Garage Manager

Perfect Placement UK Ltd; Dartford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £50,000–£55,000 plus incentives

No weekend work

Travel expenses for site visits

28 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Autonomy to implement improvements

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Perfect Placement UK Ltd is recruiting on behalf of a reputable independent garage group in Dartford to appoint a Group Garage Manager who will oversee two busy sites. You will drive operational excellence, manage technicians and front-of-house staff, and identify profitable improvements while maintaining high customer satisfaction.

The role offers weekday hours 8:00 am–5:30 pm, travel between sites, travel expenses covered, and 28 days holiday with bank holidays.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in motor trade management.
• Strong strategic thinking and solutions-focused approach.
• Commercial awareness regarding sales performance, gross profit, labour efficiency, and customer retention.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily management of two locations, ensuring smooth operations.
• Lead, motivate, and manage technicians, MOT testers, and front-of-house staff.
• Drive profitable growth, workshop performance, and technician productivity.
• Monitor labour performance, parts margins, and work in progress.
• Maintain high standards of workmanship, quality control, and customer service.
• Recruit, train, and develop staff; manage attendance and personnel matters.
• Monitor budgets, targets, and KPIs.
• Ensure MOT/DVSA compliance and health and safety standards.
• Maintain workshop equipment and facilities.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability and customer retention.
• Take ownership of the performance of both locations, implementing practical improvements.

Job description

We are recruiting on behalf of our client for a Group Garage Manager in Dartford. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced motor trade professional to lead a reputable independent garage group, overseeing two busy sites. The successful individual will be responsible for driving operational excellence, process improvements, and business growth within a well-established family-run group.

Benefits of a Group Garage Manager:

• Competitive salary of £50,000 to £55,000 plus performance-related incentives
• No weekend work, with standard hours from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday
• Travel expenses covered for site visits
• 28 days holiday, including bank holidays
• Autonomy to implement process improvements and influence business success
• Supportive working environment with opportunities for professional development

Duties of a Group Garage Manager:

• Oversee daily management of two locations, ensuring smooth operations
• Lead, motivate, and manage technicians, MOT testers, and front-of-house staff
• Drive profitable growth, workshop performance, and technician productivity
• Manage workflow, vehicle turnaround, and workshop loading
• Monitor labour performance, parts margins, and work in progress
• Maintain high standards of workmanship, quality control, and customer service
• Handle customer complaints effectively and uphold high customer satisfaction
• Recruit, train, and develop staff; manage attendance and personnel matters
• Monitor budgets, targets, and KPIs
• Ensure MOT/DVSA compliance and adherence to health and safety standards
• Maintain workshop equipment and facilities
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability and customer retention
• Take ownership of the performance of both locations, implementing practical improvements

Requirements of a Group Garage Manager:

• A minimum of 3 to 5 years’ experience in motor trade management, ideally as a Service Manager, Aftersales Manager, or Centre Manager
• Strong strategic thinking and solutions-focused approach
• Proven ability to introduce change while maintaining team cohesion
• Valid driving licence and own vehicle for travel between sites
• Commercial awareness regarding sales performance, gross profit, labour efficiency, part margins, and customer retention

This role offers a unique chance to lead a profitable, well-managed business and make a significant impact.