Workshop Manager Specialist, Performance & High-End Vehicles | Auckland

Workshop ManagerSpecialist, Performance & High-End Vehicles | Auckland

This isn't your typical Workshop Manager role.

Thorne Automotive Solutions is recruiting on behalf of a privately owned, highly specialised Auckland automotive business working with an extraordinary mix of performance, JDM, classic, prestige and rare vehicles.

We're looking for someone who loves cars—but, more importantly, someone who loves solving problems.

You could be dealing with a straightforward workshop job one minute and the next be working out how to source a highly specialised component for a rare vehicle where the answer isn't sitting in a conventional parts catalogue.

Some of the vehicles passing through this environment are exceptionally valuable. That means technical understanding matters—but so do judgement, care, organisation, presentation and knowing when to call on a specialist.

The Role

This is approximately 70% workshop management, coordination and administration and 30% hands-on mechanical work.

You'll take ownership of the day-to-day workshop operation and the vehicles moving through it.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing workshop workflow and vehicle priorities
• Scheduling and coordinating internal and outsourced work
• Carrying out hands-on servicing, repairs and mechanical work where appropriate
• Diagnosing faults and determining the best approach to a job
• Deciding what should be completed internally versus by specialist external providers
• Sourcing unusual and sometimes difficult-to-find parts locally and internationally
• Developing relationships with specialist suppliers and contractors
• Managing vehicle arrivals, inspections and dispatch
• Ensuring vehicles are prepared and presented to an exceptional standard
• Monitoring job progress, costs and turnaround
• Maintaining accurate workshop and vehicle records
• Quality-checking completed internal and external work
• Maintaining a clean, organised and safe workshop

Who We're Looking For

We're deliberately keeping the brief broader than a conventional Workshop Manager search.

You may be a qualified automotive technician ready to step away from being permanently on the tools.

You could already be running a workshop.

Or you may be an exceptionally capable automotive all-rounder whose practical knowledge and problem-solving ability extend well beyond your formal job title.

What matters is that you are:

• Technically credible and mechanically capable
• Passionate about interesting, performance and specialist vehicles
• Mature, responsible and trustworthy
• Highly organised
• Calm under pressure
• A lateral thinker who enjoys solving unusual problems
• Resourceful when a part or solution isn't immediately available
• Confident dealing with suppliers, specialists and contractors
• Comfortable working with extremely valuable vehicles
• Particular about presentation and attention to detail
• Able to communicate professionally with customers and management
• Happy to roll your sleeves up when required
• Someone who takes ownership rather than passing problems on

A trade qualification is highly regarded, but equivalent hands-on automotive experience and demonstrated technical capability will also be considered.

NZ or Australian Residency is a must. A full current New Zealand driver's licence is required.

Why This Role?

Because you'll get exposure to vehicles most automotive professionals simply don't encounter in an ordinary workshop.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys the unusual—the difficult job, the rare component, the specialist supplier, the vehicle requiring research and lateral thinking.

You won't simply manage technicians and a diary.

You'll be expected to facilitate, investigate, source, coordinate, solve and deliver.

Permanent | Full-time | Monday–Friday | Auckland

Applications are being managed confidentially by Thorne Automotive Solutions.

If this sounds like you—or you've spent your career thinking your automotive capability is broader than your job title suggests—we'd particularly like to hear from you.

Pay: $35.00 – $39.00 per hour

Work Location: In person