Preparation Centre Manager

Location: On site / Wolvercote, Oxford, UK
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Automotive | General
Salary: Negotiable salary

Reporting to: Service Manager

Hours: 47.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 8:00am–6:00pm

Basic Salary: £40,000 per annum

OTE: £45,000 per annum

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and highly organised Preparation Centre Manager to join our team and take responsibility for the efficient day-to-day operation of our vehicle preparation centre.

Reporting directly to the Service Manager, you will oversee the preparation and movement of new and used vehicles, ensuring they are completed to the highest standards and within agreed timescales. You will work closely with our Sales, Service, Parts, Bodyshop and Administration teams to ensure vehicles progress smoothly through the preparation process and are ready for our customers when promised.

This is a hands-on, fast-paced role that requires excellent organisation, communication and attention to detail, together with a strong understanding of vehicle preparation and dealership operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the preparation of new and used vehicles, ensuring work is completed on time and to the required quality standards.
• Carry out, or oversee, the taking of used vehicle sales photographs, ensuring vehicles are presented professionally for advertising.
• Manage and oversee the battery charging calendar for all stock vehicles, ensuring vehicles are maintained and ready for use.
• Maintain all vehicle parking zones within the Preparation Centre, ensuring vehicles are correctly positioned, easily identifiable and safely parked.
• Oversee the arrival of new vehicles from the manufacturer and ensure any transport damage is identified, recorded and reported promptly.
• Oversee the collection and movement of vehicles from the Preparation Centre, ensuring all required security systems and procedures are followed.
• Maintain an effective vehicle information and management system, tracking the location, status and progress of every vehicle throughout the preparation process.
• Liaise closely with Sales, Service, Parts, Bodyshop and Administration teams regarding vehicle progress and completion dates.
• Ensure QMA-related quality processes and standards are consistently maintained.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, vehicle turnaround times and overall standards within the Preparation Centre.
• Maintain a clean, safe, organised and professional working environment.

About You

The successful candidate will be a confident and organised automotive professional who can manage multiple priorities in a busy environment. You will ideally have:

• Previous experience within an automotive dealership, vehicle preparation centre, workshop or similar environment.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to liaise effectively with multiple departments.
• A strong eye for detail and a commitment to maintaining high vehicle preparation and presentation standards.
• The ability to monitor and manage multiple vehicles and deadlines simultaneously.
• Good IT and administration skills, with the ability to maintain accurate vehicle records and management systems.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to react quickly when priorities change.
• A strong understanding of health, safety, security and quality procedures.
• The ability to work effectively under pressure while maintaining high standards.

The Person We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who takes pride in getting things done properly. You will be comfortable taking ownership, managing deadlines and communicating with colleagues across the business.

If you have a strong automotive background, excellent organisational skills and the drive to ensure every vehicle leaves the Preparation Centre on time, to specification and presented to the highest standard, we would like to hear from you.