| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Automobile Dealership |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Dealership General Manager |
| Direct reports | Workshop Supervisor, Service Advisor, Warranty Executive |
| Experience | 8 to 12 years in auto service with supervision |
Workshop Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Workshop Manager
Department: Automobile Dealership
Reports to: Dealership General Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Workshop Manager runs the service side of a dealership: periodic maintenance, running repairs and diagnostics. They keep the bays throughput high, service revenue and quality up, and customers satisfied with quick, right first time work. The role reports to the Dealership General Manager or After Sales Manager. A good workshop manager loads the bays well, keeps technicians productive, holds repeat repairs low, hits service revenue targets, keeps the service satisfaction score high, and makes the workshop a place customers trust with their vehicles.
Key responsibilities
- Run the service workshop for maintenance, running repairs and diagnostics across the bays.
- Plan bay and technician loading so throughput is high and waiting time is low.
- Keep service quality right first time and hold repeat repairs down.
- Hit service revenue and labour hour targets and grow value added service.
- Keep the service customer satisfaction score above the manufacturer benchmark.
- Ensure spare part availability with the parts team so jobs are not delayed.
- Handle service escalations and difficult diagnostic cases with the team.
- Manage warranty and free service claims correctly with the manufacturer.
- Maintain workshop tools, equipment, safety standards and floor discipline every day.
- Coach service advisors and technicians and plan their training.
Requirements
- Diploma or degree in mechanical or automobile engineering
- Manufacturer service training is an advantage
- Knowledge of diagnostics and the dealer system
- 8 to 12 years in auto service with supervision
KRAs and KPIs for a Workshop Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Throughput | Vehicles serviced per day against the workshop capacity target |
| Right first time | Repeat repairs kept below the agreed level |
| Service revenue | Monthly service and labour revenue targets achieved |
| Customer satisfaction | Service satisfaction score above the manufacturer benchmark |
| Technician productivity | Productive labour hours per technician above the agreed target |
| Part availability | Jobs delayed for want of parts kept below the agreed level |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Dealer management system, Diagnostic scan tools, Manufacturer service portals, MS Excel, Workshop equipment.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Dealership General Manager, After Sales Manager, Regional Service Head
Interview questions for a Workshop Manager
- How do you load bays and technicians to lift throughput without rushing quality?
- How do you bring down repeat repairs in the workshop?
- How do you grow service revenue without pushing unneeded work on customers?
- How do you lift a service satisfaction score that has dropped?
- How do you handle a difficult diagnostic case the team cannot crack?
- How do you keep the workshop safe and disciplined on a busy day?
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What does a Workshop Manager do at a dealership?
A Workshop Manager runs the service workshop for maintenance, running repairs and diagnostics. They plan bay and technician loading, keep quality right first time, hit service revenue targets and keep customers satisfied. They coordinate spare parts, handle warranty claims, maintain equipment and safety, and coach the service team.
What is the difference between a Workshop Manager and a Service Advisor?
A Service Advisor works the reception, receiving vehicles, giving estimates, upselling and keeping the customer informed. A Workshop Manager runs the whole workshop: bays, technicians, throughput, quality, revenue and satisfaction. The advisor faces the customer; the manager runs the service operation behind them.
What qualifications does a Workshop Manager need?
Most roles ask for a diploma or degree in mechanical or automobile engineering with long service experience, including supervision. Manufacturer service training and a good grasp of diagnostics and the dealer management system help, since the manager oversees difficult jobs and drives both quality and revenue.