At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the European Maintenance & Damage strategy to enhance fleet availability and reduce costs.
- Company: Join a dynamic automotive leader focused on innovation and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of fleet management.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment while ensuring safety and quality standards.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in senior leadership roles within automotive or multi-site operations.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams across Europe and drive performance improvements.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Own and deliver the European Maintenance & Damage (M&D) agenda to maximise fleet availability, reduce repair cycle time, and control end-to-end M&D cost, while maintaining non-negotiable safety and quality standards across all European markets.
Accountable for converting strategy into measurable in-year delivery through standardised processes, strong supplier governance, and disciplined execution, including EV repair capability and end-of-life decisioning.
Location & travel
Location: Europe
Reporting line
Reports to: SVP Operations, Europe
Key matrix partners: Fleet, Procurement, Finance, Legal, Risk/Compliance, In-Country General Managers & Ops Leaders
Key responsibilities
- Define and own the European M&D strategy and annual operating plan aligned to EMEA objectives.
- Translate strategy into clear initiatives with owners, milestones, and EBITDA impact.
- Standardise KPIs, tools, processes, and policies and ensure adoption across markets.
- Own European M&D budget performance, forecasting, variance explanation, and recovery plans.
- Implement robust controls including approvals, audit trails, and anomaly detection.
- Enforce escalation where cost targets conflict with safety or quality.
- Own the European supplier framework across all M&D categories, including EV repair.
- Lead supplier scorecards, governance, remediation, and exits where required.
- Partner with Procurement on tenders, with M&D setting technical and performance standards.
- Continuously optimise outsource vs insource decisions based on cost, quality, and flexibility.
- Define and deliver the target network architecture and service levels.
- Define parts strategy with Procurement, balancing cost, availability, and compliance.
- Drive repair vs replace principles and lead-time reduction initiatives.
- Own KPIs for parts lead time, fill rate, and repair delays.
- Run a disciplined performance cadence (weekly pulse, monthly reviews, quarterly deep dives).
- Ensure dashboards, savings, and performance metrics are Finance-validated.
- Lead and develop a multi-country M&D team across Europe in partnership with Country GMs.
- Build capability in technical standards, estimating, commercial discipline, and execution.
- Drive succession planning and consistent performance management.
Experience requirements
- 10+ years senior leadership in automotive, fleet, aftersales, repair networks, or multi-site operations.
- Proven delivery of cost control and availability improvements across multiple countries.
- Experience transforming supplier networks at scale.
- Strong lifecycle, estimating, and OEM turnback experience.
Skills & attributes
- Strong commercial and financial acumen with full budget ownership experience.
- Deep understanding of M&D ecosystems, including EV repair.
- Execution-focused, structured, and comfortable escalating trade-offs early.
- Influential leader with confidence in tough supplier and OEM discussions.
Senior Director, Maintenance & Damage in Bracknell employer: Avis Budget Group
Contact Detail:
Avis Budget Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director, Maintenance & Damage in Bracknell
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their M&D strategy and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. We want you to shine and show them why you're the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to get comfortable with common questions. We believe that the more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to impress the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. We’re all about making connections, so let them know you’re keen to join their team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director, Maintenance & Damage in Bracknell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Senior Director, Maintenance & Damage role. Highlight your experience in managing budgets and supplier relationships, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics and examples to demonstrate how you've maximised fleet availability or reduced repair cycle times in previous roles. This will help us see the impact you can bring to our team.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon and get straight to the point about your qualifications and how they relate to the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Avis Budget Group
✨Know Your M&D Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the European Maintenance & Damage landscape. Brush up on key metrics like fleet availability, repair cycle times, and cost control. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you understand the role's demands.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about how you would handle trade-offs between cost, safety, and quality. Think of specific examples from your past experience where you had to make tough decisions and be ready to explain your thought process.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Senior Director, you’ll need to lead a multi-country team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you’ve developed teams in the past. Highlight any experience you have with succession planning and performance management.
✨Understand Supplier Dynamics
Since supplier governance is crucial for this role, brush up on your knowledge of supplier scorecards and performance metrics. Be ready to discuss how you've optimised supplier relationships and managed performance in previous roles.