Automotive Service Manager

The shop and the opportunity 

The facility has 26 service bays, each with its own lift, and plenty of room to add technicians. The capacity is already built; the next Service Manager's job is to staff it and fill it. Currently the team consists of a Shop Foreman, Dispatcher, one A Level Tech, three B Level Techs, one C Level Tech and three Lube Techs.  All the B Techs want to train up to A Techs. The right candidate will see this team and their desire to move up as an opportunity to build a clear growth path from Lube to C, C to B and B to A, and recruit to fill all open bays! 

Leadership responsibilities 

• Lead the Shop Foreman, Dispatcher, service advisors and technicians with clear expectations, daily presence on the shop floor and consistent follow-up. 

• Build and run a written technician development path (Lube → C → B → A), including Mazda and Lincoln training schedules, certification targets and timelines for each tech. 

• Move the three B-level technicians toward A-level, and develop the C-level and lube techs into the next tier. 

• Recruit technicians to fill open bays, using local trade schools, manufacturer programs and referral networks as well as job boards. 

• Hold weekly one-on-ones and monthly performance reviews; coach underperformers and address issues directly and fairly. 

• Partner with the Shop Foreman on quality control and comebacks, and with the Dispatcher on workflow and load balancing across techs. 

• Create a culture where good technicians want to stay: fair dispatching, recognition, and visible paths to higher pay. 

• Model professionalism and integrity with customers, staff and the manufacturer. 

Operational and financial responsibilities 

• Own the service department P&L: labor sales, gross profit, expense control and technician productivity. 

• Set and manage the appointment and dispatch process so all 26 bays are used efficiently. 

• Drive multi-point / video inspection follow-through and menu selling to increase items per repair order and reduce one-item ROs. 

• Maintain Mazda and Lincoln customer satisfaction (CSI) and process standards; resolve escalated customer concerns. 

• Oversee warranty and recall work, policy requests, and timely, accurate claim submission in partnership with the warranty administrator. 

• Work with the Parts Manager on parts availability, special orders and fill rate. 

• Partner with sales on used-vehicle reconditioning turnaround and service-to-sales opportunities. 

• Manage technician and advisor pay plans, schedules, time records and staffing levels. 

• Keep the shop safe, clean and compliant with OSHA, environmental and lift inspection requirements.