Bodyshop Team Leader
Location: Eastleigh Preparation Centre
Salary: OTE £60,000
Hours: Monday to Friday 8am-5.30pm
We're looking for an experienced Bodyshop Production Supervisor to lead the paint and repair team at our Eastleigh Prep Centre, driving throughput, quality, and consistency across the workshop floor.
You'll combine hands-on paint expertise with strong people management, ensuring every vehicle meets Carsa's quality standards while hitting daily production targets that keep stock moving into our branches.
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise day to day bodyshop operations at Eastleigh, allocating work across sprayers, panel beaters, and prep technicians to meet daily/weekly throughput targets
- Oversee paint quality control, colour matching, finish standards, and defect free sign off before vehicles move on to the next prep stage or branch
- Plan and manage workflow scheduling to minimise bottlenecks between strip down, panel repair, prep, paint, and polish stages
- Monitor productivity metrics (jobs completed, turnaround times, rework rates) and report against KPIs to the Prep Centre Manager
- Ensure compliance with health & safety regulations, COSHH requirements, and correct use of PPE/spray booth equipment
- Manage material and consumable stock levels (paint, primers, lacquers, abrasives) to avoid production delays
- Coach and develop bodyshop technicians, identifying training needs and supporting new apprentices within the Eastleigh team when on board
- Conduct quality checks and final inspections, resolving any comebacks or rework efficiently
- Liaise with the wider prep team (Workshop, Inspection/Condition Reports) and branch teams to keep vehicles moving through the pipeline
- Log job progress and outcomes accurately in CarsaNet, ensuring prep records are up to date for reporting and stock visibility
What We’re Looking For:
- Proven experience as a Bodyshop Supervisor, Paint Shop Supervisor, or Senior Paint Technician ready to step up
- Strong technical knowledge of automotive refinishing, waterborne/solvent-based paint systems, colour matching, spray booth operation
- Demonstrable track record of managing production schedules and hitting throughput targets in a high volume environment
- Solid understanding of bodyshop workflow (strip, repair, prep, paint, polish, QC)
- People management experience, able to motivate, coach, and hold a team accountable
- Working knowledge of health & safety and COSHH compliance in a bodyshop environment
- Comfortable using workshop/vehicle management software (CarsaNet training provided)
- Full UK driving licence
Desirable experience:
- City & Guilds / IMI qualification in Vehicle Refinishing or equivalent
- Experience with specific paint brand systems (e.g. PPG, Standox, Glasurit)
- Lean/production efficiency experience (5S, takt time, etc.)
- Experience working within a multi site used car reconditioning or fleet environment
Why Join Carsa?
- Stable, long-term opportunity in a growing automotive business
- Supportive team environment
- Birthday Day Off
- Increased holiday with length of service
- Life Assurance
- Critical Illness Cover
- Automatic Pension Scheme
About Carsa:
At Carsa, we’re transforming the UK car buying journey with a seamless, convenient, and affordable omni-channel experience. Our customers benefit from exceptional choice, great value, and a service they can rely on.
Our values guide everything we do:
- Customer-Centric Innovation – delivering value and convenience
- Innovation & Agility – shaping the future of automotive retail
- Collaboration & Integrity – stronger together
- Sustainable Growth & Responsibility – building for the long term
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: Up to £60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Referral programme
Experience:
- Bodyshop/ Paint Shop Supervisor or Senior Paint Technician: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
