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- Tasks: Lead the European Maintenance & Damage strategy to enhance fleet availability and reduce costs.
- Company: Join a leading automotive company focused on innovation and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a dynamic environment while ensuring safety and quality standards.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in senior leadership roles within automotive or multi-site operations.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on career development and team leadership.
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. Own governance for repair decisioning across the vehicle lifecycle.
- Lead initiatives to reduce OEM turnback and reconditioning charges through better estimates, documentation, and negotiation.
- 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 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
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its M&D strategies. Show them you understand their goals and how you can help achieve them. Tailor your answers to highlight your experience in cost control and fleet management.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings! Reach out directly to companies you’re interested in. A friendly email expressing your interest can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 4
Use our website to apply! We’ve got loads of resources to help you stand out, from interview tips to networking advice. Let’s get you that Senior Director role!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director, Maintenance & Damage
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 achievements in fleet management and cost control to grab our attention!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you've led teams and driven performance improvements in your previous roles. Share examples of how you've developed talent and managed multi-country operations effectively.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your key accomplishments and qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
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. Familiarise yourself with current trends, challenges, and best practices in fleet management, repair cycles, and cost control. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations, especially around safety, quality, and budget management. Think of examples from your past experience where you successfully navigated trade-offs between cost and quality, and be ready to discuss the outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Senior Director, your leadership approach is crucial. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve built and developed teams across multiple countries. Highlight your experience in driving performance management and succession planning, as this will resonate with their expectations.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Since budget ownership is key, brush up on your financial skills. Be ready to talk about how you've managed budgets in the past, including forecasting and variance recovery. Use specific metrics or KPIs to illustrate your success in controlling costs while maintaining high standards.