Center Manager in Training - 8153

Grease Monkey International; Kankakee (IL); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Grease Monkey International is seeking a Center Manager in Kankakee, IL to lead the service center, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and drive sales, profitability, and team performance. This hands-on role balances bay-level leadership with strategic oversight of revenue, costs, safety, and talent development, owning the center's operations, fleet relationships, staffing, and P&L.

Qualifications include a high school diploma and 3+ years of people leadership in a high-volume,

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of people leadership experience; automotive or service retail management preferred.
• Strong understanding of P&L management, cost control, and revenue growth strategies.
• Experience in a high-volume, customer-facing environment (automotive, retail, restaurant, or similar).

Responsibilities

• Deliver a best-in-class customer experience grounded in trust, transparency, and efficiency.
• Build lasting relationships with customers and local fleet accounts to drive repeat business.
• Lead the execution of a consistent, high-quality sales process including vehicle health checks and service recommendations.
• Drive revenue growth by meeting or exceeding sales targets across services, memberships (if applicable), and fleet partnerships.
• Resolve customer concerns with urgency and professionalism, ensuring follow-through and documentation.
• Own and manage the center’s Profit & Loss (P&L), including revenue, labor, and operating expenses.
• Control costs across labor, parts, inventory, and overall shop expenses.
• Oversee daily operations including service bay efficiency, workflow, scheduling, and store readiness.
• Maintain accurate inventory levels and ensure proper ordering, usage, and tracking of parts and supplies.
• Execute scheduling, reporting, and administrative tasks with precision using company systems.
• Lead from the front-actively working alongside your team in daily operations.
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of service technicians and leaders.
• Create a culture rooted in accountability, teamwork, safety, and customer obsession.
• Own the full employee lifecycle: hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and, when necessary, discipline and termination.
• Ensure all team members are trained, certified, and technically proficient.
• Establish clear expectations, performance standards, and development plans.

Skills

People leadership

P&L management

Sales leadership

Customer experience

Operations management

Cost control

Safety compliance

Staff development

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

POS systems

Scheduling tools

Business software

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Grease Monkey 8153 - Kankakee, IL 60901 Position Type: Full Time Salary Range: $60,000.00 - $60,000.00 Salary

Role Overview

The Center Manager is the operational and cultural leader of the service center, responsible for delivering exceptional customer experiences while driving sales, profitability, and team performance. This role owns the full business- balancing hands-on leadership in the bay with strategic oversight of revenue, cost control, safety, and talent development.

You operate with an owner’s mindset, ensuring the center runs efficiently, safely, and profitably while building a high-performing, service-driven team. From vehicle health checks and fleet relationships to staffing, compliance, and P&L management, you are accountable for every aspect of the operation.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Experience & Sales Performance

• Deliver a best-in-class customer experience grounded in trust, transparency, and efficiency
• Build lasting relationships with customers and local fleet accounts to drive repeat business
• Lead the execution of a consistent, high-quality sales process including vehicle health checks and service recommendations
• Drive revenue growth by meeting or exceeding sales targets across services, memberships (if applicable), and fleet partnerships
• Resolve customer concerns with urgency and professionalism, ensuring follow-through and documentation

Operational Excellence & Financial Performance

• Own and manage the center’s Profit & Loss (P&L), including revenue, labor, and operating expenses
• Control costs across labor, parts, inventory, and overall shop expenses
• Oversee daily operations including service bay efficiency, workflow, scheduling, and store readiness
• Maintain accurate inventory levels and ensure proper ordering, usage, and tracking of parts and supplies
• Execute scheduling, reporting, and administrative tasks with precision using company systems

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead from the front-actively working alongside your team in daily operations
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of service technicians and leaders
• Create a culture rooted in accountability, teamwork, safety, and customer obsession
• Own the full employee lifecycle: hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and, when necessary, discipline and termination
• Ensure all team members are trained, certified, and technically proficient
• Establish clear expectations, performance standards, and development plans

Safety, Compliance & Facility Management

• Champion a safety-first environment-ensuring strict adherence to OSHA and company safety standards
• Conduct regular safety training, inspections, and enforce compliance across all operations
• Ensure all equipment and service areas are properly maintained, functional, and safe
• Monitor and protect company assets, customer vehicles, and facility security
• Maintain compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations

Community & Business Growth

• Build strong relationships within the local community to drive awareness and business growth
• Partner with leadership on marketing initiatives and local promotions
• Identify opportunities to grow the business through innovation, partnerships, and operational improvements

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required;
• 3+ years of people leadership experience; automotive or service retail management preferred
• Strong understanding of P&L management, cost control, and revenue growth strategies
• Proven track record of achieving or exceeding sales and operational KPIs
• Experience in a high-volume, customer-facing environment (automotive, retail, restaurant, or similar)
• Comfortable using POS systems, scheduling tools, and standard business software
• Strong business acumen, problem-solving ability, and decision-making skills

Profile

• Owner mentality—you think beyond the task and focus on outcomes
• Hands-on leadership style with a willingness to step into any role
• High energy, results-driven, and solutions-oriented
• Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Strong communication skills with the ability to motivate and influence others
• Commitment to integrity, safety, and doing right by the customer and team

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move throughout the service center for extended periods
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, physically active environment
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds
• Availability to work weekends and evenings hours based on business needs, expecting to spend around 50 hours per week on site

QualificationsQualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required;
• 3+ years of people leadership experience; automotive or service retail management preferred
• Strong understanding of P&L management, cost control, and revenue growth strategies
• Proven track record of achieving or exceeding sales and operational KPIs
• Experience in a high-volume, customer-facing environment (automotive, retail, restaurant, or similar)
• Comfortable using POS systems, scheduling tools, and standard business software
• Strong business acumen, problem-solving ability, and decision-making skills