Many dealerships regard the automotive service manager as an integral part of their business. They are the people responsible for acting as a go-between customers and service staff. They are also responsible for other duties within this department.
They will hire for their own department and it is important to choose staff that will make your department run well. They are also responsible for making sure the policies and quality of the dealership is met in the department. They are the ones that must train the employees and do evaluations for them.
The goals and objectives of the department are set by these managers and it is up to them to make sure that all the employees are meeting them. This means they set an annual operating budget for their department that includes overtime, profit and loss, and turnover costs. This covers marketing and a business plan to maintain repeat business through coupons, merchandising, and specials at the department.
Attending classes to stay current with changing automotive industry technologies is part of the job as well. They will be the one scheduling the classes that are offered through the car manufactures. They may be required to attend furthering education classes or seminars, and will include any policy changes at the dealership. They must be able to recognize problems in their department and be able to offer a solution to them.
It is also the automotive service manager’s responsibility to stay on top of warranties and recalls offered by the manufacture. They will be required to send the warranty work in for payment and will be held accountable for write-offs to the department for failure to comply with the information. They also are the link between the factory representative and the dealership, and may be required to attend meetings and conferences to further this relationship.
The main duty for them day to day is with customer complaints and service. They have to develop and utilize a plan to ensure customers return, which often will include compromising within company policy for a resolution to make the customer happy. They must also be able to bring in new customers and provide a level of service to make them turn into repeat customers.
In order to get this position, you must have college education and five years experience in the industry. Many will have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or in a technical field. Many companies do prefer to have ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification in addition to the other requirements for the department to run smoothly.
An automotive dealership service manager annually can earn $55,000.00 or more a year. The automotive service management team salary is dependent on the location and size of the business, as well as the experience of the candidate. It is fairly secure, as this position is integral to making profits for the company since the department is one of the main sources of revenue there.