Sr. Manager - Urban Science Applications, Inc.

Overview and Summary:

We are Automotive Business Scientists. We empower our clients to turn overwhelming industry data into discovery, action and measured success. We are unique market leaders because we find and examine possibilities through the clarity of a scientific lens. To solve the toughest client challenges, we need curious, creative and dedicated people to join our team.

We search out individuals who align with our core values and who adhere to the highest standards of integrity and ethics in everything they do. Our company is filled with the brightest minds and the biggest hearts at every level. We recognize that personal success takes on many different forms of the course of our lives – both professional and personally – so we provide a myriad of benefits and programs focused on Wellbeing, Growth, Community and Recognition. One size does not fit all, so we encourage every Urban Scientist to discover their own formula for success. If this sounds like the kind of company you would like to work with, Apply Now!

 

Workplace flexibility has taken on a whole new meaning here at Urban Science. The requirements of each team, role and employee can look quite different. Leaders work with their teams to determine the right balance for working in-person and remotely, considering the needs of the business, our clients, cross-functional projects, individual work, and individual preference. This role has current Hybrid Workplace flexibility to our local Urban Science office. The candidate must be available and willing to work in person as required. This position will require up to 70% travel.

 

POSITION OVERVIEW:
This position supports the delivery of Urban Science FinancialView services on an account team. The Sr. Manager will provide regional retailer consultancy support with a focus on performance enhancement and project based composite work. The ideal candidate will be able to conduct detailed financial analysis, dealer training and run improvement programs. A critical skill for success is an understanding of car retailer processes, systems and financials. Dealer visits to assist the network will be required. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establishes long-term business relationships with clients and develops a firm understanding of client’s business needs to sell upgrades to existing contracts, and lead negotiations to renew & deliver client contracts.
• Assumes responsibility for project outcomes, including delivery of projects that are on time, within budget and at an exceptional level of quality; includes accurately defining project timelines, forecasting, planning, tracking, executing, and taking corrective action when needed.
• Assumes responsibility for accurate and high-quality data being utilized on assigned projects.
• Serves as liaison between client and Urban Science technical staff on development projects to clearly communicate client needs and facilitate appropriate deliverable time frames based on internal capabilities and workload.
• Acquires and maintains a thorough understanding of client data and information to properly create client deliverables and provide added, insightful solutions to address client needs.
• Partners with internal teams to ensure that software is installed, set up and functioning at established quality levels.
• Manages sustainment activities by updating software as appropriate to function at established quality levels.
• Effectively responds to client inquiries/requests promptly to improve client satisfaction.
• Frequently interacts with clients to provide consulting advice, design, and present proposals, negotiate agreements, renew contracts, assist with decision making and manage client expectations.
• Adheres to quality control standards for Urban Science and client organizations.
• Understands and uses appropriate Urban Science tools and methodology in supporting client projects and deliverables
• Clearly and confidently presents project status updates/conclusions, using appropriate presentation tools, to client representatives or internal management to communicate project results.
• Provides input to the Account Executive/Account Manager in connection with assessing competitive conditions, to detect on-time business opportunities and/or deter competitive business threats.
• Provides valuable knowledge and insight to senior management in creating estimates and proposals for clients.
• Actively works with manager to understand and implement solutions to improve NPS (client satisfaction).
• Works with manager to review income statements, revenues, margins, labor, and profitability targets; assists in making recommendations to improve profitability and accurately forecast costs.
• Maintains a thorough understanding of one or more Urban Science solutions and applies that knowledge to better meet client needs.
• Coordinates with individuals or teams to complete analyses, tasks, and projects on time and with high quality.
• Builds and maintains strong and effective internal relationships to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams and offices.
• Actively supports and participates in required Urban Science training programs to achieve targeted development objectives.
• Proactively communicates with upper management to provide updates and report issues in a timely manner.
• Works with manager in completing annual goal setting and performance review promptly.
• Works with manager to develop team-oriented goals, which are to be reviewed and updated regularly.
• Actively leads, supports, and promotes change initiatives, and provides direction on how change initiatives impact workflow or performance.
• Actively works with manager and Managing Director to support and promote internal employee engagement initiatives.
• Works with manager to prioritize other duties as assigned.

