Marine Service Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Build the Team. Strengthen the Operation. Drive Profitability.

Our client, an established full-service marina in Missouri, is seeking an experienced Marine Service Manager to take ownership of its service department, strengthen team accountability, and build a consistently profitable operation.

This is not a maintain-the-status-quo position.

The Service Manager will have the support and authority to evaluate the department, improve workflow, establish clear expectations, address under performance, and build the team needed for long-term success.

The right person will bring the financial discipline of a successful service manager, the technical credibility of an experienced marine technician, and the confidence to make difficult decisions when necessary.

Your Mission

Your priority will be to stabilize, strengthen, and grow the service department.

You will assess its people, processes, workload, and financial performance; identify what is preventing the department from reaching its potential; and implement a clear plan for improvement.

Success will be measured through:

• Achievement of monthly service revenue and profitability targets.
  
• Accurate, profitable estimates.
  
• Improved technician productivity and accountability.
  
• Consistent workflow and timely completion of work.
  
• Quality repairs and strong customer communication.
  
• Development of a dependable, high-performing service team.
  

What You’ll Do
Lead the Business

• Take ownership of the service department’s P&L.
  
• Establish and achieve monthly revenue, gross-profit, productivity, and efficiency targets.
  
• Monitor labor sales, billed hours, technician productivity, work in process, job margins, and department expenses.
  
• Improve estimating, scheduling, pricing, parts coordination, and workflow.
  
• Provide ownership with clear reporting on results, challenges, staffing needs, and priorities.
  

Lead the Team

• Manage, coach, and hold marine service technicians accountable for quality, productivity, attendance, safety, and professional conduct.
  
• Assign work based on technician capabilities, job requirements, and revenue priorities.
  
• Establish reasonable labor expectations and verify that work is completed correctly and on time.
  
• Address conflict and performance issues promptly and professionally.
  
• Coach employees who can improve and make difficult personnel decisions when expectations are repeatedly not met.
  
• Develop a plan to recruit, onboard, and retain the technicians needed to strengthen the department.
  

Manage the Work

• Inspect vessels, diagnose repair needs, and prepare accurate labor and parts estimates.
  
• Review estimates, work orders, and completed repairs for accuracy, quality, and profitability.
  
• Manage jobs from initial diagnosis through authorization, scheduling, repair, quality control, invoicing, and delivery.
  
• Provide technical guidance when technicians encounter difficult repairs.
  
• Work on boats when additional technical support is needed to complete jobs properly and on schedule.
  
• Improve the department’s use of Lightspeed for estimates, work orders, parts, billing, and reporting.
  
• Safely operate the marina’s travel lift and oversee proper vessel handling procedures.
  

Support the Customer

• Explain diagnoses, estimates, recommended repairs, and timelines clearly.
  
• Set realistic expectations and communicate proactively when the scope or schedule changes.
  
• Resolve concerns professionally while protecting the interests and reputation of the business.
  
• Build trust through technical knowledge, honest communication, and dependable follow-through.
  

The Leader We’re Looking For

You are technically knowledgeable, financially disciplined, and comfortable being held accountable for measurable results.

You spend enough time in the shop and yard to understand what is happening, support your technicians, and step into the work when needed. However, you understand that your primary responsibility is to lead the department—not become its most heavily scheduled technician.

You communicate directly, treat people fairly, and do not allow conflict or poor performance to undermine the team. Most importantly, you know how to turn customer demand, technician capability, and disciplined execution into a profitable service operation.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of an established marine service department. You will be able to improve its processes, strengthen its team, influence its culture, and see the measurable financial results of your leadership.

If you have successfully led a profitable service department, know boats well enough to earn the respect of experienced technicians, and are prepared to build a high-accountability operation, we would like to speak with you.

This cuts roughly a third of the length while preserving the most important message:  this person is being hired to take control, rebuild the department, and produce measurable financial results.

RequirementsWhat You Must Bring

• A proven record of managing the P&L of a marine or similarly technical service department.
  
• Demonstrated success meeting monthly service revenue targets and improving profitability.
  
• Several years of experience managing service technicians.
  
• Professional marine repair experience and strong diagnostic capabilities.
  
• Experience working on a range of vessels, including cruisers or yachts over 40 feet.
  
• The ability to prepare accurate, profitable repair estimates.
  
• The technical judgment to evaluate labor expectations and technician performance.
  
• The confidence to establish standards, address performance issues, and make difficult personnel decisions.
  
• Strong customer-service and communication skills.
  
• Experience operating a marine travel lift or closely related vessel-handling equipment.
  
• Comfort learning and using service-management technology.
  
• A valid driver’s license and commitment to workplace safety.
  

Especially Valuable

• Experience rebuilding or improving an underperforming service department.
  
• Experience with gasoline and diesel marine power systems.
  
• Manufacturer or ABYC certifications.
  
• Experience with Lightspeed or comparable service-management software.
  
• Knowledge of fiberglass, gelcoat, bottom work, refinishing, or marine electrical systems.
  

Benefits

If you have the experience and take pride in your work, we encourage you to apply. 

At Compass Maritime Group, we work closely with both candidates and employers to ensure the right long-term fit.