Diesel Mechanic Shop Operations Manager

Hughes Recruitment & Strategy Collective; Saskatoon; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Autonomy & trust

Growth opportunities

Impactful role

Job summary

Hughes Collective presents an exciting opportunity for an Operations Manager with Impact Diesel Performance in Saskatoon. You will lead day-to-day shop operations, improve scheduling, capacity, and workflow, and align teams across service, parts, and shop floor.

You will develop and implement shop management systems, monitor KPIs, and build strong customer relationships while guiding growth, efficiency, and profitability for heavy-duty service.

Qualifications

• Progressive experience in heavy‑duty truck/diesel/service environments.
• Previous leadership in shop/service/maintenance environments.
• Strong knowledge of shop operations including workflow and scheduling.
• Ability to coach employees and establish clear expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operation with structure, priorities, and accountability.
• Oversee shop workflow, scheduling, labour, capacity and WIP.
• Coordinate commercial work with fleet maintenance and priorities.
• Monitor productivity and turnaround times to maximise billable hours.
• Implement and improve service management processes and KPIs.

Skills

Heavy-duty/diesel industry experience

Leadership experience

Shop operations knowledge

Communication with technicians

Coaching and accountability

Tools

Shop management software

Job description

Hughes Collective is pleased to present an exciting opportunity on behalf of our client.

Title: Operations Manager

Reporting to: Senior Leadership

Our Client

Impact Diesel Performance serves Saskatoon’s heavy-duty industry, providing maintenance and repair services to commercial customers while also supporting the fleet maintenance needs of a related company. The shop handles a wide range of work, including complex repairs and engine rebuilds, with an experienced team that understands the equipment, the customers, and the demands of the heavy-duty service industry.

As the business continues to grow, greater attention is being placed on the systems and practices that support a well-run operation. Technology is being modernized, processes are being strengthened, and fleet maintenance is being planned more deliberately alongside commercial service work. Together, these changes are creating a more organized approach to shop capacity, workflow, and service delivery while making better use of the team and the facility.

The Opportunity

The business is ready for someone to take the lead on how the shop runs day to day. As Operations Manager, you will bring experience and direction to the team, with a focus on stronger scheduling, better use of shop capacity, and clear expectations across the operation.

You will get to know the people, the customers, and the rhythm of the shop while strengthening the way the business works. There is an experienced team to lead, customer relationships to build on, new technology to fully implement, and better ways to manage workflow, fleet maintenance, productivity, and performance. You will have the latitude to ask why something is done a certain way, introduce a better approach when you see one, and give people the direction and accountability that allows them to do great work.

If you know the heavy-duty service industry, you will recognize what is possible here. What is needed is someone with the experience to see where the opportunities are and the confidence to lead it.

Key Responsibilities

As the Operations Manager, you will work collaboratively and are responsible for:

1. Operational Leadership & Shop Performance

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the business, establishing the structure, priorities, and accountability required for consistent performance.
• Oversee shop workflow, scheduling, labour utilization, capacity, and work in progress to ensure work moves efficiently from intake through completion.
• Coordinate commercial customer work and fleet maintenance requirements, balancing shop capacity, technician workload, and service priorities.
• Monitor productivity and turnaround times, identifying opportunities to maximize billable hours and improve shop utilization.
• Ensure repairs and maintenance are completed safely, efficiently, and to established quality standards.
• Maintain high expectations for shop organization, cleanliness, equipment, and overall facility presentation.
• Provide visible, consistent leadership across service, parts, and the shop floor.
• Establish clear expectations, create accountability, and coach employees through performance challenges while recognizing and developing strong performance.
• Strengthen communication and collaboration across teams, helping employees operate as one integrated business.
• Lead employees through change with credibility, patience, and sound judgment.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, development, and performance management as the organization continues to evolve.
• Build a workplace culture centered on accountability, teamwork, customer service, and continuous improvement.

