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 businessโbalancing hands-on leadership in the bay with strategic oversight of revenue, cost control, safety, and talent development.
You operate with an ownerโs 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 efficiencyย
- Build lasting relationships with customers and local fleet accounts to drive repeat businessย
- Lead the execution of a consistent, high-quality sales process including vehicle health checks and service recommendationsย
- Drive revenue growth by meeting or exceeding sales targets across services, memberships (if applicable), and fleet partnershipsย
- Resolve customer concerns with urgency and professionalism, ensuring follow-through and documentationย
Operational Excellence & Financial Performance
- Own and manage the centerโs Profit & Loss (P&L), including revenue, labor, and operating expensesย
- Control costs across labor, parts, inventory, and overall shop expensesย
- Oversee daily operations including service bay efficiency, workflow, scheduling, and store readinessย
- Maintain accurate inventory levels and ensure proper ordering, usage, and tracking of parts and suppliesย
- Execute scheduling, reporting, and administrative tasks with precision using company systemsย
Team Leadership & Culture
- Lead from the frontโactively working alongside your team in daily operationsย
- Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of service technicians and leadersย
- Create a culture rooted in accountability, teamwork, safety, and customer obsessionย
- Own the full employee lifecycle: hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and, when necessary, discipline and terminationย
- Ensure all team members are trained, certified, and technically proficientย
- Establish clear expectations, performance standards, and development plansย
Safety, Compliance & Facility Management
- Champion a safety-first environmentโensuring strict adherence to OSHA and company safety standardsย
- Conduct regular safety training, inspections, and enforce compliance across all operationsย
- Ensure all equipment and service areas are properly maintained, functional, and safeย
- Monitor and protect company assets, customer vehicles, and facility securityย
- Maintain compliance with all local, state, and federal regulationsย
Community & Business Growth
- Build strong relationships within the local community to drive awareness and business growthย
- Partner with leadership on marketing initiatives and local promotionsย
- Identify opportunities to grow the business through innovation, partnerships, and operational improvements
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent required;ย
- 3+ years of people leadership experience; automotive or service retail management preferred
- Strong understanding of P&L management, cost control, and revenue growth strategiesย
- Proven track record of achieving or exceeding sales and operational KPIsย
- Experience in a high-volume, customer-facing environment (automotive, retail, restaurant, or similar)ย
- Comfortable using POS systems, scheduling tools, and standard business softwareย
- Strong business acumen, problem-solving ability, and decision-making skills
Profile
- Owner mentalityโyou think beyond the task and focus on outcomesย
- Hands-on leadership style with a willingness to step into any roleย
- High energy, results-driven, and solutions-orientedย
- Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, ever-changing environmentย
- Strong communication skills with the ability to motivate and influence othersย
- 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 environmentย
- Ability to lift up to 20 poundsย
- Availability to work weekends and evenings hours based on business needs, expecting to spend around 50 hours per week on site
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