What are the responsibilities and job description for the Detail/Reconditioning Department Manager position at Fletch's Inc.?
Position Overview
We are seeking a high-energy, process-driven Detail Department Manager to lead our high-volume automotive reconditioning operation. In this role, your primary metric of success isn't just a clean vehicle—it is cycle time.
You will treat the detail department like a highly efficient manufacturing assembly line. You will be directly responsible for breaking bottlenecks, managing a team of detail technicians, and streamlining the flow of used vehicle inventory from trade-in to the front line, ensuring we maximize gross profit potential by reducing "days-to-line."
Key Responsibilities
1. Detail & Used Car Reconditioning Management (65% of Role)
Drive Cycle Times: Manage the complete "key-to-line" used vehicle reconditioning workflow. Target an average frontline-ready turnaround of under 3–5 days.
Inventory & Vendor Management: Order and manage chemical inventories while controlling costs. Coordinate with third-party vendors to ensure seamless workflow.
Optimize Reconditioning Cycle Times: Own the velocity of the used car pipeline. Monitor and improve the time it takes for a vehicle to move from acquisition, through mechanical/body, detail, photography, and onto the sales lot.
Production Workflow Management: Monitor daily production targets for detailers. Identify and eliminate bottlenecks in the reconditioning pipeline. Establish and enforce strict staging, routing, and production-line processes for all interior/exterior detailing,
Team Leadership & Scheduling: Hire, train, and manage a team of detailers. Implement performance-based scheduling and production tracking to keep team efficiency high.
Inter-Departmental Coordination: Serve as the central communication hub between Used Car Sales Managers, the Service Department (mechanical reconditioning), and Body Shop to prevent vehicles from sitting idle.
Quality Control & Compliance: Perform final inspections on all completed vehicles to ensure they meet dealership retail standards. Manage department expenses, chemical/equipment inventory, and strict safety/OSHA compliance.
2. Collision Center Support (35% of Role)
Customer Communication: Act as a proactive touchpoint for collision customers. Provide regular, empathetic updates regarding vehicle repair status, parts delays, and completion ETAs via phone, text, or email.
Parts Logistics & Organization: Receive, mirror-match (verify correct parts against the estimate), and organize incoming collision parts. Ensure parts are correctly allocated to the right technician stalls to minimize downtime.
Estimating & CCC ONE: Maintain proficiency in CCC ONE estimating software. Step in to write initial damage estimates or supplements during high-volume periods or when advisors are absent.
Final Clean Oversight: Coordinate with the detail team to ensure all completed collision vehicles receive a flawless post-repair wash and interior vacuum before being presented
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Average Days-to-Line (Target: Less than 3–5 days): The average time a vehicle takes from the date of acquisition to active retail display.
Daily/Weekly Production Volume: Meeting or exceeding targeted vehicle turn rates based on dealership sales volume.
Labor Efficiency: Maximizing flat-rate or hourly labor output against established time standards per vehicle class.
Collision Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI): Maintaining high customer service scores via timely updates.
Qualifications & Experience
Experience: Minimum of 1–3 years of experience in high-volume automotive detailing, and or experience in a supervisory or management role (dealership or large-scale collision reconditioning center preferred).
Process Mindset: Proven track record of implementing workflow optimizations, lean management concepts, or production-line strategies.
Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of modern reconditioning techniques, compound/polish chemistry, paint correction, and interior restoration tools.
Software Proficiency: Familiarity with dealer management systems (DMS) and dedicated reconditioning tracking software (e.g., ReconVelocity, Rapid Recon, or vAuto) is highly preferred.
The "Recon Mindset": A strict understanding that "days to line" equals lost profit. You must be obsessed with workflow efficiency and time management.
Communication Skills: Exceptional customer service skills. Ability to explain complex repair timelines calmly and clearly to anxious collision customers.
Physical & Logistics Stamina: Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, multi-task between two departments, and lift/organize automotive parts (up to 50 lbs).