3. Customer Experience & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and other business stakeholders.
• Ensure customers receive timely, clear communication regarding estimates, timelines, additional repairs, delays, and completed work.
• Resolve escalated customer concerns professionally while protecting long-term relationships.
• Maintain high standards for the customer experience and how customers and their equipment are treated.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen existing relationships, increase service activity, and support continued business growth.

4. Systems, Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Champion the implementation and adoption of shop management technology and standardized service processes.
• Improve the accuracy and timeliness of work orders, technician time capture, job costing, service documentation, and work-in-progress reporting.
• Establish and monitor performance measures, including productivity, labour utilization, revenue trends, and other operational KPIs.
• Use performance information to identify issues, improve decision-making, and drive measurable improvements in efficiency and profitability.
• Continuously evaluate processes and implement practical improvements that strengthen the operation and customer experience.

5. Business & Financial Management

• Develop a strong understanding of the operational drivers that influence revenue, productivity, cost, and profitability.
• Review business performance with senior leadership and contribute to operational planning, budgets, priorities, and future growth initiatives.
• Make sound business decisions that balance immediate operational requirements with broader financial impact.
• Provide ownership with clear visibility into the health and performance of the operation through effective reporting and communication.
• Take increasing ownership for operational decision-making as knowledge of the business, team, and financial drivers develops.

Qualifications

As the Operations Manager, you will possess the following qualities:

The Essentials (Hard Skills):

• Progressive experience within the heavy-duty truck, diesel, automotive, fleet maintenance, equipment service, or a closely related service environment.
• Previous leadership experience within a shop, service, maintenance, dealership, fleet, or similarly operational environment.
• Strong working knowledge of shop operations, including workflow, scheduling, repair processes, technician productivity, labour utilization, and customer service.
• Sufficient technical knowledge and industry credibility to communicate effectively with experienced technicians and make informed operational decisions.
• Demonstrated experience coaching employees, establishing expectations, addressing performance concerns, and creating accountability.
• Experience using operational KPIs and performance information to improve productivity, service, and business results.
• Strong customer-facing experience with the ability to manage escalated conversations and build long-term relationships.
• Comfort working with shop management software, business systems, and technology; experience implementing or improving service management systems would be considered an asset.
• Journeyperson certification in the heavy-duty, automotive, or related trades would be considered an asset, but is not required.

The Intangibles (Soft Skills):

• Leads with a calm, steady presence and remains composed when priorities shift or challenges arise.
• Takes ownership, works with a high degree of autonomy, and does not wait for others to identify what needs attention.
• Earns credibility by understanding the work, listening carefully, and following through on commitments.
• Sets clear expectations and holds people accountable while maintaining a respectful, approachable leadership style.
• Adapts their communication style comfortably across technicians, customers, and ownership.
• Naturally looks for ways to improve people, processes, systems, and business performance.
• Exercises sound judgment and understands when to make decisions independently and when to involve others.
• Embraces change and is capable of bringing people along when introducing new systems, processes, and expectations.
• Takes genuine pride in the customer experience, the workplace, and the quality of work associated with the business.

What Our Client Offers

• Competitive Compensation & Performance Opportunity – Receive a competitive base salary with the opportunity for performance-based incentive compensation as measurable targets tied to shop performance and business results are established.
• Comprehensive Benefits & Vacation – Benefit from a comprehensive health and benefits program, including short- and long-term coverage and a competitive vacation offering with flexibility based on the experience of the successful candidate.
• Autonomy & Trust – Step into a role where you are trusted to make decisions, solve problems, and move the operation forward without being micromanaged.
• The Opportunity to Build – Join the business at an important stage in its evolution, with the opportunity to strengthen systems, establish performance measures, develop people, improve workflow, and create greater consistency across the operation.
• A Role That Can Grow with the Business – Take on a broad operational role today with the opportunity to expand your responsibilities as the business, team, and service operation continue to develop.