Region Operations Manager

Description

Who We Are:

AgriVision Equipment Group and PrairieLand Partners (AVE-PLP, LLC) is a joint venture between two of the top John Deere Dealerships in the United States. By joining forces, we continue to lead the charge in technology, innovation, and best-in-class service and support for our respective customers.  Our purpose is to lead agriculture in rural America.

We credit our success to our knowledgeable, competitive, hardworking, and passionate employees that strive for excellence in everything they do.  We live out our Guiding Principles of Integrity, Servant Leadership, Courageous Innovation, and Performance.

With over 100 years of experience in the agricultural industry we have a rich heritage, growth mindset, and entrepreneurial spirit. Today, we have a strong presence in numerous locations with our support spanning through western Iowa, eastern Nebraska, central and eastern Kansas, and northwest Missouri.

We are seeking driven, highly motivated, collaborative, and intellectually curious professionals who want to be part of cultivating the highest impact culture in the agriculture equipment industry. Previous experience and knowledge of large ag equipment or commercial/turf equipment is welcomed but not required. We can train with the right individual who is willing to work hard and make customers their #1 priority.

Look Forward. Adapt Often.  Lead Always.

General Purpose:

As the Region Operations Manager, you will use your leadership, communication, and passion to support the retail aftermarket team in delivering exceptional customer satisfaction and top-tier performance. Your role includes leading a cross-functional team to drive sales, increase shop utilization, promote equipment technology adoption, and ensure adherence to organizational best practices. You will also anticipate challenges and develop strategies to mitigate risks. Ultimately, you will be responsible for achieving key aftermarket performance metrics and executing organizational initiatives within your region. The Region Operations Manager reports to the General Manager.

Essential Functions:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Operational Effectiveness

• Develop and execute the region’s annual operating plan (AOP) for parts and service
• Lead and facilitate tactical review meetings with cross-functional team members to measure progress against the region’s operational (whole goods, parts, service) and strategic initiatives
• Coordinate and lead monthly parts and service workshops
• Cultivate a retail sales mindset within the parts and service team
• Lead team to proactively engage with customers to create a sense of urgency by developing parts bundles, programs, and other sales opportunities
• Identify and target new customers and sales opportunities to grow counter sales and optimize shop utilization by leveraging (PoPs) and other sources
• Lead team to proactively to utilize digital tools (e.g., text, ExpertConnect) to engage with customers more effectively
• Ensure timely use and completion of inspection signups, PIP lists, workload forecasting tools, and other resources to target equipment not currently serviced by the company while actively managing workload
• Implement company best practices and address areas for improvement to maximize productivity and efficiency
• Support with region sales manager to deliver against wholegoods objectives and ensure high customer satisfaction

Culture & Team Development

• Foster clarity and alignment within the team, holding members accountable for their deliverables while encouraging open dialogue, debate, and collaboration
• Cultivate a culture of continuous feedback by conducting monthly JobTrack reviews for all Store Managers and ensuring completion for the region’s parts and service managers
• Utilize the appropriate tools and resources, including your cross functional team members, to build and lead a team that aligns with our DNA and consistently meets performance expectations
• Lead by influence, not by title, uniting the organization around common culture, goals and objectives
• Drive and support change within the region by effectively communicating and reinforcing the company’s vision and strategies
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of technicians across all locations by promoting recruiting efforts for all AVE-PLP programs

Process Discipline

• Identify process alignment gaps and collaborate with cross functional teams to help locations achieve consistent alignment
• Establish and maintain open lines of communication between retail locations and functional support teams to ensure unified processes are followed and executed across the company
• Maintain location appearance standards:
  • Keep lots free of weeds, ensure grass is mowed, and equipment is organized, clean, and detailed
  • Ensure showrooms are well-stocked, clean, well-lit, and that parts counters remain uncluttered
  • Keep backroom parts areas free of empty boxes and packages, ensuring they are well-organized
  • Ensure restrooms, common areas, and technician breakrooms are cleaned regularly

Qualifications

Supervisory Duties:

• Region Store Managers

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to consistently promote, support, work, and act in a manner in support of AVE-PLP’s DNA.
• Strong knowledge of used equipment values and ability to evaluate properly for trading purposes.
• Solid communication skills. Can deal with and effectively resolve challenging issues.
• Extremely organized, sensitive to deadlines and accessible based on business needs.
• Knowledge of John Deere and competitive products, knowledge of agricultural equipment, and knowledge of farming and operational practices.
• Must be driven to achieve results, highly attentive to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to thrive under pressure, in a high performance, fast paced environment without compromising quality.
• Ability to maintain a positive and professional working relationship with peers, management, and support resources, with a constant commitment to teamwork and exemplary customer service.
• Knowledge of current financing options to assist customers with securing the purchase of new and used goods.
• Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree, or higher, in an agricultural-related major or equivalent experience is required.

Experience:

• 5 years of experience in an agricultural-related role with activities such as sales, training, or other related work. Prior experience with JD technology and equipment is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year for year basis.

Additional Requirements/Licenses/Certifications:

• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Passing a driving record (MVR), criminal history background checks, employment verification, and drug screen will be required prior to the start of employment.

Working Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Travel to customer locations, meetings, and other store locations on a regular basis is necessary.
• Occasional outdoor work in extreme weather conditions (hot/cold); walking on uneven terrain; occasional exposure to insects.
• Occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles and vibration. 
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required includes cold weather gear, eye protection, gloves, and provided uniform.
• A clean and safety-conscientious work environment is required.
• Work may involve long hours and overtime during holidays, weekends, and evenings.  
• May be required to rotate on-call responsibilities.

Physical Activities:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to stand, sit, walk, walk on unpaved terrain, talk, reach with arms and hands, have good manual dexterity, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard, handle or feel, hear alarms/telephones/normal speaking voice.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. 
• Moderate physical activity required by moving and positioning objects up to 50 pounds occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

AgriVision Equipment Group and PrairieLand Partners (AVE-PLP, LLC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any person in any condition of employment based on race, color, creed, national origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, or veteran status.