Parts Manager Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a parts manager. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a parts manager.
Who is a Parts Manager?
A parts manager is someone who is employed in the automobile industry to be in charge of keeping track of the company’s parts and supplies inventory.
Asset tracking, phase procurement, and customer service are simply a few of the obligations that parts managers have.
When present elements or components run out, parts managers may be in charge of ordering new ones. This consists of figuring out viable suppliers and negotiating with them to achieve the fine charge for anything the organization needs.
A Parts Manager is responsible for assisting the parts department with technological, legal, inventory control, and supplies alternate issues. The parts supervisor is in charge of the components inventory database and the operations of the components team.
A parts manager can appoint sales and advertising and marketing capabilities to supplement his or her income in addition to promoting components to customers. The organization’s dealership’s managers normally report to the parts managers.
Furthermore, parts managers ensure that their personnel operates in a safe and clean environment and that they adhere to all company policies and procedures.
Although professional skills do not appear to be required for the job, part managers typically have extensive experience in the automotive industry. Similarly, a high faculty certificate or similar instructional history is frequently required for this position. In most cases, previous automotive parts are necessary, but management skills are not. Parts managers must have outstanding customer service, managerial, and verbal abilities, as well as the capacity to guide a team.
Parts Manager Job Description
Below are the parts manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a parts manager job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The following are just a few of the tasks of a parts manager:
- Recruiting, overseeing, and training personnel in the parts department.
- Recommending alternative suppliers that can offer parts at a lower cost or of higher quality.
- Ensuring that inventory is taken on a regular basis, and orders are placed when necessary.
- Assuring the accuracy of all papers associated with each task, such as invoices, shipping manifests, and purchase orders.
- Ensuring that supplies are delivered on time.
- Handling customers who have difficult or time-sensitive issues.
- Supporting production teams in speedily delivering orders.
- Assuring that staff maintain a safe and clean environment and adhere to all company policies.
- Creating component processes that are appropriate for both internal and external clients.
- Organizing and overseeing your team’s schedules.
- Maintaining a list of the materials that will be required.
- Interpreting technical drawings and diagrams to establish the optimal part requirements
- Monitoring the delivery of requested parts.
- Monitoring and assigning work to team members.
- Ensuring that any inconsistencies in all purchase orders must be identified and resolved.
- Maintaining positive relationships with customers and suppliers.
- Assuring that customers receive excellent service and are satisfied.
- Ensuring that customer concerns must be handled promptly and in compliance with the dealership’s procedures.
- Developing and coordinating marketing strategy for on-sale items.
- Assuring the creation of monthly and yearly sales parts reports.
- Following and enforcing all of the rules and regulations set forth by the company.
- Maintaining relationships with vendors to ensure timely delivery of high-quality, low-cost products.
- Ensuring that internal business customers receive the same high-quality service as external consumers.
- Monitoring the current client base and offering suggestions on how to attract new customers while maintaining a high level of customer happiness.
- Developing numerous merchandising strategies, keeping track of all physical parts inventories, and overseeing all parts return processes.
- Conducting training to ensure that all members of the sales and production teams are well-versed in sales and inventory procedures, as well as attending all team meetings.
Qualifications
This professional path necessitates the following qualifications:
- A high school diploma or a GED certificate is required.
- Considerable automotive industry expertise, such as working as a mechanic, auto body technician, or automobile salesperson.
- Experience in management or leadership.
- Interpersonal and customer support skills are required.
- Knowledge of how to use a computer.
- Excellent team leadership skills.
- Excellent product knowledge as well as administrative and organizational skills.
- Excellent analytical skills to enable proper decision-making.
- Self-driven, with a high level of accountability, initiative, and enthusiasm.
- Ability to multitask, prioritize, and successfully manage time.
- Ability to convince and motivate a group to achieve important goals.
Essential Skills
To be successful as a parts manager, you must be able to have the following skills:
- Ability to Communicate:
Parts managers communicate with their employees and customers on a regular basis. Your communication talents can be put to good use by assisting your team in understanding corporate regulations and relaying information to them. You can also use your communication skills to assist clients by responding to their questions and offering the data they require.
- Ability to Sell:
Parts managers need sales skills, whether they handle sales themselves or supervise a staff of parts sales executives. To increase sales, they must be able to identify prospects, set prices, negotiate discounts, and execute promotions. They must be able to develop skills and product knowledge, encourage executives, and design incentive packages that provide outcomes if they lead a sales force.
- Decision-making:
You’re a good parts manager if you can pick the best option out of two options. Part managers are in charge of determining which parts to order and in what quantities. This involves a thorough understanding of the company’s sales and production goals, as well as the needs of its customers. By making informed judgments, parts managers can save money and ensure that their business has the parts it needs.
- Product Expertise:
One of the most crucial talents for people who want to start a career in this field is product expertise. You must be able to recognize the correct component for every work as a Parts Manager. More importantly, your ability to stay up with this field of employment may be put to the test. Your ability to keep up with the changes in automobile requirements as well as any relevant part changes keeps you relevant in this field.
