Area Manager (Automotive Aftersales)

SERVAUTO SDN. BHD.; Selangor; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SERVAUTO SDN. BHD. is seeking an Area Manager to oversee performance across multiple stores within the Selangor region. The role requires hands-on field leadership, regular store visits, and on-site coaching to ensure superior operational standards and customer service.

You will translate corporate objectives into actionable store plans, manage franchise relationships, and drive revenue, margins, and growth across the area. Travel across the territory is expected.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Automotive Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in multi-site operations, retail, automotive aftersales, service operations, or a similar environment.
• Proven experience managing multiple outlets, branches, stores, or operational teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to understand revenue, profitability, margins, and operational performance.
• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to translate data into actionable business plans.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the assigned territory.

Responsibilities

• Take overall ownership of revenue, gross margin, profitability across the area.
• Translate area-level targets and budgets into actionable store-level objectives.
• Monitor store performance and identify key business gaps and opportunities.
• Conduct regular business reviews and develop action plans to improve underperforming stores.
• Drive same-store growth, new-store ramp-up, and customer/member repurchase.
• Conduct regular announced and unannounced store visits to assess operational standards.
• Evaluate store performance using checklists, scorecards, and evidence.
• Identify operational gaps, prioritize issues by business impact, and ensure timely corrective actions.
• Follow through on the full improvement cycle: identify issues, assign actions, re-check, close out.
• Ensure consistent standards across quality, service, safety, environmental practices, and brand presentation.
• Lead, coach, and develop Store Managers to improve leadership and business management capabilities.
• Set clear performance expectations and conduct regular performance discussions.
• Conduct on-the-job coaching, morning briefings, training, and role-play sessions.
• Identify high-potential talent and develop succession pipelines for Store Managers.
• Support recruitment, retention, performance management, and internal development of store leadership teams.
• Build strong working relationships with franchise partners while maintaining standards and brand requirements.
• Support franchisees in improving profitability, operational performance, and business growth.
• Provide practical guidance and resources to help franchise stores achieve targets.
• Maintain boundaries between business support and compliance governance.
• Ensure critical brand, safety, service, and operational requirements are consistently maintained.
• Monitor local market conditions, competitor activities, and opportunities within the territory.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support local marketing and lead-generation initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve customer acquisition, conversion, retention, and store performance.
• Provide recommendations and insights for potential new store locations.
• Act as the operational bridge between Headquarters and stores.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Education

Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Automotive Management, or a related discipline

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and results-driven Area Manager to oversee the overall business performance, operational standards, and people development across multiple stores within an assigned territory.

The Area Manager will act as the key link between Headquarters and stores, translating business objectives and company standards into clear store-level actions. You will work closely with Store Managers and franchise partners to drive profitability, operational excellence, customer service standards, team capability, and sustainable business growth.

This is a hands‑on field leadership role that requires regular store visits, on‑site coaching, performance reviews, and close follow‑up on corrective actions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business & Financial Performance

Take overall ownership of revenue, gross margin, profitability, and business performance across the assigned area.

Translate area‑level targets and budgets into actionable store‑level objectives.

Monitor store performance and identify key business gaps and opportunities.

Conduct regular business reviews and develop action plans to improve underperforming stores.

Drive same‑store growth, new‑store ramp‑up, and customer/member repurchase.

2. Store Operations & Standards

Conduct regular announced and unannounced store visits to assess operational standards and SOP compliance.

Evaluate store performance using established checklists, scorecards, and supporting evidence.

Identify operational gaps, prioritize issues based on business impact, and ensure timely corrective actions.

Follow through on the full improvement cycle: identify issues, assign actions, conduct re‑checks, and close out corrective actions.

Ensure consistent standards across quality, service, safety, environmental practices, and brand presentation.

3. Store Manager Leadership & Development

Lead, coach, and develop Store Managers to improve their leadership and business management capabilities.

Set clear performance expectations and conduct regular performance discussions.

Conduct on‑the‑job coaching, morning briefings, training, and role‑play sessions where required.

Identify high‑potential talent and develop a strong Store Manager succession pipeline.

Support recruitment, retention, performance management, and internal development of store leadership teams.

Build strong working relationships with franchise partners while maintaining company standards and brand requirements.

Support franchisees in improving profitability, operational performance, and business growth.

Provide practical guidance and resources to help franchise stores achieve their targets.

Maintain clear boundaries between business support and compliance governance.

Ensure critical brand, safety, service, and operational requirements are consistently maintained.

5. Market Growth & Business Development

Monitor local market conditions, competitor activities, and business opportunities within the assigned territory.

Work with relevant internal teams to support local marketing and lead‑generation initiatives.

Identify opportunities to improve customer acquisition, conversion, retention, and store performance.

Provide recommendations and operational insights for potential new store locations.

6. Cross‑Functional Coordination & Resource Management

Act as the key operational bridge between Headquarters and stores.

Ensure HQ policies, initiatives, and resources are effectively implemented at store level.

Coordinate with Operations, HR, Marketing, Commercial, Finance, Supply Chain, and other relevant functions to resolve business issues.

Identify manpower, supply chain, and operational resource requirements and elevate appropriately.

7. Risk, Safety & Compliance

Ensure all stores comply with company policies and applicable operational requirements.

Monitor safety, environmental, labour, financial, and operational risks.

Take immediate action on critical compliance or brand‑related issues.

Maintain zero‑tolerance standards for serious safety, integrity, and brand violations.

Performance Indicators

The Area Manager will be assessed based on:

Area revenue, gross margin, and profitability

Percentage of profitable stores

Store operational and standards compliance

Corrective action closure rate

Customer complaints and safety incidents

Store Manager retention and internal promotion

Productivity per head

Same‑store growth and new‑store performance

Customer/member repurchase rate

Requirements & Qualifications

Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Automotive Management, or a related discipline.

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in multi‑site operations, retail, automotive aftersales, service operations, or a similar environment.

Proven experience managing multiple outlets, branches, stores, or operational teams.

Strong commercial acumen with the ability to understand revenue, profitability, margins, and operational performance.

Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with the ability to translate data into actionable business plans.

Comfortable working in a highly hands‑on and field‑based environment with frequent travel between stores.

Good understanding of store operations, SOPs, service processes, and performance management.

Experience managing franchise operations or franchise partners will be an advantage.

Strong integrity, resilience, accountability, and willingness to continuously learn.

Knowledge of automotive repair and maintenance processes, parts and consumables, or automotive aftersales operations will be an advantage.

Willingness to travel extensively within the assigned territory.