Workshop Manager – Heavy Duty Vehicles - KZN

The Workshop Manager is responsible for managing the full operation of the workshop, ensuring efficient service delivery, high-quality workmanship, and strong team performance. The role manages staff productivity, development, and compliance while co-ordinating daily workshop activities such as work-in-progress planning, resource allocation, and parts availability. The role also involves strict administrative control, accurate reporting, and adherence to company procedures, alongside managing budgets, assets, and warranty processes.

Minimum requirements:

• Grade 12
• Heavy Duty Vehicles experience (Diesel Mechanic Trade Certification advantageous)
• 7+ years previous experience within a managerial role
  • Technical expertise pertaining to the knowledge of automotive systems, diagnostics and OEM service standards.
  • Operational expertise pertaining to WIP management, capacity planning and workshop operations.
    • Leadership and team management skills (supervision, coaching, performance management)
• Workshop planning and operational co-ordination (WIP, capacity planning)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills (staff and customer engagement)
• Problem-solving and decision-making (fault diagnosis, complaint resolution)
• Administrative and reporting skills (job cards, systems, data accuracy)
• Financial and cost control skills (budget management, profitability tracking)

Staff Management:

• Manage staff time and attendance, productivity and efficiency.
• Supervise and coach staff to provide a customer focused environment.
• Ensure that staff adheres to dress code and PPE requirements.
• Identify training and staff development needs.
• Conduct staff performance management reviews/appraisals as required.
• Conduct frequent staff meetings and feedback sessions.

Workshop Operations, Capacity Planning and Work in Progress (WIP)

• Conduct daily WIP planning.
• Monitor and manage workshop productivity and efficiency.
• Interact daily with the Service Advisors and Parts department to ensure parts availability for scheduled services.
• Ensure all vehicles are serviced in line with OE service schedules and OE requirements & ensure all vehicles are tested and are working properly after work is completed.
• Ensure that errors are rectified to minimise recurrence of complaints.
• Ensure that workshop operations run smooth and that workshop resources are optimally utilised.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of industry developments.

Customer Service Levels:

• Ensure internal and external customers are always kept up to date with their vehicle progress.
• Customer complaints need to be resolved timeously.

Workshop Administration:

• Ensure 100% accurate Embrace data input e.g. hour readings, job start and end dates, correct fault codes and correct job types.
• Ensure all SOPs are adhered to.
• Update workshop manuals when necessary.
• Ensure accurate costing and closing of job cards.
• Ensure that all required documents are attached to the job cards,

manually as well as electronically.

• Ensure that job cards are sent to Isando filing room via monthly handover schedule.
• Ensure quotations from preferred suppliers for outsource and outwork jobs are requested, received and processed on time.
• Sign off job cards in line with the requirements.
• Ensure that all recovery billing is noted and invoiced to external customers.

Reports:

• Pull open job card report daily and investigate and ensure that only WIP job cards are open.
• Report to management on any WIP.
• Pull open purchase order report daily and investigate and ensure that only WIP orders are open.
• Submit all required reports to management at the agreed times.

Asset Management:

• Manage and maintain all company assets.
• Report any losses or damage to company assets to management.
• Asset disposal must be requested in line with the SOP and authority schedules.

Recovery and Warranty Claims:

• Ensure that correct recoveries and warranty processes are followed.

Financials/Budget:

• Manage the workshops in a cost-effective manner and in line with workshop budgets.
• Report as requested on profit and loss statement.

Quality Standards

• Ensure the workshop has the correct tools and equipment for the job on hand.
• Ensure tools are in good working condition and are suitable for that specific job.
• Conduct frequent spot checks to ensure the required service standards are met.

General:

• Maintain professional conduct.
• Assist in relevant operations/operational functions as required.
• Ensure dress code is in accordance with company Standard Operating Procedures.
• Maintain housekeeping standards daily.
• Ensure standards of Health and Safety are maintained.
• Maintain correct technical information and make sure this is available to the technical team.
• Ensure product and technical training is attended as per requirements.

Apprentice Program

• Manage the apprentice programme for your workshop.

Salary offer: Negotiable