The Role
JOB PURPOSE
Ensures that repairs are performed correctly, safely, and efficiently by qualified technicians by planning and controlling workshop activities, allocating resources, enforcing standards, and driving continuous improvement. Accountable for quality of workmanship, turnaround times, accurate time and job recording, housekeeping, and compliance with Health & Safety requirements to maintain a consistently high level of operational and customer satisfaction.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Plan and coordinate daily workshop activities according to priorities and repair schedules; adjust plans for breakdowns, parts availability, deliveries, tooling, and staffing constraints.
- Assign work to technicians based on competence, job complexity, and capacity; provide job briefings and ensure understanding of scope, standards, and expected completion times.
- Provide technical support, diagnostics guidance, and escalation management to ensure correct fault-finding and first-time-right repairs.
- Oversee quality control (inspections, road tests/functional tests where applicable, rework prevention) and sign-off of completed jobs to required standards.
- Ensure technicians' daily/weekly repair orders are accurately stamped/clocked in and out; validate job cards, labour time, and supporting notes for completeness and auditability.
- Monitor productivity and efficiency; balance workloads to reduce idle time, optimise bay utilisation, and meet turnaround time commitments.
- Coordinate with parts/stores to ensure correct parts are identified, ordered/issued, and controlled; minimise parts returns, shortages, and delays.
- Enforce safe work practices, correct use of tools, machinery, lifting equipment, and PPE; conduct toolbox talks and ensure hazards/incidents are reported and addressed.
- Lead, coach, and develop technicians through on-the-job training, performance feedback, and skills matrix planning; support discipline and attendance management where required.
- Maintain high housekeeping standards (5S) and ensure workshop layout, storage, and waste handling support efficient and safe operations.
- Manage customer/service interface as applicable: provide job progress updates, explain technical findings, and support estimation/quotation inputs and approvals.
- Prepare and submit routine reports to management on throughput, WIP, productivity, quality, rework, safety, and resource constraints; escalate risks and bottlenecks timeously.
- Resolve conflicts, miscommunications, and workmanship disputes quickly and professionally to maintain team effectiveness and service quality.
Skills and Experience
JOB – RELATED REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications:
- Grade 12 (minimum)
- Qualified Diesel Mechanic (Trade Test/Red Seal equivalent)
- Valid driver’s licence
- Supervisory/management training (e.g., leadership, IR basics, safety) (recommended/advantage)
Experience:
- 5 – 8 years’ post-trade workshop experience (automotive / diesel environment)
- 2 – 3 years’ experience in a supervisory/leading-hand/foreman capacity
- Basic people management exposure (work allocation, coaching, discipline process support)
Required Knowledge:
- Extensive knowledge of vehicle systems (diesel engines, drivetrain, brakes, hydraulics/pneumatics, electrical, diagnostics)
- Workshop processes: job cards, estimating, labour allocation, WIP control, and scheduling
- Quality standards, inspection methods, and rework prevention
- Health & Safety requirements and safe work procedures applicable to workshop operations
- People management fundamentals (coaching, discipline processes, performance management)
Required Skills:
- Strong planning, organising, and prioritisation
- Technical troubleshooting and analytical fault-finding
- Leadership, coaching, and team motivation
- Clear written and verbal communication; conflict resolution
- Administrative accuracy (time recording, documentation, basic reporting)
Other
Required Competencies:
- Ability to work under pressure
- Action orientated and made quick calculated decisions
- High level of self-motivation
- Detail conscious
- High level of planning and organising skills
Job Reference: RTT77044
