategic growth objectives within the OEM channel.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Manage and maintain OEM partnership pipeline data within Salesforce, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely updates across all stages of the opportunity lifecycle. Track, organize, and analyze complex data sets related to OEM partner engagements, dealer group activity, and market opportunities to provide actionable insights to leadership. Build and maintain dashboards, reports, and tracking tools in Salesforce and Excel to monitor key performance indicators, deal progress, and team activity. Prepare high-quality PowerPoint presentations, executive summaries, and briefing materials for OEM client meetings, quarterly business reviews, and internal leadership updates. Coordinate cross-functionally with Sales, Product, Marketing, and Customer Success teams to ensure alignment on OEM partnership initiatives and deliverables. Support the SVP of OEM Partnership with meeting preparation, follow-up action tracking, and operational cadence management. Identify process gaps and proactively recommend improvements to enhance team efficiency, data quality, and reporting capabilities. Serve as a key point of contact for operational inquiries from OEM clients and large dealer groups, maintaining a professional and knowledgeable presence. Assist in the coordination of limited travel engagements (less than 20%) for OEM client visits, industry events, and dealer group meetings. Maintain organized records of all partnership agreements, communications, and key milestones.

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in an operations, sales operations, or business operations role within the automotive industry.
• Strong automotive industry knowledge, including familiarity with OEM structures, dealer networks, and franchise operations.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a proven ability to manage, track, and organize large and complex data sets.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data modeling, complex formulas) and Microsoft PowerPoint (executive-level presentation design).
• Hands-on experience with Salesforce CRM, including pipeline management, report building, and dashboard creation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with automotive OEM clients and senior executives.
• Self-starter mentality — seeks guidance and direction on objectives but independently determines the best path to execution without needing step-by-step instruction.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Automotive Management, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Willingness to travel up to 20% as needed for client meetings, industry events, and dealer group engagements.
• Preferred Qualifications: Direct OEM experience working within or alongside an automotive manufacturer's partnership, sales, or dealer operations team.
• Experience working with large dealer groups (e.g., AutoNation, Lithia, Penske, Hendrick, Larry H. Miller) and understanding their operational dynamics.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) in addition to Excel.
• Familiarity with SaaS or technology platforms serving the automotive retail industry.
• Project management experience or certification (PMP, Six Sigma, or equivalent) is a plus.

Perks & Benefits

Competitive compensation and generous stock options 100% employer-paid top-of-the-line medical, dental and vision coverage Great benefits including unlimited PTO, parental leave and free snacks and beverages The opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds from Silicon Valley’s most dominant and successful companies Be part of an early stage, hyper-growth start-up with the opportunity to grow and prosper Work on the latest and coolest technologies – everything is home-grown and built ground-up A dynamic work environment with a strong sense of community and collaboration The open and transparent culture that encourages innovation, rewards performance and discourages hierarchy Exciting opportunities for career growth and development Current Tekion Employees: Please apply via the Internal Job Board in Ashby. Note: Tekion recently transitioned to a new recruiting tool and we appreciate your patience and feedback as we adjust to our new system! Tekion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, victim of violence or having a family member who is a victim of violence, the intersectionality of two or more protected categories, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. For more information on our privacy practices, please refer to our Applicant Privacy Notice here . Important : Tekion will only contact candidates from an @ tekion.com email address or through our applicant tracking system (no-reply@ashbyhq.com). We may also work with authorized recruiting partners from time to time. Tekion and its recruiting partners will never ask you to pay fees or send money for applications, interviews, training, or onboarding. If you receive a message that seems suspicious, please do not respond or share personal or financial information.