Director of Operations

The Director, Operations, Waymo Partnership serves as the senior leader responsible for driving the operational growth & excellence, and financial performance of the Waymo partnership within AutoNation. This role shapes the long-term direction of the partnership, overseeing multi-market operations, ensuring seamless cross-functional collaboration, and positioning AutoNation as a premier service partner in autonomous and electric mobility.

With full P&L accountability, this leader will translate enterprise strategy into measurable business outcomes, optimize workforce and resource allocation, and serve as the key liaison between AutoNation’s senior leadership team and Waymo’s leadership team. The role requires a strategic and operationally minded leader who can balance visionary growth with disciplined execution, guiding one of AutoNation’s most innovative and rapidly evolving business ventures.

Leadership, Culture, & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team of field leaders, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Embed AutoNation’s D.R.I.V.E. values into all aspects of operations and leadership decision-making.
• Partner with HR and Learning & Development to design leadership development programs, career progression frameworks, and technician advancement pathways.
• Champion employee engagement, inclusion, and retention initiatives that promote high performance and organizational health.

Operational Excellence & Performance Management

• Oversee and optimize operations across multiple sites, ensuring consistent service quality, productivity, and adherence to safety and brand standards.
• Leverage analytics and operational data to improve forecasting, workforce planning, and customer experience.
• Implement enterprise-level performance dashboards and business intelligence tools to track operational efficiency and identify improvement opportunities.
• Drive cost optimization and process improvement initiatives to support profitability and scalability.

Strategic Leadership & Enterprise Planning

• Develop and execute the long-term strategic roadmap for the Waymo partnership, ensuring alignment with AutoNation’s corporate growth and innovation objectives.
• Set and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure operational success, workforce efficiency, and profitability across all markets.
• Provide thought leadership and data-driven insights to the executive team, influencing corporate strategy around EV mobility, network expansion, and service delivery models.
• Drive continuous assessment of business models, anticipating market shifts and positioning the organization for long-term competitiveness in the autonomous and EV ecosystem.

Organizational Growth & Business Expansion

• Oversee large-scale operational expansion, including workforce growth, new market launches, and service diversification across multiple geographic regions.
• Establish scalable operating frameworks that enhance consistency, efficiency, and leadership autonomy across field operations.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and Supply Chain to forecast staffing, resource, and budget requirements that align with business growth and profitability targets.
• Ensure that all expansion and operational models support long-term sustainability and strategic alignment with AutoNation’s enterprise objectives.

Executive Collaboration & Strategic Influence

• Serve as the senior point of contact between AutoNation and Waymo, managing executive communications, partnership performance reviews, and strategic initiatives.
• Deliver regular updates and business reviews to the C-suite, providing clear, actionable insights on operations, financial outcomes, and growth opportunities.
• Partner cross-functionally with leaders across Operations, Finance, IT, HR, and Marketing to drive cohesive strategy execution and operational excellence.

Fleet & Infrastructure Optimization

• Drive operational planning for national fleet management, ensuring availability, uptime, and cost efficiency.
• Implement innovative fleet management practices and technology solutions that enhance operational agility and sustainability.
• Integrate operational best practices that align with AutoNation’s environmental, safety, and performance standards.

Field Operations & Executive Visibility

• Engage with frontline teams and site leaders regularly to ensure alignment between field execution and strategic priorities.
• Conduct structured site visits and operational audits to assess performance, safety, and service delivery.
• Provide executive-level coaching and