Detailing department manager

Position Summary

The Automotive Detail Department Manager is responsible for overseeing all vehicle reconditioning, cleaning, presentation, and inventory photography processes across new, used, and service departments. This role ensures vehicles are delivered on time, and meet dealership quality standards while maintaining strict control over labor, materials, and workflow efficiency.

Core Responsibilities

1. Operational Management

• Manage daily workflow of all detailing, reconditioning, and photography activities
• Prioritize vehicles based on:
• Sold units (immediate delivery)
• Front-line ready inventory
• VIP service customer vehicles
• Maintain a I-Recon tracking system for all vehicles in the detail and photo process
• Ensure consistent turnaround times aligned with sales needs

2. Inventory & Throughput Control

• Monitor and manage:
• Vehicles waiting for detail
• Work in progress
• Units pending photography
• Completed units ready for front line or delivery
• Establish and enforce cycle time targets, including:
• Detail completion time
• Photo-ready time (same-day or next-day upload readiness)
• Eliminate bottlenecks that delay vehicle availability or online merchandising

3. Quality Assurance

• Implement and enforce standardized detailing procedures
• Perform final inspections on all:
• Sold units
• Certified/pre-owned vehicles
• Customer pay detail work
• Ensure all vehicles meet dealership presentation standards before release or photography

4. Inventory Photography & Merchandising

• Oversee or perform high-quality vehicle photography for all front-line inventory
• Ensure every unit is:
• Clean and photo-ready prior to imaging
• Photographed consistently (angles, lighting, background, branding)
• Maintain standards for:
• Exterior and interior photo sets
• Key feature highlighting
• Coordinate timely upload of photos to:
• Dealership website via preowned manager
• Ensure fast turnaround from “detail complete” → “live online”

5. Team Leadership & Development

• Hire, train, and manage detailing staff
• Set daily and weekly productivity expectations
• Hold team accountable for:
• Quality of work
• Efficiency
• Timeliness (including photo completion)
• Cross-train team members to support both detailing and photography functions

6. Cost Control & Budgeting

• Manage labor hours to align with production volume
• Control usage of:
• Chemicals
• Supplies
• Equipment
• Minimize rework and waste
• Operate within departmental budget targets

7. Interdepartmental Coordination

• Work closely with:
• Sales Managers (vehicle readiness)
• Service Advisors (customer vehicles)
• Used Car Manager (reconditioning timelines)
• Provide clear communication on:
• Vehicle status
• Photo completion
• Front-line readiness

8. Safety & Compliance

• Enforce all safety protocols related to:
• Chemical handling
• Equipment use
• Facility cleanliness
• Maintain compliance with OSHA and environmental regulations

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Average detail cycle time per vehicle
• Time to photo-ready / time to online listing
• % of inventory online with photos within 24 hours
• On-time delivery rate (sold units)
• Rework percentage
• Labor cost per vehicle detailed
• Supply cost per vehicle
• Vehicles completed and photographed per day/week
• Internal customer (sales/service) satisfaction

Qualifications

• 3 years in automotive detailing or reconditioning operations
• Experience with vehicle photography and online merchandising preferred
• 1 year in a supervisory or management role preferred
• Strong organizational and workflow management skills
• Ability to operate in a high-volume, fast-paced dealership environment
• Knowledge of detailing chemicals, tools, and basic photography standards
• Basic computer skills (DMS, inventory systems, photo upload tools)

Work Environment

• Indoor/outdoor shop environment
• Exposure to chemicals, water, and cleaning agents
• Physical activity required (standing, bending, lifting)

Compensation Structure (Recommended)

• Base salary performance bonus tied to:
• Throughput (units completed and photographed)
• Cycle time (detail → online)
• Quality metrics (low rework, consistent photos)
• Expense control

Position Objective

Deliver clean, front-line-ready vehicles that are professionally photographed and online immediately, supporting faster inventory turn, stronger merchandising, and improved dealership profitability.

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Relocation assistance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $60,000