East Coast Service Manager

About VDI Australia Group

VDI Australia Group is the exclusive national distributor for IVECO trucks and Yutong buses, offering vehicles and parts to a varied range of industries. As an Australian-owned, family-run business, it maintains a national presence with locations including Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Cairns.

Role Overview

In response to business growth, the company seeks an East Coast Service Manager to oversee and lead workshop operations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Cairns locations. The role entails national leadership responsibilities focusing on maintaining uniform standards in safety, quality, productivity, and compliance throughout the eastern seaboard workshops. This senior position combines hands-on technical expertise with operational leadership, working closely with site leaders, service and parts teams, and the National Compliance team to align operations with WHS legislation, original manufacturer standards, and regulatory guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure all workshops comply with WHS laws, SWMS and JSA protocols, lock-out/tag-out processes, PPE policies, and heavy vehicle regulations.
• Verify vehicles, equipment, tooling, and facilities adhere to necessary safety, licensing, manufacturer, and regulatory standards.
• Provide national supervision of workshop productivity, labour efficiency, and overall performance metrics.
• Develop and uphold consistent workshop procedures, operational standards, and disciplines at all sites.
• Lead, mentor, and develop site leadership, supervisors, technicians, and apprentices.
• Assess workforce capabilities, staffing levels, and skill mixes, recommending recruitment, training, and succession planning as needed.
• Identify and coordinate training requirements, collaborating with the National Compliance team and approved training providers.
• Offer practical, on-site operational leadership to assist site leaders with workflow, resources, technical issues, and safety challenges.
• Ensure accurate job allocation, time tracking, and workflow management utilizing Pentana and other systems.
• Monitor labour usage, efficiency, and rework rates, initiating corrective measures where appropriate.
• Oversee timely completion of repair orders, warranty documents, and technical records.
• Contribute to operational and financial reporting concerning productivity, labour recovery, warranty performance, and cost control.
• Champion and actively promote a zero-harm safety culture within all workshops.
• Ensure proper maintenance and safe use of workshop tools, hoists, lifting equipment, and diagnostic systems.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across national workshop operations.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support operational success.

Experience and Qualifications

• Proven experience in service management or senior technical leadership in heavy vehicle environments.
• Comprehensive understanding of heavy vehicle systems and diagnostic techniques.
• Familiarity with Pentana or similar workshop management software.
• Strong grasp of workshop productivity metrics, labour efficiency, and operational reporting.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in mentoring and developing technical teams and apprentices.
• Well-versed in WHS obligations, compliance standards, and heavy vehicle regulations.
• Capability to combine strategic oversight with hands-on operational involvement.
• Willingness to perform duties outside core trade activities if required.
• Qualifications in Compliance and Risk Management (Certificate IV or equivalent) are advantageous.
• Work Health and Safety qualifications (Certificate IV or Diploma) preferred.
• Experience cooperating with central compliance teams to implement site-level assurance processes is beneficial.
• Possession of MR or HR driver’s license is a plus.
• Forklift license is considered an advantage.

Why Work With VDI Australia?

This role offers a significant opportunity to influence workshop operations on a national scale while staying closely connected to the hands-on workshop environment. VDI Australia invests strongly in its people and leadership talent, providing access to up-to-date facilities, progressive systems, and tooling. The collaborative and values-driven leadership team supports ongoing professional development and capability growth.

Company Values

VDI Australia is guided by its core principles: Dedication, Responsibility, Innovation, Value, Excellence, and Nurture. These values shape the organization’s support for employees, customers, and community involvement.

Diversity and Inclusion

VDI Australia embraces equal opportunity employment and promotes diversity and inclusion throughout its workplaces.