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Responsible for all aspects of RSTMM (recruit, select, train, manage, motivate) of selected staff which includes the following:
• Interview & selection
• Setting objectives
• Conducting performance appraisals
• Assigning and prioritizing work
• Approval of timesheets
• Establish and maintain quality, quantity, and timeliness of work
• Employee development, career planning and promotions
• Oversee training
• Coach, mentor, manage and motivate
• Interpret and carry out established corporate policy, including disciplinary procedures

Qualifications - Education and Experience:

QUALIFICATIONS:
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, ability and/or competency needed for successful performance in the role.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Verbal Communication: Requires the ability to compose and verbally deliver information of varying levels, using appropriate grammar, tone, inflection, and non-verbal cues, while also listening to and correctly deciphering verbal communication delivered by others
• Written Communication: Requires the ability and capacity to communicate ideas, facts and data in writing using appropriate grammar, syntax, and sentence structure
• Analytical Thinking: Requires the ability to understand a situation by breaking it apart into smaller pieces, and/or tracing the implications of a situation in a step-by-step causal way
• Results Oriented: Requires the ability to strive for optimal results by taking responsibility for timeliness, commitment to task and adherence to performance standards
• Ethics & Integrity: Requires the ability to behave in a trustworthy & transparent manner
• Teamwork & Cooperation: Requires the ability to work cooperatively with others and be part of a team
• Self-Control: Requires the ability to keep emotions under control and to restrain from negative actions or behaviors
• Information Seeking: Requires the drive to gain a deeper understanding of work-related issues or events by making a concerted effort to gather information and seek out development opportunities
• Initiative: Requires the drive to go above and beyond to improve or enhance job results
• Quality Control: Requires the ability to monitor and check work-related information and deliverables ensuring high quality and accuracy
• Customer Service: Requires the ability to understand and help/assist both internal and external customers and meet their needs
• Flexibility/Adaptability: Requires the ability to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of situations, individuals, or groups, as well as understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives
• Conceptual Thinking: Requires the ability to understand a situation or problem by putting the different pieces together to see the bigger picture
• Interpersonal Understanding: Requires the ability to understand other’s feelings and concerns, and to value individual differences in people
• Self-Confidence: Requires the ability to express confidence in dealing with challenging circumstances, in reaching decisions or forming opinions and in handling failures or setbacks constructively
• Organizational Commitment: Requires the ability and willingness to align his/her own behavior with the needs, priorities, and goals of the organization
• Relationship Building: Requires the ability to effectively build and maintain friendly, warm relationships or networks of contacts with clients/customers
• Assertiveness: Requires the ability and intent to appropriately display assertive behaviors to ensure others follow and comply with given directions
• Developing & Coaching: Requires the ability, desire, and intent to teach and foster the development and long-term capability of one or more employees by providing coaching, direction, and feedback to enhance performance
• Strategic Influence: Requires the ability to effectively persuade, convince, and influence others to gain support to achieve work related goals/objectives
• Team Leadership: Requires the ability to effectively take a role as leader of a team or department with a desire to help the group achieve business related outcomes
• Database: Requires demonstrated knowledge of database management, including diagnostics and resolution of database errors
• Math & Statistics: Requires the ability to select and apply the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem; requires basic descriptive statistics knowledge and the ability to understand and interpret statistical analyses
• MS Office: Requires advanced knowledge and experience with Excel & PowerPoint; Requires Intermediate knowledge and experience with MS Word; intermediate knowledge of Visio preferred
• Technical/Software: Requires the ability to understand and work with software tools & packages used by Urban Science
• Time Management: Requires strong capability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple concurrent tasks and effectively manage meeting agendas on schedule
• Project Management: Extensive project management skills needed, including the ability to estimate work efforts, define work plans, delegate work, monitor progress and report schedule variances and scope changes; requires the ability to follow established internal PMO procedures and present project conclusions to senior level management; proficiency in MS Project strongly preferred
• Sales & Business Development: Requires the ability to identify potential new opportunities from the client and proactively communicate those opportunities to management; requires knowledge and understanding of sales and business development processes
• Budget/Finance: Requires the ability to understand and interpret income statements, revenues, margins, labor costs, profitability targets, impacts on profitability, and develop pricing schedules that meet profitability targets
• Negotiation: Requires the ability to understand, explain and justify pricing, scope, cost estimates, as well as internal and external impacts

 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
• University degree required; technical degrees are strongly preferred (i.e., engineering, applied math, statistics, applied science, information systems, operations research, etc.) from an accredited college or university, or equivalent foreign institution. Non-technical degrees will be considered if the candidate possesses the appropriate level of analytical and technical knowledge required for the role; master's or advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of 8 years related work experience required (10 years' experience preferred)