Automotive Service Manager

Don Johnson Motors; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Weekends off

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Don Johnson’s Hayward Motors Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Hayward, Wisconsin, is seeking an Automotive Service Manager to lead a five-technician team and a service advisor, reporting to the General Manager.

This role focuses on improving performance, developing people, growing labor hours and labor gross, maintaining repair quality, and delivering a trusted service experience daily from 6:45 am.

Qualifications

• Minimum professional automotive industry experience.
• Strong leadership and people-development skills.
• Ability to sell while protecting guest trust.
• Visible, front-line leadership with accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop technicians and service advisors.
• Grow labor hours and labor gross through effective processes and scheduling.
• Maintain high repair-quality standards and technician proficiency.
• Coach the service advisor on sales and guest experience.
• Ensure manufacturer training compliance.
• Recruit and retain strong service team members.
• Collaborate with General Manager to identify opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Team coaching

Sales ability

Guest experience

Operational management

Job description

Description

Automotive Service Manager

Don Johnson’s Hayward Motors Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram | Hayward, Wisconsin

• Base salary + performance compensation
• Full-time | Monday–Friday | Weekends off
• Relocation assistance available

Lead People. Grow the Business. Earn Trust.

If you’re an experienced automotive professional who knows how to lead people, grow service sales, develop technicians, and earn guest trust, this is an opportunity to take real ownership of a service department and the results it produces.

Don Johnson’s Hayward Motors Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is looking for an Automotive Service Manager who leads from the front.

You’ll guide a team of five technicians and one service advisor, report directly to the General Manager, and have meaningful responsibility for improving performance, developing people, and growing the business.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys being accountable for results.

Someone who can sell without sacrificing trust, coach without avoiding difficult conversations, and set the tone for the department starting at 6:45 each morning.

This is not a desk-only management role. Our Service Manager is visible, engaged, decisive, and willing to step in wherever leadership is needed.

What You’ll Own

You will build a high-performing service department while delivering an experience our guests can trust.

You will:

• Lead, coach, develop, and hold our technicians and service advisors accountable.
• Grow labor hours and labor gross through strong processes, effective scheduling, capacity management, and ethical service recommendations.
• Improve technician proficiency and productivity while maintaining high repair-quality standards.
• Coach the service advisor on sales, communication, follow-up, and guest experience.
• Maintain strong manufacturer training and certification compliance.
• Set clear expectations and create consistent follow-through.
• Build lasting guest relationships and step in to lead when situations require it.
• Monitor repair quality and reduce preventable comebacks.
• Ensure repair orders, warranty processes, and manufacturer requirements are handled accurately.
• Recruit, develop, and retain strong service team members.
• Work closely with the General Manager and dealership leadership to identify opportunities and solve problems.
• Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and professional service operation.
• Take ownership of departmental results.

How We’ll Measure Success

We believe strong leaders deserve clear expectations.

Key measures for this role include:

• Labor hours
• Labor gross
• Technician proficiency
• Manufacturer training compliance
• Guest satisfaction

You won’t be expected to achieve results alone. You will be expected to understand the numbers, communicate expectations, coach your team, solve problems, and take ownership of the outcome.

You’ll Thrive Here If You

• Have professional automotive industry experience. This is required.
• Have strong leadership instincts and genuinely enjoy developing people.
• Are comfortable selling and helping others sell while protecting guest trust.
• Lead from the front instead of managing from behind a closed office door.
• Are naturally accountable and expect the same from your team.
• Communicate directly, respectfully, and clearly.
• Address performance issues instead of allowing them to linger.
• Like goals, measurements, and knowing whether the team is winning.
• Bring energy to early mornings and understand that leadership sets the tone.
• Work hard, follow through, and do what you say you’ll do.
• Are coachable and believe there is always room to improve.

Prior automotive service management experience is preferred, but not required.

If you have meaningful automotive experience and a proven ability to lead, sell, learn, and deliver results, we can teach the operational pieces of the position.

What You’ll Gain

Performance-based earning opportunity
Earn a competitive base salary plus performance compensation tied to the results you help create.

Weekends off
Our service department operates Monday through Friday and is closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Relocation support
Relocation assistance is available for the right candidate who wants to build a career and life in the Hayward area.

Comprehensive benefits
Health, dental, and vision insurance, paid holidays, personal leave, direct-deposit payroll, and a company-funded 401(k).

Paid development
Receive paid training, manufacturer certification opportunities, mentoring, and ongoing leadership development.

College education opportunities
Eligible team members and their families have access to no-cost college degree opportunities.

Real career advancement
Strong performers can pursue opportunities in larger-store leadership, fixed operations, general management, and multi-store leadership as our organization grows.

Automotive and lifestyle benefits
Enjoy discounts on vehicles and service, monthly team lunches, and preferred Verizon and AT&T pricing.

Why Don Johnson?

We’re a fifth-generation, family-owned automotive group that has served Northwest Wisconsin since 1915.

Don Johnson’s Hayward Motors Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has been recognized among Automotive News’ Best Dealerships to Work For, but what matters most is the culture behind that recognition.

We call it The Don Johnson Way.

It means doing what’s right. Keeping your word. Caring about people. Holding yourself and others accountable. Speaking candidly. Solving problems instead of assigning blame. Continuing to improve. And understanding that strong results and strong relationships should reinforce one another.

Here, you’ll be trusted to lead and given meaningful responsibility.

You’ll also be expected to deliver.

You don’t need to know everything on day one. You do need automotive experience, leadership ability, integrity, work ethic, and the desire to keep getting better.

If you want clear expectations, real responsibility, performance-based earning opportunity, and room to grow with a fifth-generation automotive organization, we want to hear from you.

Don Johnson’s Hayward Motors Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is an equal opportunity employer.