My client in Plymouth is looking for a parts manager to join their team. The parts manager leads and manages the dealership's parts team to deliver profitability and customer satisfaction.
My client is a large, family run, automotive group based in the South and South-West of England. Their business differentiates itself from their competitors by delivering outstanding experiences for their customers, colleagues and manufacturer partners. Customer experience and colleague happiness is at the heart of our business, and they ensure that this focus is applied to everything that they do.
Responsibilities
- Ensures all members of the Parts team understand the implications of the Brand Experience for their role and monitors performance against agreed customer service targets (e.g., CES).
- Leads the team by personally demonstrating and encouraging the skills and behaviours associated with the Brand Experience and Values.
- Ensures that the Parts team work closely with colleagues in Sales, Service and Administration to deliver excellent customer service.
- Manages the day-to-day operations of the Parts Department to ensure the achievement of key targets (e.g., parts & accessory sales volumes and margins).
- Plans and manages parts and accessory stock levels to meet customer requirements and minimise cost.
- Ensures non-current stock is promoted to build sales or returned within the 50-day period to minimise levels of non-current stock.
- Manages stock visibility to ensure all necessary personnel have accurate information on availability and price.
- Negotiates with non-franchise parts suppliers to achieve the best price.
- Continuously reviews and improves Parts processes and systems to deliver increased levels of customer satisfaction whilst maximising profitability.
- Manages the dealership's trade sales activity – including prospecting activity, agreement of discounts and van sales.
- Works with colleagues across the dealership to investigate and resolve customer complaints.
- Monitors staff training needs, ensuring training and development plans are in place and up to date for all members of the team.
- Works with HR to address any employee matters in a timely manner (performance issues/recruitment/ER issues).
- Acts as a full member of the dealership's management team to take the business forward.
- Ensures opportunities for sales by other teams are followed up by the most appropriate specialist.
- Plans and organises own daily selling activity – for example by telephoning sales prospects (previous/existing customers or general enquiries) to obtain new business.
- Works with colleagues and other teams across the dealership to provide a seamless service to customers.
- Maintains the showroom environment and displays to agreed guidelines, including the presentation of used car point of sale data.
Skills & Competencies
- Able to plan, organise self and meet agreed work deadlines.
- Understand and comply with Group compliance/policies
- Strong work ethic
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work to tight deadlines to achieve the business needs.
- Able to react positively to organisational and market changes.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Can develop rapport and trust with suppliers to resolve conflict situations calmly and reasonably.
- Be familiar with DMS systems and stock control software.
- Have a good computer/IT and keyboard skills.