Do you want to join a team-oriented organization that offers a competitive salary, outstanding benefits, a robust retirement plan, flexible work hours, and 16 paid holidays a year? Look no further! The City of Chesapeake is an employer who values and empowers its employees and understands work-life balance.
We are seeking a highly motivated and customer-focused Fleet Service Writer to join our award-winning team. This position serves as the liaison between our customer departments and the city garage, bringing product knowledge and efficiency to every transaction. The Service Writer initiates automotive services and repairs by ascertaining performance problems and services requested, verifying warranty and service contract coverage, writing repair orders, and maintaining customer rapport and records. This position reports directly to the Fleet Maintenance Superintendent.
If you have the passion, enthusiasm, and communication skills we’re looking for, apply NOW and join “The City that CARES”! (Courteousness, Attentiveness, Resourcefulness, Empowerment, Stewardship)
Essential Duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Receive vehicles and equipment at the service desk, document customer concerns, and translate them into clear, actionable work orders in the fleet management information system (FMIS).
- Verify unit numbers, meter readings, warranty status, and service contract coverage at check-in; flag discrepancies before work begins.
- Maintain the preventive maintenance calendar; schedule PM services with department customers and update schedules as needed to keep the fleet in compliance and minimize downtime.
- Assign quick bay work directly to available technicians to keep short-duration repairs and services moving without delay.
- Recommend changes to equipment PM requirements or service frequency and report any issues with the FMIS to the Superintendent.
- Communicate repair status and expected completion times to customer departments; handle questions, concerns, and complaints professionally.
- Respond to requests for service from the field, including emergency breakdowns; arrange towing and temporary transportation when necessary.
- Advise customers on necessary service for routine maintenance and upcoming PM requirements.
- May assist shop supervisors in working with customer departments and dealerships to schedule and complete active recall repairs with minimal impact to department operations.
- Work with shop supervisors and shop foremen to keep shop workflow efficient, coordinating repair priorities and road call responses.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong customer service and communication skills; able to explain repair status in plain language to non-technical customers.
- Ability to prioritize competing demands from multiple departments, including emergency service vehicles.
- Ability to work independently at a service counter while coordinating with shop floor staff.
- Professional demeanor when handling complaints, schedule conflicts, and stressed customers.
Compensation and Benefits
$4,000 CDL Stipend. This annual stipend begins 90 days after you obtain your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and is paid in weekly installments. The City provides CDL training at no cost to employees. The required 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training are completed on the clock, so you get paid to train! Vehicles for DMV road testing are also provided.
The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Work is performed in a combination office and shop environment with some potential exposure to noise, fumes, and moving vehicles, and occasionally outside in all types of weather. The position requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods, climb into large vehicles, enter and operate a variety of fleet vehicles, and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. The workday alternates between quiet periods and extremely busy ones, particularly during morning drop-off and end-of-day pickup.
