Service Manager – Heavy-Duty Truck Dealership

Total Compensation: Approximately $100,000–$140,000+ with incentives

Schedule: 7:30 AM–5:30 PM

Incentives: Monthly performance incentive program

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Service Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of a large, established heavy-duty truck service department in Bakersfield, CA.

This is a significant operation with approximately 11 technicians and a strong existing customer base. The ideal candidate has direct experience managing a service department within a Class 8/heavy-duty truck dealership and understands how to drive technician productivity, customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and department profitability.

This is primarily a leadership and operations position. Hands-on mechanical experience is not required. We are looking for someone who knows how to manage people, processes, performance, and customers in a busy dealership environment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Monthly performance incentive program
• Total earning potential of approximately $100,000–$140,000+
• Performance-based earning growth
• Established service department and technician team
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Comprehensive employee benefits package
• Long-term career growth opportunities

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of the Service Department
• Lead, manage, and develop a team
• Hire, train, coach, and retain technicians and service personnel
• Conduct daily meetings with technicians, Service Writers, and other service leadership to review workload, repair status, priorities, and potential issues
• Monitor technician productivity, proficiency, efficiency, and overall department performance
• Establish processes that keep repair orders, paperwork, and completed jobs moving efficiently
• Ensure repair orders are closed promptly following completion of repairs
• Monitor jobs in progress, including hours invested and estimated completion times
• Maintain appropriate technician training and certification levels
• Review operational reports and develop action plans to address performance issues
• Drive excellent customer service and maintain strong relationships with key accounts
• Make regular customer visits and assist with resolving escalated service concerns
• Coordinate with Parts, Sales, Lease & Rental, Warranty, Credit, and other departments
• Work closely with warranty personnel to maximize repair order recovery and minimize warranty processing delays
• Manage department safety standards and maintain a clean, professional shop environment
• Assist with long-range forecasting and planning to support continued growth and profitability
• Monitor department KPIs and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity, customer satisfaction, and financial performance

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience within a heavy-duty/Class 8 truck dealership environment
• Direct experience working within a dealership Service Department
• 3+ years of leadership or management experience
• Previous Service Manager, Assistant Service Manager, Fixed Operations Manager, or similar dealership leadership experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of dealership service operations and repair order processes
• Demonstrated ability to manage technician productivity, efficiency, and performance
• Strong understanding of department profitability and operational reporting
• Excellent leadership and people-management skills
• Ability to build strong relationships with technicians and earn the respect of the shop
• Strong customer relationship and conflict-resolution skills
• Ability to plan, prioritize, delegate, and coordinate multiple activities in a fast-paced environment
• Comfortable analyzing reports, identifying problems, and implementing corrective action
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and dealership management/business systems
• Strong organizational, communication, and decision-making abilities

What We're Looking For

We are specifically looking for someone who understands dealership service operations. Heavy-duty truck dealership experience is strongly preferred.

You do not need to be the strongest mechanic in the building. You do need to understand how a successful service department operates — technician productivity, repair order flow, customer communication, staffing, reporting, warranty coordination, efficiency, and profitability.

The ideal candidate can walk into an established operation, quickly understand the numbers and the people, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide the leadership needed to take the department to the next level.

If you have successfully managed a busy heavy-duty dealership service department and know how to get the best out of both your people and your operation, we want to hear from you.