Automotive Center Operations Manger

Job Description: As an Automotive Center Operations Manager at Xcite Automotive, you will play a key role in managing daily vehicle reconditioning operations and ensuring vehicles move efficiently through the production process. This position is responsible for leading team members, managing workflow, maintaining vehicle quality, coordinating vendors, monitoring labor and supplies, tracking operational performance, and ensuring vehicles are completed to company and dealership standards.

The ideal candidate is an experienced automotive operations leader with hands-on knowledge of detailing, vehicle reconditioning, cosmetic repair, dealership operations, service, fleet, car wash, body shop, or auto auction environments. This person should be highly organized, quality-focused, comfortable holding teams accountable, and capable of using reporting and performance metrics to improve production, efficiency, vehicle turnaround, and overall center performance.

Compensation is based on experience and negotiable.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily automotive reconditioning operations, including detailing, cosmetic repairs, inspections, vehicle preparation, and final vehicle readiness.
• Lead team members by assigning work, establishing priorities, managing workflow, and monitoring daily production schedules.
• Coordinate the movement of vehicles through the reconditioning process to maintain efficient workflow and meet daily production and turnaround expectations.
• Track and monitor key performance indicators including vehicle turnaround time, completed units, labor efficiency, productivity, quality control, rework, and overall production performance.
• Review operational reports and performance data to identify trends, bottlenecks, delays, and opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct or oversee quality inspections to ensure completed vehicles meet company, dealership, and retail-ready standards.
• Identify quality issues, rework requirements, production delays, and workflow problems and take corrective action.
• Manage staffing levels, employee assignments, schedules, attendance, and daily labor requirements based on production volume.
• Coach, train, develop, and hold team members accountable for performance, productivity, attendance, safety, workmanship, and quality.
• Establish clear expectations for production, efficiency, quality, and vehicle turnaround.
• Monitor labor utilization and productivity to ensure staffing and production resources are being used effectively.
• Manage supplies, materials, equipment, inventory, and operational resources required to maintain production.
• Coordinate and manage outside vendors and service providers involved in the vehicle reconditioning process.
• Monitor operational costs and identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary labor, material, supply, vendor, and rework expenses.
• Maintain accurate operational reports, production records, staffing information, KPI reporting, and other required documentation.
• Identify process improvements that increase production efficiency, reduce vehicle cycle time, minimize rework, and improve overall center performance.
• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and productive work environment.
• Ensure team members follow company policies, safety procedures, quality standards, and operational processes.
• Communicate vehicle, staffing, equipment, supply, vendor, quality, or workflow issues to appropriate management.
• Assist with resolving production bottlenecks and reallocating resources as needed to maintain vehicle flow.
• Work closely with technicians, detailers, vendors, drivers, and other team members to maintain consistent production workflow.
• Ensure completed vehicles meet company and dealership standards before being released to the next stage of the process.
• Support a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Minimum Qualifications / Must-Haves

• 3+ years of professional leadership experience in automotive reconditioning, detailing, dealership operations, automotive service, fleet operations, car wash, body shop, auto auction, or a related automotive environment.
• Previous experience managing automotive production, workflow, staffing, schedules, or team performance.
• Hands-on knowledge of automotive detailing, vehicle reconditioning, cosmetic repair, vehicle preparation, and quality control.
• Proven ability to lead teams in a fast-paced, production-driven automotive environment.
• Experience assigning work, managing daily priorities, monitoring production, and ensuring vehicles move efficiently through a workflow.
• Ability to track and understand KPIs such as vehicle turnaround time, completed units, labor efficiency, productivity, quality, and rework.
• Ability to review operational reports and use performance data to identify problems and improve production.
• Strong understanding of vehicle quality standards and the ability to identify workmanship or readiness issues.
• Proven ability to coach employees, establish expectations, provide feedback, and hold team members accountable.
• Experience managing staffing, labor utilization, production goals, and employee performance.
• Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple vehicles, employees, priorities, and operational issues simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to vehicle quality.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-volume, production-driven environment.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record

Preferred Qualifications / Nice-to-Haves

• Previous experience working as a Reconditioning Manager, Detail Manager, Automotive Operations Manager, Service Manager, Fleet Operations Manager, Center Operations Manager, or Body Shop Supervisor.
• Experience managing a high-volume automotive reconditioning or dealership production center.
• Experience with labor tracking, labor efficiency, cost control, budgeting, or operational expense management.
• Experience managing automotive vendors, outside services, suppliers, or contractors.
• Experience managing inventory, supplies, equipment, and production materials.
• Familiarity with dealership management systems, recon software, production tracking platforms, or automotive workflow systems.
• Experience developing or maintaining operational reports and KPI dashboards.
• Experience implementing process improvements designed to reduce turnaround time, increase productivity, or reduce rework.
• Experience training or mentoring automotive technicians, detailers, production employees, or supervisors.
• Strong understanding of dealership vehicle preparation and retail-ready quality standards.
• Experience managing multiple production departments or work centers.
• Ability to communicate effectively with dealership management, vendors, technicians, and production teams.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills are a plus

Beneficial Types of Previous Experience

• Automotive Reconditioning Manager
• Center Operations Manager
• Automotive Operations Manager
• Detail Manager
• Automotive Detail Manager
• Service Manager
• Fleet Operations Manager
• Fleet Manager
• Body Shop Supervisor
• Collision Center Manager
• Auto Auction Operations Manager
• Automotive Production Manager
• Reconditioning Supervisor
• Automotive Service Supervisor
• Dealership Operations Manager
• Car Wash Manager
• Automotive Production Supervisor
• Vehicle Reconditioning Supervisor
• Automotive Operations Supervisor
• Dealership Service Manager

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive pay, with hourly or salaried options based on experience.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement within the company.

Apply today to start your career in Xcite Automotive! #INDAUTO2

About Xcite Automotive

Xcite Automotive is a fast-growing automotive service and a software-based company that helps dealers get vehicles frontline-ready quickly and efficiently. Since 2007, Xcite Automotive has been on a mission to make the automotive industry faster, more innovative, and more profitable. Over 1,300 automobile dealers nationwide rely on Xcite’s team of 1000+ employees to provide on-site vehicle marketing and reconditioning solutions.

Additional Information

Xcite Automotive provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or orientation. In addition to federal law requirements, we comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.