Automotive Service Manager - Fowler Kia of Longmont

Fowler Automotive•Firestone, CO

6d•$12,000 - $20,000•Onsite

About The Position

Fowler Kia of Longmont is seeking an accomplished, driven, and highly capable Service Manager to lead and grow one of the most important departments in our dealership. This is not a position for someone looking to simply manage a shop. We are looking for a proven leader who can build a high performing service operation, develop exceptional people, recruit top talent, drive profitable growth, and create a customer experience that consistently exceeds expectations. The ideal candidate is a leader of people, a builder of teams, and a relentless advocate for customer satisfaction. You will be entrusted with significant responsibility for the performance, culture, profitability, and continued growth of the Service Department. This is a selective opportunity for an individual who has demonstrated the ability to lead from the front, attract and retain great employees, develop future leaders, and deliver measurable results. As Service Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operation of the Service Department while working closely with dealership leadership to establish and execute departmental goals. Your success will be measured not only by production and profitability, but by your ability to create a department where customers want to return, employees want to build their careers, and performance continually improves. A major focus of this position will be customer satisfaction. You will be expected to establish a culture in which exceptional customer service is not a slogan, it is the standard. Customer satisfaction scores, retention, communication, and overall ownership experience will be key indicators of your success. You will also be responsible for recruiting and growing the department. We expect our Service Manager to actively identify talented professionals, build a strong pipeline of candidates, develop existing employees, and strategically grow staffing and production as the business expands.

Requirements

Proven experience managing or leading an automotive service operation.
Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, motivate, and retain employees.
Demonstrated history of improving customer satisfaction and service performance.
Strong understanding of service department operations, productivity, sales, and profitability.
Ability to establish performance standards and hold teams accountable to results.
Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Strong business judgment and the ability to make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work effectively with customers, employees, management, and manufacturer representatives.
Associate's degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school; or 2–4 years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid Driver's License.
Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to our insurance carrier.
Ability to meet the physical and operational requirements of the position.
Ability to work in a fast-paced dealership environment while maintaining a high standard of professionalism and customer service.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop the Service Department team with a focus on accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
Establish a culture centered around exceptional customer satisfaction and long-term customer retention.
Make customer satisfaction scores a daily management priority and take immediate action when performance falls below expectations.
Conduct daily status meetings with each Service Advisor to identify customer concerns, potential service issues, and opportunities to improve the customer’s experience.
Recruit, interview, hire, train, develop, and retain high-caliber Service Department personnel.
Build and maintain a strong recruiting pipeline capable of supporting the department's current and future growth.
Develop employees into future leaders and create clear paths for professional advancement within the department.
Work with the General Manager to establish aggressive but achievable departmental objectives.
Develop and execute strategies to increase service traffic, customer retention, sales, gross profit, productivity, and overall department performance.
Monitor and evaluate service sales and production performance, identifying opportunities for improvement.
Ensure efficient repair-order flow while maximizing technician productivity and departmental efficiency.
Monitor automotive repair and maintenance operations to minimize delays and ensure a consistently high level of service.
Maintain strict oversight of warranty activity to ensure compliance with dealership, manufacturer, and regulatory policies and procedures.
Ensure all employees follow dealership standards regarding customer vehicle care, safety, and operation.
Administer Service Department payroll in cooperation with the payroll department, with appropriate leadership approvals.
Conduct regular performance evaluations and establish clear expectations for individual and departmental performance.
Participate in strategic and operational planning with dealership leadership.
Maintain service facilities, equipment, tools, and operational areas at the highest professional standard.
Enforce OSHA requirements, safety procedures, and applicable regulations.
Serve as a visible and accountable leader who sets the standard for professionalism, urgency, and customer care.