Senior Manager, Fleet & Real Estate Operations

About Us

Barkbus is the nation's premier mobile dog grooming company. We are dog-loving creatives and entrepreneurs using a tech-driven startup approach to disrupt and modernize the industry. Driven by our mission to bring convenience and luxury to pet parents, we're proud to have nearly 200 vans on the road in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. We have no plans to slow down our expansion and would love for you to join us in building the next modern national pet brand!

About This Role

The Senior Manager of Operations– fleet & real estate will play a pivotal role in scaling fleet and facility operations to support our company's rapid growth. This position is responsible for designing and implementing processes, SOPs, and training programs that ensure operational efficiency, fleet readiness, and a high-performing team. The Senior Manager will build and oversee a fleet support training function, develop corporate hub/real estate operations, manage a small but high-impact team, and drive continuous improvement across fleet tools, systems, and workflows.

In this role, you will work cross-functionally with operations, real estate, and senior leadership to optimize fleet operations, innovate on vehicle design and functionality, and ensure facilities align with operational needs. You will be a strategic thought leader, balancing structured processes with practical execution in a fast-scaling organization.

Role & Responsibilities

Build & Scale Fleet Operations

• Develop and implement scalable SOPs, workflows, and best practices to support a growing fleet and operational footprint.

• Identify and implement technology, automation, and process improvements that drive efficiency in fleet operations.

• Partner with operations, supply chain, and product teams to continuously innovate on fleet design and grooming functionality.

Training, Learning & Development (L&D)

• Own the fleet support training program, developing structured training for fleet operations, van troubleshooting, and best practices.

• Build and manage a remote fleet support team, ensuring they are well-trained and equipped to assist with van issues and operational escalations.

• Develop ongoing L&D strategies for fleet team members and cross-functional partners, creating a strong culture of operational excellence.

Facilities & Corporate Hub Management

• Oversee fleet-related facilities and corporate hubs, ensuring they are operationally efficient and positioned for future scale.

• Work cross-functionally to align real estate planning with fleet growth needs.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Communication

• Manage a small but high-impact team responsible for fleet support, training, and data accuracy.

• Establish clear communication cadences, reporting structures, and knowledge-sharing within the fleet team and across the organization.

• Collaborate with senior leaders in operations, supply chain, and finance to align on growth strategy, innovation, and operational priorities.

Fleet Compliance & Risk Management 

• Consolidate and manage business license and certificate requirements for existing and new markets.

• Manage all fleet insurance claims to close and lender certificate requirements, ensuring efficient processing while identifying trends for preventative improvements.

Who You Are

• You are relentless. You have the determination and grit to keep working on a problem as new challenges emerge while maintaining the flexibility to adjust plans or strategies as needed.

• No task is too big or too small. You don't hesitate to get in the weeds and work at the lowest level of detail, but you're just as comfortable thinking long-term and big-picture.

• Thoughtful attention to detail. Every action you take is driven by a strategic plan that helps dictate your decisions.

Qualifications & Experience

• Must be both a people and dog lover!

• 8+ years of experience in operations, logistics, or process development, preferably in a high-growth or multi-location service business.

• Proven ability to build and scale processes, SOPs, and training programs that improve efficiency and support rapid growth.

• Exceptional organizational and communication skills—able to translate complexity into clear, practical workflows.

• Leadership skills, with experience managing a small but