Service Manager

About Us: Franklin's Spring Creek Ford is seeking an experienced Service Manager to lead the daily operations and continued growth of our service department. This position reports directly to the General Manager and plays an important role in dealership leadership, employee development, customer retention, and long term service growth. The ideal candidate is a hands on leader who understands dealership operations, communicates clearly, develops strong teams, and creates an environment where employees are supported and expected to perform at a high level. This person should be able to lead by example, maintain strong processes, protect the customer experience, and manage the department with a clear focus on productivity, profitability, and quality. Our Location: Franklin's Spring Creek Ford is a locally owned "hometown dealership" serving customers throughout Southwest Georgia, North Florida, and Southeast Alabama (tri state area). We are committed to providing dependable service, honest communication, and an ownership experience that reflects the values of the communities we serve. Located in Colquitt, Georgia, our dealership offers the professional opportunity to lead and grow a Ford service department without the congestion and cost of a major metropolitan area. Several members of our team live in nearby Bainbridge, making the position accessible to professionals throughout the region. Southwest Georgia and neighboring Bainbridge, Georgia also offer an appealing quality of life. The area is surrounded by beautiful countryside, working farms, hunting plantations, rivers (Flint River), and lakes, including Lake Seminole. The Florida Gulf Coast is within a short driving distance, providing access to fishing, boating, beaches, and weekend destinations. What We Offer: Franklin's Spring Creek Ford offers competitive compensation based on experience, performance, and demonstrated ability to lead a successful dealership service operation. Competitive, performance based compensation plan with room to grow Weekly pay schedule Experienced and supportive leadership team Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with employer match Paid vacation and holidays Life, disability, accident, and critical illness insurance options Service Department is closed on Saturday AND Sunday Strong reputation with community ties Strong truck sales and service volume with opportunity for growth Qualifications: Three to five years of successful automotive service management experience preferred Experience in a franchised automotive dealership strongly preferred Ford dealership experience is preferred but not required Demonstrated success growing service sales, customer retention, technician productivity, and departmental profitability Proven ability to lead, develop, and retain a strong service team Strong understanding of dealership service operations, warranty procedures, repair order processes, and manufacturer requirements Ability to coach employees, set clear expectations, and address performance issues professionally Strong financial understanding with experience managing budgets, expenses, labor performance, and departmental metrics Excellent communication, leadership, organization, and problem solving skills Ability to remain professional and composed in a busy dealership environment Strong technology and dealership systems aptitude Experience with Ford systems, or comparable dealership management systems is a plus Valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record High school diploma or GED required Ability to pass a background check and drug screening Responsibilities: We are looking for a proven automotive service professional who can lead by example, communicate clearly, and create an environment where employees are supported and expected to perform at a high level. Lead all service department operations, employees, and performance initiatives Develop and execute plans to achieve departmental financial, operational, productivity, and customer satisfaction goals Monitor departmental budgets, expenses, gross profit, repair order performance, labor sales, and other key performance indicators Improve workflow throughout the service department while maintaining a strong customer experience Recruit, train, coach, mentor, and retain qualified service advisors, technicians, and support employees Establish clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable for results, conduct, and customer care Monitor technician productivity, efficiency, proficiency, attendance, and quality of work Review repair order processes to improve accuracy, communication, cycle time, and customer retention Maintain strong warranty administration procedures and ensure compliance with Ford Motor Company requirements Develop and maintain department policies, operating procedures, and quality control standards Lead regular departmental meetings and participate in dealership management meetings Work closely with the parts department, sales department, accounting team, and senior leadership Address customer questions and concerns promptly, professionally, and fairly Support service marketing, customer retention, mobile service, and business development initiatives Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and productive service environment Promote a culture of teamwork, professionalism, continuous improvement, and respect Ensure compliance with dealership policies, manufacturer standards, safety requirements, and applicable regulations #J-18808-Ljbffr