Job Title: Garage Manager / Lead Panel Beater & Spray Painter
Location: Wallsend, Newcastle Upon Tyne
The Opportunity
We’re a small, family-run auto body shop in Wallsend looking for a rare hybrid: a fully qualified Panel Beater who holds (or is actively working towards) relevant managerial qualifications and wants to step up and run the garage with us.
This isn't just about prepping and spraying, this is a leadership role. We need someone who can lead by example on the tools, while taking full ownership of the workflow, staff, profitability, and the quality of every job that leaves our unit.
The Role (Hands-On & Leadership)
Bodywork & Spraying (The Trade)
- Carry out advanced panel beating, panel replacement, and structural repairs to a flawless standard.
- Lead all spraying work: automotive refinishing, precise colour matching, and expert final finishing.
- Operate and maintain spray guns, booths, compressors, and drying equipment to keep downtime to a minimum.
- Be the "go-to" troubleshooter for complex paint and alignment issues.
Workshop Management (The Business)
- Plan & Prioritise: Schedule daily jobs, manage material ordering, and balance the workflow to hit customer deadlines without cutting corners.
- Lead the Team: Supervise, train, and mentor junior staff and apprentices setting the standard for quality and work ethic.
- Financial Oversight: Keep a tight grip on paint and material usage to reduce waste, flag cost-overruns early, and actively look for ways to improve speed and profitability.
- H&S Compliance: Take full accountability for health and safety across the workshop floor, ensuring the team works in a clean, tidy, and legally compliant environment.
Customer & Commercial Support
- Act as the key point of contact for customers, confidently discussing repair plans, finishes, and realistic timeframes.
- Take charge of estimates, job cards, and booking management to ensure accurate pricing and smooth handovers.
What We’re Looking For (The Non-Negotiables)
- Trade Proven: Solid, verifiable experience as a Panel Beater with comprehensive spray-painting skills (water-based and solvent systems).
- Colour Expertise: Exceptional colour-matching ability and an obsession with finish detail.
- Managerial Qualifications: You must hold a relevant management or leadership qualification (e.g., IMI Diploma in Management, NVQ Level 4/5 in Leadership & Management, or a proven track record as a Garage Foreman with formal business training). We need someone who understands labour efficiency, margins, and team motivation.
- Communication: Confident speaking with customers on the phone and in person—you represent the brand.
- Character: Reliable, tidy, proud of your work, and able to lead by example, not just by instruction.
Why Join Us?
Because we’re small, your voice matters. You won’t be a number on a corporate spreadsheet; you will have real strategic input into how we run the shop and how we grow.
- Autonomy: You’ll have the freedom to implement your own systems and manage the floor your way.
- Reward: We offer a competitive base salary plus a performance/profitability bonus - when the garage runs efficiently under your leadership, you benefit directly.
- Longevity: We want a long-term partner in the business, not just a pair of hands. If you prove yourself, there is a clear path to even greater responsibility (and rewards).
Hours & Pay
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm (some overtime during busy periods).
- Salary: £35 000– £45 000 (negotiable based on trade experience and management credentials) + performance bonus structure.
- Location: Wallsend, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
How to Apply
If you are a fully qualified Panel Beater who has the qualifications and the drive to run a successful workshop floor, we want to hear from you. Send us your CV and a brief note on how you’ve managed a team or workshop before, and we’ll arrange a face-to-face interview.
Pay: £35,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
