Service Manager upon Tyne upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Newcastle upon Tyne, England upon Tyne, United Kingdom

About us
:
We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland.

We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That’s why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work.

Location: Kia Silver link, Newcastle upon Tyne
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 44 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm
Salary: £40k- £55k DOE plus bonus package (OTE)

Are you looking for a career-defining role and the opportunity to be part of something exciting from the very beginning? We are looking for an ambitious and talented Service Manager to join the leadership team at our brand-new Kia Silver link dealership.

With the site due to open in February, this is a unique opportunity to play a key role in launching and establishing a new aftersales operation from the ground up. As this is a start‑up dealership, we are looking for a hands‑on leader who is willing to support all areas of the operation during the launch phase. In the early stages, you will be expected to work closely alongside the Service Advisors, assisting with customer bookings, service reception duties and customer communications where required, helping the department establish strong foundations for future success.

As Service Manager, you will act as a role model for customer service excellence, leading by example whilst developing long‑lasting relationships with customers and supporting your team to deliver an exceptional aftersales experience. From the day‑to‑day running of the workshop and maximising technician productivity, to ensuring Service Advisors deliver exceptional customer service and achieve departmental KPI targets, you'll play a pivotal role in the dealership's success.

You'll be looking after a busy and professional department where your remit will be to manage all aspects of the aftersales operation, ensuring consistently high levels of performance are achieved.

• Assist in providing guidance, training and appraisals to each member of the Service team to encourage a forward‑thinking attitude and help them achieve their full potential
• Lead the successful launch and development of the aftersales operation at Kia Silver link
• Support Service Advisors directly during the dealership's start‑up phase, assisting with customer enquiries, bookings and service reception activities when required
• Maximise customer satisfaction by treating every customer as an individual and delivering an exceptional service experience
• Monitor departmental performance against budget, identify any shortfalls and implement plans to improve performance
• Drive workshop efficiency, labour sales and aftersales profitability
• Analyse local market opportunities and identify areas for growth within the territory
• Organise departmental forecasts and reports in a clear and timely manner
• Ensure manufacturer standards, compliance requirements and operational processes are consistently achieved
• Manage and own customer satisfaction performance and continuously seek opportunities for improvement

• Previous experience as a Service Manager, Aftersales Manager or Senior Service Leader within a franchised automotive environment
• A proven track record of delivering strong aftersales and customer satisfaction results
• Experience leading, coaching and developing high‑performing teams
• Strong operational and commercial awareness with the ability to drive…