Vehicle Preparation Manager

Job Description:

Vehicle Preparation Manager Vacancy – Derbyshire

• Salary Range: £50,000 – £100,000 OTE per annum (Depending on experience)
• Company Car included
• Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Our client is a long-established, family-run high volume dealership with over 50 years of trading history and now operating into its third generation. The business is forward-thinking, performance-driven, and continues to invest heavily in people, processes, and facilities.

Their targets are circa 2,000 cars prepped in their workshop and bodyshop to be sold per annum across multiple sites. This operation needs someone with experience in high-volume dealership. If this is something you have experience with, you should apply, or get in touch with Perfect Placement for more information. 

This is a hands-on, shop-floor–based leadership role, focused on control, pace, and performance. While you will not be directly involved in the mechanical and cosmetic repairs, you will need to have experience leading in a workshop environment  

The Role: You will be responsible for managing all vehicle preparation activity, ensuring workshop output, efficiency, and quality standards are consistently achieved.

Key Responsibilities as a Vehicle Preparation Manager:

• Full operational ownership of vehicle preparation across two workshop locations
• Driving daily workshop throughput and preparation targets
• Direct line management of technicians, setting expectations and managing performance
• Allocating and prioritising work to maximise ramp utilisation
• Actively managing workflow, bottlenecks, and idle time
• Monitoring quality standards, first-time pass rates, and rework levels
• Maintaining strong on-the-floor presence to lead, direct, and motivate technicians
• Ensuring processes, standards, and timelines are consistently met
• Coordinating closely with Parts and Rectification teams to maintain vehicle flow
• Briefing and supporting late-shift technicians to ensure continuity of output
• Tracking KPIs including productivity, efficiency, utilisation, and quality
• Driving continuous improvement across people, process, and performance

Requirements as a Vehicle Preparation Manager:

• Proven experience in a senior technician, team leader, or workshop management role
• Strong understanding of PDI operations, vehicle prep flow, and workshop dynamics
• Confident leadership style with the ability to motivate and challenge technicians
• Comfortable managing standards, accountability, and performance
• KPI- and results-driven mindset
• Organised, decisive, and resilient in a fast-paced environment
• Full UK driving licence (essential)
• Level 2 qualification in Vehicle Maintenance principles (required)
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a senior technician or workshop management role

What’s On Offer for the Vehicle Preparation Manager:

• Competitive salary with performance-related bonus linked to output, quality, and efficiency
• Clear progression opportunities within a growing, long-established business
• Ongoing leadership and management development
• Workplace pension (auto-enrolment)
• Employee discounts
• On-site canteen
• Free on-site parking
• Supportive but performance-focused working culture

If you are interested in hearing more about this Vehicle Preparation Manager job in the Derby area, please contact Lewis Fagen at Perfect Placement Today.

Perfect Placement are specialists in Automotive Recruitment. So if you are looking for a New Job in the Motor Trade, be sure to contact our team today.