Manager/Senior Manager, Fleet Acquisition & Upfitting

Job description

Your Mission: Your mission is to serve as the primary vehicle acquisition and upfitting expert on Inspiration Mobility Group's Procurement team. You'll provide comprehensive fleet management support that optimizes vehicle procurement, upfit design, and delivery operations. This role is responsible for managing the full vehicle lifecycle — from OEM ordering and factory coordination to upfit specification and vendor management — while delivering cost-effective solutions that balance operational requirements, budget constraints, and timeline demands. You will leverage your expertise in upfit design, OEM incentive negotiation, out-of-stock sourcing, and vendor performance management to lead and deliver efficient fleet deployments with minimal downtime. You will report to: Sr Director of Vehicle Procurement Key Responsibilities: Upfit Specifications & Vendor Management – 50% of your time will be: Leading collaboration with upfit vendors and internal departments to coordinate vehicle customization and equipment installations Managing quotes and POs for upfit services, ensuring specifications meet fleet standards and operational requirements Owning upfit timelines to minimize vehicle downtime and ensure timely fleet deployment Inspecting and documenting completed upfits for quality assurance and compliance with contract specifications Troubleshooting upfit issues and directing remediation or warranty claims with vendors OEM Ordering & Factory Coordination – 30% of your time will be: Supporting direct vehicle order coordination with manufacturers, including managing specifications, delivery schedules, and order modifications Processing and tracking OEM purchase orders through the full procurement cycle, from requisition through delivery Collaborating with OEM representatives to help resolve delivery delays, defects, and warranty issues Maintaining accurate records of OEM orders and ensuring alignment with fleet requirements and budget constraints Assisting with order expediting when needed to meet operational timelines and fleet deployment schedules Out-of-Stock Sourcing – 10% of your time will be: Leading inventory procurement for fleet vehicles and components, balancing cost optimization with availability and lead time requirements Developing and maintaining relationships with multiple suppliers to ensure competitive pricing and favorable terms Transportation Coordination – 5% of your time will be: Directing logistics for vehicle delivery, including freight carriers, specialized transport, and inbound logistics coordination Tracking shipments and managing delivery schedules to optimize fleet receiving and storage capacity Coordinating with logistics partners to ensure vehicles arrive safely and on schedule Leading transportation cost management through carrier negotiation and freight optimization Serving as primary point of contact for fleet transportation issues, resolving delays and addressing logistics concerns Data Management & Process Improvement – 5% of your time will be: Maintaining accurate and up-to-date fleet data across procurement, upfit, and delivery tracking systems Analyzing fleet data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for cost or process improvement Developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) and process documentation for acquisition and upfitting workflows Supporting continuous improvement initiatives by identifying gaps in current processes and recommending solutions Generating regular reports and dashboards to provide visibility into fleet performance, vendor metrics, and procurement status Who You Are: You have deep expertise in upfit specifications, procurement methods, and a strong working knowledge of upfit facilities and vendor capabilities You bring 5–7 years of experience in fleet operations and upfitting, ideally within an FMC or upfitting environment You are a self-starter who embeds yourself into the business, anticipates team needs, and starts delivering before anyone asks you to You have strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience collaborating across internal teams and external partners, and can synthesize data into clear, well-structured memos, emails, and reports You are adept at managing multiple projects simultaneously without losing sight of deadlines or details You have exceptionally strong Excel and PowerPoint skills, with the ability to build clean reporting and present data in a compelling, easy-to-understand format Experience in fleet management, upfitting, automotive, transportation, leasing, or vehicle rental industries is preferred A Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, or a related field is preferred Our core values (see below) are part of your inherent DNA, and you have many examples of when you demonstrated these values in your career Salary: $100,000 - $140,000 + annual bonus eligible Location: This role is remote eligible. However, we have an office in Washington, DC. Our in-office team works from our Dupont Circle office Tuesday through Thursday. Remote work on Mondays and Fridays is voluntary, and employees are welcome to work from the office if they’d prefer. Why You’ll Love Working Here: At Inspiration Mobility, you won’t just fill a role—you’ll help build the company. We’re a fast-growing, mission-driven team tackling real, complex challenges at the intersection of transportation, energy, technology, and finance. You’ll have the autonomy to take ownership, move quickly, and turn ideas into action, with leadership that values pragmatism, creativity, and momentum. We believe in clear accountability, low ego, and learning as we go—giving you the chance to shape how we operate, scale, and win, while doing work that has a meaningful impact on the future of mobility. Our Core Values: Inspiration’s culture is based on a shared respect for our core values described HERE . Fit with these values is a critical component of our hiring process, and employees are expected to demonstrate these behaviors in their interactions with colleagues, customers, and all stakeholders. An assessment of how each employee has exhibited our values is an important part of our performance review process. Our Commitment to You: Inspiration is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. We are committed to DEIB initiatives and to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. About Inspiration Fleet: Inspiration Fleet is the first and only eFMC®, a fleet management company built from the ground up to simplify and accelerate the transition to evolved, electric fleets. With best-in-class fleet transition planning, vehicle procurement and leasing, comprehensive fleet services and charging solutions, and white glove expert support, all delivered via a modern, AI-powered tech stack on an open platform that integrates data and functionality across systems and siloes, we are the partner of choice for fleets looking to thrive in the era of Big Data, AI, and connected electric and autonomous vehicles. About Inspiration Mobility Group: Inspiration Mobility Group is a specialist asset management platform dedicated to accelerating the transition to an electric future. Inspiration invests in, owns, and operates the real assets that enable the decarbonization of transportation, including electric vehicles, charging and energy infrastructure, and real estate. Leveraging our unique combination of flexible capital, cutting-edge technology, and deep operational expertise, our businesses deliver integrated, scalable solutions for the electric economy. To Learn More: Read the latest on our business here . We’re proud to have been recently named as one of the Best Places to Work in the large business category by the Washington Business Journal for the third year in a row.