Service Manager - Automotive Dealership

Adore Recruitment Ltd; Hawkwell; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

Company pension

Employee discount

Perkbox

23 days holiday plus bank holidays

Job summary

Essex Automotive Dealership in Southend, Essex, seeks an experienced Service Manager to lead the service and workshop operations of a busy dealership. You will oversee Service Advisors and Technicians, ensuring repairs are completed to manufacturer and company standards while maintaining high customer satisfaction and efficiency.

The role requires strong leadership, customer service excellence and a proven track record in driving performance in a fast-paced motor-trade environment.

Qualifications

• Experience as Service Manager in an automotive dealership or similar.
• Ability to manage service and workshop operations end-to-end.
• Strong KPI and budget awareness with a commercial mindset.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day service and workshop operations.
• Lead, develop and motivate Service Advisors and Technicians.
• Manage vehicle throughput and workshop capacity; allocate work by skill.
• Monitor technician productivity, sold time, and performance against targets.
• Control department KPIs, budgets and operational costs.
• Communicate repairs progress and additional work to customers.
• Maintain paperwork and customer updates; ensure manufacturer standards.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Communication

Diary management

Team development

Job description

Service Manager - Automotive Dealership
Dealership / Aftersales - Workshop Leadership
Southend, Essex
Permanent Position
Salary: £45,000 + Comms - OTE £65,000 + Benefits

We're partnered with a long-established automotive retailer with a strong presence across Essex.

Due to continued growth, they're looking for an experienced Service Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day service and workshop operation.

This is a hands-on management role for someone who understands the demands of a busy dealership, can lead from the front and is commercially focused on customer satisfaction, team performance and workshop efficiency.

The Role

You'll oversee the service operation, managing Service Advisors and Technicians while ensuring vehicles are repaired and returned efficiently, standards are maintained and the department performs against its commercial targets.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing the dayto-day service and workshop operation
• Leading, developing and motivating Service Advisors and Technicians
• Managing customer vehicle throughput and workshop capacity
• Allocating work to Technicians based on skill and workload
• Monitoring technician productivity, sold time and performance
• Managing department KPIs, budgets and operational costs
• Communicating with customers regarding repairs, additional work and vehicle progress
• Ensuring vehicles are serviced and repaired to manufacturer and company standards
• Maintaining accurate paperwork and customer updates
• Identifying opportunities to improve operational and commercial performance

What We're Looking For

• Experience in an Automotive Service Manager role
• Proven experience managing or developing a successful dealership/service operation
• Strong understanding of dealership service and workshop operations
• Commercially aware with experience working to KPIs and budgets
• Strong leadership and teamdevelopment skills
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Highly organised with strong diary and workload management
• Practical, solutionsfocused approach to problem solving
• Proven track record of performance within the motor trade
• Able to work effectively in a fastpaced dealership environment

What's On Offer

• Company car
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Perkbox
• 23 days holiday plus bank holidays

Working Hours

• Monday-Friday, 8:00am-6:00pm
• Weekend requirements discussed at interview.