Operations Manager, AV Deployment

At Lyft, our purpose is to serve and connect. We aim to achieve this by cultivating a work environment where all team members belong and have the opportunity to thrive.  Flexdrive is a subsidiary of Lyft that works together with Lyft teams to realize our shared mission.

At Flexdrive, we're at the forefront of revolutionizing transportation by building the operational backbone for autonomous vehicle (AV) fleets. As a leader in fleet management, we're leveraging our expertise to enter the AV space, forming strategic partnerships with cutting-edge technology providers. We're looking for a hands-on leader to help us pioneer this new chapter, starting with our first AV depot in Nashville, Tennessee.

Reporting to the Director, Field Operations, Flexdrive is seeking an experienced and highly analytical Operations Manager, AV Deployment to be the founding operational leader for our new AV depot in Nashville, TN. This pivotal role is more than just management—it's about building a critical new business capability from the ground up. You will be responsible for creating the strategic framework, overseeing the physical deployment of our depot, and ensuring the seamless functioning of our AV support infrastructure in close partnership with our AV technology partners.

This role is for a leader with a unique blend of strategic foresight, project management excellence, and deep operational knowledge within the AV or complex fleet management space. If you thrive in ambiguous, build-from-scratch environments and possess the business acumen to drive efficiency and scalability, enabling our AV operations to thrive, we encourage you to apply.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Depot Deployment:

• Depot Launch: Lead the end-to-end deployment and commissioning of our new AV depot in the market, acting as the primary point of contact for all strategic, operational, and physical build-out activities.
• Operational Blueprint Development: Develop comprehensive operational blueprints and long-term strategies for establishing AV depot operations and the broader operational ecosystem in new territories, considering local regulations, infrastructure, and unique market dynamics.
• System & Process Design: Lead the design and optimization of critical operational systems and processes for AV fleet management, including depot layout, vehicle flow (charging, cleaning, maintenance, staging, diagnostics), parts management, and data handling.
• Technology Integration: Define requirements and oversee the integration of necessary technologies and tools to enable efficient and scalable AV operations within the depot environment.
• Resource Forecasting & Business Case Development: Forecast and plan for all operational resources (equipment, technology, consumables, staffing) and build robust business cases to justify investment in new market expansion and operational improvements, demonstrating clear ROI.

Operational Excellence & Management:

• Daily Operational Leadership: Serve as the primary operational leader for the Nashville AV depot, driving daily performance and ensuring adherence to all operational and safety protocols.
• Process Design & Implementation: Design, document, and continuously refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and safety protocols for all aspects of AV fleet management within the depot, from vehicle entry to dispatch.
• Performance Monitoring & Optimization: Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for depot operations (e.g., vehicle uptime, turnaround time, maintenance efficiency, cost per vehicle) and proactively drive data-driven initiatives for continuous improvement.
• Data Analysis & Insights: Utilize data and analytics to identify operational bottlenecks, predict future needs, and drive continuous improvement in AV depot performance, cost-efficiency, and safety.

Stakeholder & Partner Collaboration:

• Team Enablement: Collaborate with the Director of Field Ops and Flexdrive leadership to determine staffing needs for new depots, support recruitment, and develop initial training programs for new AV operators and technicians.
• Partner Relationship Management: Maintain strong working relationships with our AV technology partners, ensuring their operational needs are seamlessly integrated into Flexdrive's depot activities and collaborating on joint initiatives for fleet health and performance.
• Vendor Management: Collaborate with external vendors and partners for equipment, services, and