Automotive Service Manager / Service Director
Location: Hudson Valley, New York
Base Salary: $125,000–$150,000 per year
Additional Commission Opportunity: Approximately $4,000–$6,000 per month
Estimated Total Annual Compensation: $173,000–$222,000+
Lead an Established Service Operation—Without Starting From Scratch
A highly respected, family-owned franchised automotive dealership in New York's Hudson Valley is conducting a confidential search for an experienced Automotive Service Manager or Service Director. This is a rare opportunity to take the lead of an established fixed-operations department supported by more than five decades of community relationships, significant repeat business, strong customer retention, and ownership that remains actively involved in the dealership.
We are looking for a proven leader who knows how to build a strong team, improve shop performance, protect the customer experience, and drive sustainable service gross. The right person will inherit an experienced support structure and have the authority and ownership access needed to make a meaningful impact. If you are succeeding in your current position but feel limited by corporate layers, lack of recognition, insufficient earning potential, or an ownership team that is rarely accessible, this opportunity deserves a confidential conversation.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
- $125,000–$150,000 base salary, based on experience and demonstrated results
- Performance commissions estimated at an additional $4,000–$6,000 per month
- Realistic total annual earning potential of approximately $173,000–$222,000+
- Established service operation with a strong base of repeat and long-term customers
- Family-owned and operated organization with more than 50 years of stability
- A member of the ownership family is regularly on site and accessible
- Approximately 15–20 departmental employees
- Existing service advisors, dispatcher, parts leadership, counter support, and BDC support
- Attractive dealership hours that allow leaders to have a life outside of work
- Opportunity to influence processes, personnel development, profitability, and future growth
- Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), vacation, and sick-time opportunities
- Confidential and professionally managed interview process
The Team You Will Lead
The Service Manager/Director will oversee approximately 15–20 employees across service, parts, and customer-development functions, including:
- Service technicians and supporting personnel
- Three service advisors
- One dispatcher
- One parts manager
- One parts counter professional
- One full-time BDC representative
- One part-time BDC representative
This structure gives the incoming leader operational support while still providing meaningful authority to strengthen workflow, accountability, communication, and departmental performance.
Your Leadership Responsibilities:
- Lead the daily performance and long-term direction of the service department
- Develop, coach, motivate, and retain technicians, advisors, dispatch, BDC, and support personnel
- Establish clear performance expectations and create a culture of accountability, teamwork, and professional growth
- Maximize service sales, labor gross, effective labor rate, hours per repair order, productivity, and technician efficiency
- Monitor departmental financial performance and develop action plans to meet or exceed established objectives
- Ensure repair orders are dispatched efficiently and work moves through the shop accurately and on time
- Maintain appropriate staffing levels and actively assist with recruiting, onboarding, training, and retentionPartner closely with the parts department to improve availability, communication, workflow, and profitability
- Strengthen advisor performance through coaching, process consistency, and customer-focused selling
- Support BDC efforts to increase appointments, declined-service follow-up, retention, and shop utilization
- Maintain high standards for customer satisfaction, complaint resolution, and long-term loyalty
- Ensure accurate documentation, manufacturer compliance, warranty administration, and policy adherence
- Review key performance indicators and communicate results, opportunities, and corrective actions to ownership
- Maintain a clean, organized, productive, and safety-conscious working environmentIdentify opportunities to grow customer-pay, warranty, maintenance, and internal service business
- Work directly with accessible ownership to implement improvements and support continued dealership growth
What We Are Looking For
- Previous leadership experience as an automotive dealership Service Manager, Service Director, or Fixed Operations leader
- Demonstrated success managing a busy franchised-dealership service operation
- Proven ability to improve service gross, labor sales, productivity, efficiency, customer retention, and CSI
- Strong understanding of dealership financial statements and fixed-operations performance metrics
- Experience leading technicians, service advisors, dispatchers, parts personnel, and customer-support teams
- Knowledge of manufacturer warranty procedures, compliance standards, and service-department processes
- Strong coaching, communication, organizational, and conflict-resolution skills
- Ability to hold employees accountable while maintaining a respectful and team-oriented culture
- Confidence working directly with dealership ownership
- Valid driver's license and driving record acceptable to the dealership's insurance requirements
Preferred Experience:
- General Motors dealership experience
- GM systems, warranty, training, and certification knowledge
- Experience overseeing both service and parts operations
- History of recruiting, developing, and retaining productive technicians
- Experience improving advisor performance and customer-pay sales
- Familiarity with modern dealership management systems, digital inspections, scheduling tools, and service BDC processes
- Candidates with exceptional fixed-operations leadership experience from another franchised manufacturer are also encouraged to apply.
Compensation
The anticipated base salary for this position is $125,000–$150,000 per year, based on relevant dealership leadership experience, manufacturer knowledge, past performance, and overall qualifications.
In addition to base salary, the position offers a commission opportunity tied to service-department gross performance. Estimated commissions are approximately $4,000–$6,000 per month, creating estimated total annual compensation of approximately $173,000–$222,000+.
Incentive compensation is performance-based and is not guaranteed.
Benefits
- Eligible employees will have the opportunity to participate in dealership benefit programs that may include:
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Paid vacation
- Paid sick time
- Plan eligibility, employee contributions, waiting periods, and specific benefit terms will be reviewed during the interview and offer process.
A Confidential Search
We understand that many of the strongest automotive leaders are currently employed and need complete discretion. All applications and conversations will be handled in strict confidence. Your information will not be shared with the dealership or any outside party without your knowledge and permission. Initial conversations may be conducted through the dealership's recruiting representative before the employer's identity is disclosed.
If you have built a successful career in automotive service leadership and are ready for greater earning potential, accessible ownership, strong operational support, and the opportunity to lead an established department, we invite you to apply for a confidential conversation.
Please submit a résumé outlining your automotive service leadership experience and measurable departmental accomplishments.
The employer is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Pay: $125,000.00 - $225,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Auto service management: 4 years (Required)
- General Motors Dealership: 4 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