- Raw Material Procurement ability:
Parts managers must be knowledgeable in raw material procurement in order to reduce costs and maintain the quality of their parts suppliers. Original equipment manufacturers, component providers who sell parts that are interchangeable with original spares, and low-cost replacement part vendors are all included. Parts managers use their experience to assess the quality of items from vendors and use their bargaining skills to get the best deals.
- Problem-solving skills:
This is one of the most important abilities that employers look for in job candidates. Parts managers are usually tasked with resolving issues that arise throughout the day. The conflict process entails detecting the issue, developing a remedy, putting those thoughts into action, and assessing their effectiveness. The parts manager may be relied upon to come up with an alternative if a client requests a part that the organization does not have on hand. This could entail hunting for a new replacement or locating a way to obtain the item from a different vendor. Parts managers need problem-solving skills to understand why a mistake is happening and how to fix it.
- Inventory Management:
Inventory management abilities and understanding of computerized stock control systems are among the responsibilities of a parts manager. Parts managers must be able to predict sales to both individual and corporate clients. Similarly, as a parts manager, you should be able to forecast demands based on service and repair department physical performance. You must keep enough stock on hand to meet internal dealership demand and finish servicing or repair jobs on time. However, you must weigh this against the costs of stockpiling extra products
- Customer Service:
Customer service is the process of serving current and potential customers by responding to questions, resolving problems, and providing excellent service. Parts Managers must have great customer service in order to resolve client issues and foster commitment. Similarly, as a Parts Manager, you aim to build strong relationships with customers so that they can increase and secure long-term revenue. Your ability to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction so that customers return for their next purchase is key for you to be successful in this career path.
- Organization skills:
Organization skills have to do with the ability to utilize available resources efficiently and effectively. Organizational skills are regularly used by parts managers to keep a record of supplies and place fresh orders. Employee schedules, invoices, and other key paperwork can all benefit from good organizational abilities.
- Operational Expertise:
Because parts supplies are large and complex, organized management abilities are necessary. Parts managers need operational expertise especially when it comes to establishing efficient processes for tracking incoming and outgoing parts, as well as keeping track of warranties, returns, and defective parts. Moreover, Parts managers also oversee the activities of team members and therefore should have the capacity to build industry standards in the parts team to ensure seamless operation of the business.
- Leadership Abilities:
As a parts manager, managing your team members is one of your responsibilities. To put it another way, you can use your leadership abilities to assign responsibilities and encourage your team to finish their work in an effective and efficient manner. Leadership skills can help you motivate and encourage your team to attain their complete capacity.
How to Become a Parts Manager
By earning the necessary experience and honing your business skills, you can work your way up to become a parts manager. However, you can follow the steps below to become a parts Manager:
- Education:
The first step in beginning a career path is to earn the required education in that field. For entry-level parts manager positions, a high school diploma or GED certificate is frequently required. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a similar discipline, such as business or supply chain management, may be preferred by some employers.
- Training & Experience:
Many parts managers learn their role’s particular policies and procedures on the job through training and experience. This role may necessitate a few years of training, which include shadowing existing parts managers or other employees in similar positions.
Computer systems, inventory management, and customer service methods are frequently covered in training.
Parts supervisors, in particular, may have worked as parts, or sales representative in a previous role. These positions provide practical learning in customer service and auto parts knowledge. Other industries, such as manufacturing or construction, may also have experience with parts managers. Depending on the industry you wish to work in, you’ll require different levels of experience. Employers want applicants with at least two to five years of sales or purchasing experience.
- Certifications & Licenses:
Many parts managers pursue certifications in this career path though it is not mandatory. This is done in order to improve their skills and raise their income throughout their entire life.
- Become a member of a professional group:
Parts managers can consider joining an association or group that might assist you in networking and improving your résumé. National Ag Retailers Association, National Association of Equipment Dealers, and Regional Equipment Dealer Associations are just a few of the organizations you can join.
Where to Work as a Parts Manager
Auto dealerships, auto and truck repair shops, construction industries, and parts stores are all places where parts managers work. As a part manager, you may also work for auto component manufacturers or distributors.
Your major role working in these places is to ensure that mechanics have the replacement parts they need to execute maintenance and repairs on clients’ vehicles.
Parts Manager Salary Scale
Salary for parts managers varies depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the size and industry of the organization. In the same vein, parts managers may also be paid commissions and bonuses in addition to their regular salary.
According to payscale.com, an entry-level Parts Manager with less than 1 year of experience can expect to make an average total compensation of $39,827 (including tips and bonus). A Parts Manager in their early career with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total pay of $43,631. The average total income for a mid-career Parts Manager with 5-9 years of experience is $49,867. An experienced Parts Manager with 10-19 years of experience, on the other hand, earns an average total compensation of $53,834. Employees with a long career (20 years or more) get an average total salary of $56,464.