Used Car Operations Graduate in Nottingham

Overview

Used Car Operations Graduate (Rotational Programme)

Lithia UK – Annesley, Nottingham

Competitive salary with pension, life assurance, 33 days holiday (including bank holidays), exclusive company discounts on used car purchases, leasing deals and aftersales services.

The Used Car Operations Graduate role provides structured, hands-on experience across the full used car lifecycle – buying, pricing, stock management, and remarketing. This is a rotational programme, meaning you will spend time working within each department of the central used car team to develop strong commercial awareness, analytical capability, operational discipline, and cross-functional understanding.

Throughout the programme, you will support all functions within the central used car team. From assisting with sourcing and valuing vehicles, to analysing pricing decisions, to supporting auction preparation and disposal activity, the role helps ensure the business maintains the right stock, achieves strong speed of sale, and maximises financial return.

A placement within an Evans Halshaw store will also form part of the programme, providing hands-on retail experience and strengthening end-to-end operational understanding.

If you are a commercially minded, proactive individual who enjoys working with data, engaging with multiple stakeholders, and solving real operational challenges in a fast-paced environment, this role is for you.

Your Journey as a Used Car Operations Graduate

• Support central buying and divisional stock teams by assisting with procurement, conducting vehicle appraisals, analysing market data for valuations, contributing to the Sell Your Car Home Collection programme, and building relationships with private sellers and suppliers to identify new sourcing opportunities.
• Monitor market data, competitor activity, and demand trends to support pricing decisions. Assist with regular pricing reviews, contribute to stock allocation, and recommend corrective actions for underperforming vehicles.
• Support vehicle preparation for auction, ensuring accurate descriptions, documentation, and images. Maintain high-quality listings, assist with live sale operations, liaise with auction partners and produce pre-sale and post-sale performance reports.
• Track vehicle movement and logistics across buying, preparation, and remarketing, ensure all documentation is accurate and timely, provide reporting and market insights to senior stakeholders, support continuous improvement, and assist with occasional evening or weekend activities as required.

What we’re looking for

Do you have what it takes to be a Lithia UK colleague? We’re looking for someone who has:

• 2:1 degree in a relevant discipline
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with confidence working in Excel and data tools, high attention to detail and ability to work accurately in a fast paced environment, excellent communication skills and the ability to build rapport with internal and external partners is desirable.
• Commercial awareness or interest in the automotive sector.
• Full UK driving licence.
• No prior experience in the motor trade is required as full training will be provided throughout each rotation.

What we can offer you

• Enjoy 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays), giving you more time to relax, recharge, and do what you love
• Celebrate your special day with an extra day off on your birthday
• Our industry-leading Family Leave Policies ensure you’re supported when it matters most
• Access a new car through our Salary Sacrifice scheme and enjoy a smarter way to drive
• Take a paid day to volunteer and give back to a cause close to your heart
• We believe in recognising dedication and loyalty, that’s why we celebrate long service milestone anniversaries
• Unlock your potential with tailored training and endless career growth opportunities
• Commute for less with our cycle to work scheme
• Access high street discounts to make the everyday a little more rewarding
• Know someone perfect for Lithia UK? Earn rewards through our internal referral scheme

About Lithia UK

As one of the largest automotive retailers globally, we’re passionate about transforming the future of personal transportation and setting new standards for exceptional customer experiences. Our values—Earn Customers for Life, Improve Constantly, Take Personal Ownership, and Have Fun!—fuel everything we do. Join us, and you’ll be part of a team that embraces innovation, champions personal growth, and celebrates success together. If you’re ready to make an impact in an environment that empowers you to drive change, we’d love to have you with us on this journey.

Lithia UK are an equal opportunities employer, and we are proud members of Automotive 30% Club, Diversity in Retail and Inclusive Companies. We welcome all applications regardless of age, race, religion, disability, gender or sexual identity, marital status, socio-economic background or Veteran status. We will also consider qualified applicants with prior criminal convictions, in accordance with the law.

We want your recruitment journey to be unique to you and as accessible as possible. If you need any additional support with your application or have specific requirements at any stage, please let us know via email: UK_resourcing@lithia.com. Our team will be happy to support you throughout every stage of the process.