Service Manager

You've moved from under the hood to behind the desk, managing the entire service department. You're the bridge between the techs who fix cars and the customers who pay for it. You'll handle scheduling, warranty claims, angry customers, and the constant tension between 'fix it right' and 'fix it fast.' The best service managers were great techs who also turned out to be great with people. The worst were great techs who were terrible with people.

Learn the skills

Courses and certifications to get you job-ready

What you'll actually do

• 01Manage a team of technicians and keep the shop running at full capacity
• 02Handle customer complaints that start with 'I was told this would be done by noon'
• 03Review repair orders and approve estimates before they go to the customer
• 04Track shop productivity, revenue per RO, and technician efficiency
• 05Negotiate warranty claims with manufacturers who'd rather not pay
• 06Hire, train, and occasionally fire technicians — the part they don't teach in trade school