Drivers License: Valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
We are seeking a high-energy, process-driven Detail Department Manager to lead our high-volume automotive reconditioning operation. In this role, your primary metric of success isn't just a clean vehicle—it is cycle time.
You will treat the detail department like a highly efficient manufacturing assembly line. You will be directly responsible for breaking bottlenecks, managing a team of detail technicians, and streamlining the flow of used vehicle inventory from trade-in to the front line, ensuring we maximize gross profit potential by reducing "days-to-line."
Key Responsibilities
1. Detail & Used Car Reconditioning Management (65% of Role)
Drive Cycle Times: Manage the complete "key-to-line" used vehicle reconditioning workflow. Target an average frontline-ready turnaround of under 3–5 days.
Inventory & Vendor Management: Order and manage chemical inventories while controlling costs. Coordinate with third-party vendors to ensure seamless workflow.
Optimize Reconditioning Cycle Times: Own the velocity of the used car pipeline. Monitor and improve the time it takes for a vehicle to move from acquisition, through mechanical/body, detail, photography, and onto the sales lot.
Production Workflow Management: Monitor daily production targets for detailers. Identify and eliminate bottlenecks in the reconditioning pipeline. Establish and enforce strict staging, routing, and production-line processes for all interior/exterior detailing,
Team Leadership & Scheduling: Hire, train, and manage a team of detailers. Implement performance-based scheduling and production tracking to keep team efficiency high.
Inter-Departmental Coordination: Serve as the central communication hub between Used Car Sales Managers, the Service Department (mechanical reconditioning), and Body Shop to prevent vehicles from sitting idle.
Quality Control & Compliance: Perform final inspections on all completed vehicles to ensure they meet dealership retail standards. Manage department expenses, chemical/equipment inventory, and strict safety/OSHA compliance.
2. Collision Center Support (35% of Role)
Customer Communication: Act as a proactive touchpoint for collision customers. Provide regular, empathetic updates regarding vehicle repair status, parts delays, and completion ETAs via phone, text, or email.
Parts Logistics & Organization: Receive, mirror-match (verify correct parts against the estimate), and organize incoming collision parts. Ensure parts are correctly allocated to the right technician stalls to minimize downtime.
Estimating & CCC ONE: Maintain proficiency in CCC ONE estimating software. Step in to write initial damage estimates or supplements during high-volume periods or when advisors are absent.
Final Clean Oversight: Coordinate with the detail team to ensure all completed collision vehicles receive a flawless post-repair wash and interior vacuum before being presented
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Average Days-to-Line (Target: Less than 3–5 days): The average time a vehicle takes from the date of acquisition to active retail display.
Daily/Weekly Production Volume: Meeting or exceeding targeted vehicle turn rates based on dealership sales volume.
Labor Efficiency: Maximizing flat-rate or hourly labor output against established time standards per vehicle class.
Collision Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI): Maintaining high customer service scores via timely updates.
Qualifications & Experience
Experience: Minimum of 1–3 years of experience in high-volume automotive detailing, and or experience in a supervisory or management role (dealership or large-scale collision reconditioning center preferred).
Process Mindset: Proven track record of implementing workflow optimizations, lean management concepts, or production-line strategies.
Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of modern reconditioning techniques, compound/polish chemistry, paint correction, and interior restoration tools.
Software Proficiency: Familiarity with dealer management systems (DMS) and dedicated reconditioning tracking software (e.g., ReconVelocity, Rapid Recon, or vAuto) is highly preferred.
The "Recon Mindset": A strict understanding that "days to line" equals lost profit. You must be obsessed with workflow efficiency and time management.
Communication Skills: Exceptional customer service skills. Ability to explain complex repair timelines calmly and clearly to anxious collision customers.
Physical & Logistics Stamina: Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, multi-task between two departments, and lift/organize automotive parts (up to 50 lbs).
Drivers License: Valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
Benefits:
Health Insurance, Vacation & Paid Time Off, 401K PlanSalary : $50,000 - $70,000