Motor Network Manager

This is an exceptionally exciting year for the team, and we are delighted to present a new opportunity for a Motor Network Manager to join our First Party Claims team here at The Acorn Group. Reporting to the Motor Network & Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring we maintain excellent relationships, design best practices and deliver a great performance through our motor repair network. This position offers huge opportunities for professional growth and development, entails sizeable accountability and decision-making responsibilities, and will position you as a senior leader within the First Party Claims team, where you will have a real impact on our customers and business.

In this role you will be a manager who leads from the front – being hands-on, engaging and committed to a quality-first mindset with a focus on creating good outcomes for our customers and our people. If that sounds like you, then please read on! This exciting position offers the flexibility of fully remote work or a hybrid option with a desk at one of our offices located in Liverpool or Sevenoaks. Regular travel will be necessary, allowing you to spend time with your colleagues, meet with suppliers, visit body shops within our repair network, and attend industry events and conferences. This role will undoubtedly keep you busy, engaged, and well-connected to the industry!

Your role will involve collaborating closely with our repair network management provider to guarantee that repairs are conducted safely and cost-effectively, prioritising the customer in every decision made. You will be responsible for carrying out and overseeing technical audits, governance, and best practices established by the network provider. Implementing The Acorn Group's approach to ensuring effective repairs within the network, focusing on delivering quality, timely, and cost-efficient solutions. Monitoring of costs associated with vehicle repairs and identifying trends and opportunities for improvement. Developing new customer-centric and cost-effective solutions through updated processes, systems, or technologies. Creating and tracking key metrics to measure network performance and implementing actions plans to improve where necessary. Working closely with our internal motor engineering team sharing information, best practice and ideas for continuous improvement. Provide support on complaints and recovery of unnecessary costs incurred. Carry out performance reviews with the network provider.

Ideally, you should be IMI VDA (Vehicle Damage Assessor) accredited and have in depth knowledge of Audatex. You should also hold your AQP qualification – a current competency-based assessment in salvage categorisation from the IAEA or another recognised industry body. Demonstrable experience of working within the repair body shop industry is essential. Strong leadership abilities are a must. Exceptional stakeholder and relationship management skills are crucial; you will be expected to develop a robust internal network while managing relationships with various suppliers and industry contacts for example by attending various trade events. You should be adept at working with diverse types and sources of data, able to analyse, interrogate, and present it in various formats. Effective communication at all levels is required, with the ability to adapt your style as necessary. A solid understanding of the body shop industry’s complexities, including parts supply chains, repair methods, material composition, ADAS, and proficiency with specialised systems like Escribe is important.

At Acorn Insurance, we offer comprehensive training and continuous in-house coaching. You'll receive in-depth, FCA-regulated industry knowledge and all the tools necessary to grow your career with us. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels respected and valued. As a Disability Confident Level 1 and Level 2 employer, we ensure our workplace is accessible and inclusive, encouraging our people to bring their best selves to work every day.

Acorn Insurance want to give you more than a job, we want to give you a purpose and a career. Some of the "your tomorrow" benefits you will receive include:

• Enhanced Annual Leave entitlement starting at 31 days and potentially increasing to 35 days per year depending on grade & length of service (including bank holidays)
• Enhanced paternity pay and 16 weeks full maternity pay.
• Colleague Assistance programme offers a suite of wellbeing services such as: 6 Free Counselling sessions per year, Unlimited access to a telephone councillor 24/7, Access to a free 4-week programme of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with a trained therapist mentor.
• A core level of life assurance with the option to increase cover via salary sacrifice and add your spouse/partner.
• Company pension scheme.
• Refer a friend scheme with a £250 bonus for every colleague recommended on passing their probation period.
• Access to a flexible benefits platform including an annual flex pot allowance to spend on over 15 benefits of your choice.
• Ability to give back. You can opt into donating money to charity to climate positive organisations directly from your salary.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment. We recognise that candidates may have specific needs and are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process and working environment to accommodate individual requirements. Whether it’s modifying equipment, adjusting working hours, or providing additional support, we aim to ensure all employees can perform at their best. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know during the application or interview process, and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.