Parts Manager

A Well-established Dealership based in Stellenbosch has a vacancy for a Parts Manager with at least 5 years in an automotive parts role at a franchised dealership to join their team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership and people management: Lead, develop and manage the performance of the Parts team. Set clear objectives, allocate workloads and make sure training, succession and leave cover are in place
• Customer experience: Deliver a premium customer experience in line with the company Customer First standards. This means accurate parts identification, clear quotations, reliable delivery dates and professional handling of complaints
• Company standards and compliance: Make sure procurement, warranty handling and departmental processes comply with current company policies, retailer standards and audit requirements. Make sure staff complete mandatory OEM training
• Inventory management: Keep stock levels accurate, secure and well balanced. Manage stock turn, ageing and obsolescence, oversee receiving, issuing and returns, and run cycle counts and stocktake
• Procurement and supplier management: Order from authorised sources within budget and delegated authority. Manage back orders and lead times, and make sure supplier claims, returns and credits are finalised on time
• Workshop and service support: Work with Service and Workshop to supply the correct parts on time, prioritise vehicle-off-road cases and reduce vehicle downtime. Keep accurate warranty parts records
• Sales growth: Grow retail, trade and wholesale parts sales. Build relationships with independent repairers and fleet customers, and protect margins through disciplined pricing
• Financial performance: Prepare and manage the departmental budget. Track turnover, gross profit, stock investment and debtors, report monthly to the Dealer Principal and take corrective action when results fall short
• Risk, controls and safety: Keep strong controls in place against stock loss, theft and fraud. Make sure transactions are captured accurately on CDK, and keep the warehouse safe and orderly in line with health and safety and hazardous-materials requirements
• Continuous improvement: Use data and reporting to spot trends, improve processes and increase sales, stock accuracy and customer retention

Minimum requirements (Essential):

• Matric (Grade 12).
• At least 5 years in automotive parts at a franchised dealership, with at least 3 of those years managing a parts department team.
• Proven experience with stock control: stocktakes, managing stock that is ageing or obsolete, and resolving discrepancies.
• Experience with budgets, targets and gross profit in a parts department.
• Working knowledge of a dealer management system, such as CDK, Autoline or Kerridge, and good MS Excel skills.
• A valid driver’s licence.

Essential Competencies/Traits:

• Commercial sense and business accumen
• Attention to detail
• Integrity
• A strong customer-service mindset
• The ability to work with Service and Workshop under pressure

Advantageous:

• A recognised parts qualification, such as an automotive parts NQF qualification.
• Experience building trade and wholesale accounts.
• Familiarity with OEM warranty and audit processes.