Overview
Birchwood Group is a forward-looking company with retail stores, workshops and facilities based across the south coast of Sussex and Hampshire, turning over £150m per annum. We have a powerful colleague engagement philosophy and want inspired people to join us.
SMART refers to light damage repairs — from scuffs and dents to paint chips and alloy wheel refurbishment.
We are seeking a dynamic, commercially minded Bodyshop Manager to take charge and grow one of our Sussex SMART repair centres. If you’re a natural leader with the drive to grow a business, inspire a team, and deliver results, this is your opportunity to make a real impact.
The site already benefits from a valuable stream of internal work from our own car franchises on the patch, and we now wish to focus on expanding retail and B2B opportunities.
Your duties will include but are not limited to the following:
- Leadership: Manage, develop, and motivate a high-performing team.
- Customer Focus: Deliver outstanding service and quality to build lasting client relationships.
- Business Growth: Drive new sales opportunities and expand service offerings.
- Sales: To grow relationships, old and new. Retail upsell and selling through our busy car service receptions is an irresistible opportunity.
- Marketing: Support marketing initiatives to increase B2B and B2C business.
- Performance Management: Achieve financial, productivity, and quality targets.
- Process Improvement: Implement new systems and technologies for efficiency.
- Operations: Oversee workflow, capacity planning, and KPI performance.
- Compliance: Maintain high health and safety, and environmental standards.
- Administration: Manage reporting, budgets, and financial documentation.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:
- Proven experience managing teams within automotive or related sectors.
- Strong leadership, organisational, and commercial skills.
- Understanding of accident repair, bodyshop processes, and insurance procedures.
- Excellent communication and customer service abilities.
- Relevant automotive qualifications (desirable).
Package:
- Salary: £40,000 + Bonus (OTE £60,000)
- Hours: 42hrs per week, Monday to Friday and Saturday’s on a rota
- Holiday: 22 days per year + bank holidays
- Car: Access to our car benefit solutions scheme
- Benefits: Health cash plan, Employee Assistance Programme, company pension subsidised vehicle purchase and aftersales scheme (upon completion of probation)
We are an Equal Opportunities Employer
Due to the high volume of applications, we receive, unfortunately, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding the status of their application. If you do not hear from us within 2 weeks, please assume you were unsuccessful on this occasion.
