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- Tasks: Oversee used car operations, ensuring smooth processes and resolving issues efficiently.
- Company: Dynamic automotive company focused on quality and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Take charge of operations and make a real impact in the automotive industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in used car operations and strong problem-solving skills.
- Other info: Join a team that values innovation and continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This is a hands-on Operations Manager role responsible for keeping used car operations running smoothly, profitably, and without friction. The focus is on protecting margin, controlling preparation costs, and ensuring issues are resolved quickly and do not repeat.
You will take full ownership of stock flow, vehicle preparation, problem cars, and escalated customer issues. Acting as the central point between buying, sales, preparation, contractors, and aftersales, you will reduce operational problems so they do not disrupt sales performance or customer experience.
Key Responsibilities- Stock and Margin Control: You will manage the full vehicle life cycle from purchase to sale, ensuring stock moves efficiently and accurately. This includes monitoring stock ageing, taking ownership of delayed or problem vehicles, and challenging unnecessary preparation spend to protect margin.
- Vehicle Preparation and Contractors: Control all preparation and mechanical work, managing third-party contractors to agreed cost, quality, and turnaround standards. You will identify repeat faults, rework issues, and under-performing suppliers, sourcing alternatives where needed.
- Problem Vehicles and Quality Issues: Take ownership of vehicles with repeated faults or pre-sale failures, deciding the most commercially sensible resolution and feeding recurring issues back into buying and preparation standards.
- Customer Complaints and Aftersales: You will handle escalated customer complaints and complex issues, acting as the decision-maker on remedies in line with consumer law and company policy. Outcomes must be fair, consistent, and commercially sound.
- Warranty and Cost Control: You will monitor warranty claims and aftersales costs, challenge declined claims where appropriate, identify trends, and recommend operational changes to reduce future issues.
- Process and Reporting: Maintain clear operational processes and accurate systems, producing regular reports on stock ageing, preparation backlogs, problem vehicles, complaints, and aftersales costs, using data to drive continuous improvement.
- Proven experience in used car operations, service management, or automotive operations.
- Strong understanding of vehicle preparation, mechanical processes, and cost control.
- Experience managing third-party contractors and supplier performance.
- Confident handling customer complaints and difficult conversations.
- Commercially minded, organised, and comfortable taking full accountability.
- Calm under pressure and solutions-focused.
- Strong communicator with the confidence to challenge.
- Pragmatic, decisive, and commercially aware.
- Do you live within a 10 mile radius of Cranleigh?
- Do you have proven experience in used car operations, service management, or automotive operations?
Operations Manager - #JBD8489 in Haslemere employer: DCA Recruitment
Contact Detail:
DCA Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager - #JBD8489 in Haslemere
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their values, culture, and recent news. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Operations Manager role. You never know who might put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to operations management. Think about how your experience aligns with the job description and be ready to share specific examples that highlight your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for the role and appreciation for the opportunity.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager - #JBD8489 in Haslemere
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Manager role. Highlight your experience in used car operations and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've handled stock control or resolved customer complaints in the past. We love a good story!
Be Clear and Concise: When filling out your application, keep your language clear and to the point. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the automotive industry. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets to the heart of your experience.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s super easy to select multiple vacancies you’re interested in. We’ll keep track of everything for you, so you can focus on putting your best foot forward in your application.
How to prepare for a job interview at DCA Recruitment
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the used car operations landscape. Familiarise yourself with stock management, vehicle preparation processes, and how to handle customer complaints effectively. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to take ownership of the role.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to be asked about how you would handle specific operational challenges, such as managing problem vehicles or dealing with escalated customer complaints. Think of examples from your past experience where you've successfully resolved similar issues, and be ready to discuss your thought process and the outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As an Operations Manager, you'll need to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, including contractors and customers. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You might even want to prepare a few anecdotes that highlight your strong communication skills in challenging situations.
✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Awareness
Be prepared to discuss how you would protect margins and control costs within the operations. Research current trends in the automotive industry and think about how they could impact the role. Showing that you have a commercially minded approach will impress the interviewers and align with their expectations.
