The service center is a crucial part of dealerships. When running smoothly, your service center drives revenue and strengthens customer relationships. You need the right team of people to ensure this department operates at the highest level, and it all starts with hiring the perfect service director.

Not sure what role an automotive service director plays within a dealership? Let's break it down. 

What Does a Service Director Do?

A service director at a dealership is typically in charge of ensuring the service department runs smoothly. They manage all the other employees who work in the service center, including the service advisors, dispatchers, and technicians.¹ The service director's job is to ensure that the department runs smoothly and remains profitable for the dealership. 

What Is the Automotive Service Director Job Description?

The exact responsibilities of the automotive service director will vary from dealership to dealership, but generally, their job description includes responsibilities highlighted below.

Service Center Management 

• Set goals for the service center to ensure maximum efficiency.
• Report service center developments to upper management.
• Monitor and delegate work to technicians for efficient turnarounds.
• Collaborate with parts manager and other leadership members on all aspects of fixed operations.

Team Management 

• Hire and manage service department employees.
• Evaluate employee performance.
• Manage the dealership’s workflow through leadership, software management, and internal best practices.

Customer Service

• Maintain strong customer service by handling complaints, replying to online feedback, and promptly tend to other issues with customers

Costs/Budgets

• Manage operating expenses and prepare the department budget.² 
• Find cost-effective solutions and look at budget for areas of improvement.

Software

• Maintain proficiency for internal software to ensure smooth operations. 
• Utilize internal systems, software, hardware, and marketing to maximize efficiency and track inventory

In smaller dealerships, the service director may also evaluate and service vehicles, but this is less common.³ Typically, the service director is primarily a managerial role. 

How Can Someone Become a Service Director?

Service director is not an entry-level job within auto dealerships. Professionals often work their way up to this role after gaining experience as parts specialists, service advisors, or assistant managers of the service department.⁴ 

While many dealerships don’t require a Bachelor’s Degree, experience in the field is incredibly important. Someone looking to establish themselves within this field should first gain experience at dealerships through various positions, including manager, to become knowledgeable and familiar with the field. 

What to Look For When Hiring a Service Director

Choosing the right service director can make the difference for a successful service department. As you're evaluating and interviewing candidates, look for the following:

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of experience as a Service Manager or Director
• GED or equivalent (varies by dealership)
• Ability to expand a service team
• Strong leadership skills
• Experience providing excellent customer service
• Computer skills preferred

Additional skills that are not required but will help a candidate stand out may include vocational training, certification in the field, and bilingual. 

The service director's most important job is managing the service department employees and ensuring the team works together well to accomplish their goals. So, focus on identifying candidates with strong leadership and team-building skills within dealerships. Ideally, a candidate for this role would have experience being a service manager, as the roles share similar skills and qualifications. 

Set Your Dealership Up for Success

Building a booming service department with the help of a capable service director is just one piece of the puzzle. To ensure your dealership's success, you need access to high-quality, reliable vehicle inventory. ACV Auctions can help. 

As the leading online car auction for dealerships, ACV Auctions helps you confidently buy used car inventory. You have access to thorough data on each vehicle with the best condition reports in the industry. Save time, resources, and stress by stocking your dealership inventory with ACV Auctions. Get started today.  

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Sources

1. (5 May 2009). Roles of the Dealership Service Staff -- Who Does What? Edmunds. Retrieved 8 July 2024 from, https://www.edmunds.com/car-maintenance/roles-of-the-dealership-service-staff-who-does-what.html 
2. (24 December 2020). What is an Automotive Service Manager? Universal Technical Institute. Retrieved 8 July 2024 from,  https://www.uti.edu/blog/automotive/automotive-service-manager 
3. What Is an Automotive Service Director and How to Become One. ZipRecruiter. Retrieved 8 July 2024 from, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/career/Automotive-Service-Director/What-Is-How-to-Become 
4. (25 June 2024). What is a Service/Parts Director and How to Become One. Zippia. Retrieved 8 July 2024 from, https://www.zippia.com/service-parts-director-jobs/