Automotive Service Dispatcher

Job Description

Job Description

You don't need to know how to fix a car to make a big impact in an automotive shop! Dale Howard Auto is looking for someone who can coordinate workflow, monitor productivity, and help our technicians stay productive throughout the day. If planning, problem-solving, and keeping things organized are your strengths, let's talk!  We work Monday - Friday and have an air conditioned shop!!

Purpose of the Position:

The Automotive Shop Dispatcher is responsible for distributing work among technicians, monitoring job progress and productivity, managing priorities, and helping ensure the shop operates efficiently. The ideal candidate is comfortable making decisions, communicating expectations, and keeping the team focused on completing work.
 

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

• Dispatch work efficiently and fairly based on technician training and skill level
• Manage workflow
• Monitor productivity 
• Maximize Labor Capacity & Performance
• Communication between Technicians and Service Advisors 

Essential Job Functions:

• Dispatch and distribute work: Assign repair orders to technicians based on workload, availability, priorities, and shop needs.
• Monitor productivity: Track technician workload, hours, job progress, and overall productivity throughout the day.
• Manage workflow: Keep work moving through the shop, identify bottlenecks, and adjust assignments as needed.
• Maintain accountability: Follow up on jobs that are falling behind, communicate expectations, and address workflow concerns with management when necessary.
• Prioritize work: Help balance incoming repairs, carryover work, waiting customers, and scheduled commitments.
• Communicate effectively: Coordinate with technicians, service advisors, and management to keep everyone informed about job status and changing priorities.
• Identify inefficiencies: Recognize when technicians are waiting for work, when jobs are stalled, or when workload is unevenly distributed.
• Support shop performance: Help the team meet productivity goals and maintain a consistent, efficient workflow.
• Maintain visibility: Keep management informed of technician capacity, work in progress, delays, and potential scheduling issues.

Daily Tasks:

• Be at work station ready to start work at assigned time
• Use dealer management system to track and document repairs
• Opening and closing used vehicle inspection invoices
• Ensures that all department employees receive appropriate manufacturer training.
• Ensures that all repairs are assigned to technicians in an equal and fair manner.
• Checks progress of each repair order throughout the day.
• Accounts for all documents; ensures that none are missing, and all are processed correctly.
• Monitors technicians' daily productivity reports.
• Monitors shop condition, including cleanliness, safety and the condition of shop equipment. Reports problems to the service manager or dealer.
• Ensures the proper care, storage and inventory of special tools.
• Keeps abreast of new equipment and tools available and recommends purchases.
• Dispatch work supplied by Service Advisor
• Keep Advisor informed on progress of work being performed
• Create Estimate of work needed for vehicle
• Lead technician huddle
• Attends managers meetings as requested.
• Maintains a safe work environment.
• Maintains professional appearance.
• Other tasks as assigned.
• Attends all service and parts meetings including daily advisor huddles. 

What We're Looking For

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Confidence making decisions and directing workflow.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to hold people accountable professionally.
• A results-oriented mindset with an interest in productivity and operational efficiency.
• Comfort using computers, spreadsheets, and shop management software.
• The ability to work collaboratively with technicians, service advisors, and management.

Experience in dispatching, production coordination, manufacturing, logistics, operations, or team supervision is a plus.

Automotive repair knowledge and hands-on mechanical experience are not required. We can teach our processes and systems. We need someone who can organize the work, monitor progress, recognize problems, and keep the shop moving.

Working Conditions:

• Noise
• Vibration
• Paint
• Dust
• Exhaust fumes
• Other hazardous and non-hazardous materials

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or the equivalent 
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions and information
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record
• Maintains certifications or licenses required by state law

Usual Hours of Work:

Monday - Friday  7:30 am - 5:30 pm