Area Manager

Location: Massachusetts | Field-Based / Multi-Location
Job Type: Full-Time | Exempt
Salary: Starting at $75,000, based on experience
Travel: Frequent travel between assigned locations

About the Role

We are partnering with a well-established and growing automotive service organization seeking an Area Manager to oversee a group of high-volume service locations within an assigned market. This is a field-based leadership position where you will spend the majority of your time working directly with Store Managers, evaluating operations, developing leaders, solving problems, and driving financial and operational results.

If you have successfully managed multiple locations in automotive services, quick lube, retail, QSR, hospitality, car wash, tire/service centers, or another high-volume service environment, this could be an excellent opportunity to advance your leadership career.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide operational oversight for multiple service-center locations.
• Coach, develop, and hold Store Managers accountable for business and people performance.
• Conduct regular store visits to evaluate operations and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Drive sales growth, profitability, labor productivity, customer satisfaction, and operational execution.
• Review store-level P&Ls, KPIs, labor results, staffing levels, and other performance metrics.
• Develop action plans to improve underperforming locations and ensure consistent follow-through.
• Recruit, retain, and develop high-performing Store Managers and leadership teams.
• Identify high-potential employees and build a strong pipeline of future leaders.
• Ensure stores are appropriately staffed to support customer demand and business goals.
• Maintain high standards for store appearance, cleanliness, equipment, inventory, and operational readiness.
• Champion a fast, friendly, professional, and consistent customer experience.
• Coach teams on customer engagement, service recovery, and ethical sales practices.
• Manage labor and controllable expenses while protecting service levels and profitability.
• Ensure proper inventory controls, cash-handling procedures, and loss-prevention practices.
• Maintain strong safety standards and ensure compliance with company, OSHA, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with HR and other support teams on staffing, employee relations, training, facilities, and operational initiatives.
• Communicate business performance, staffing needs, risks, and opportunities to senior operations leadership.
• Help Store Managers successfully implement new programs, processes, and company initiatives.

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive operations leadership experience.
• Multi-unit management experience strongly preferred.
• Proven experience leading and developing managers across multiple locations.
• Strong understanding of P&L management, labor management, operational KPIs, and profitability.
• Demonstrated ability to improve business performance and turn operational data into actionable plans.
• Strong coaching, leadership, communication, and performance-management skills.
• Experience recruiting, developing, and retaining strong teams.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment.
• Willing and able to travel frequently between assigned locations.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings or weekends based on business needs.

Preferred Experience

Candidates coming from the following environments are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Automotive service
• Quick lube / oil change
• Tire and automotive repair
• Car wash
• Multi-unit retail
• Quick-service restaurants (QSR)
• Hospitality
• Other high-volume, multi-location service businesses

Automotive experience is beneficial but not required. Strong multi-unit leadership, people development, operational execution, and financial management experience are the priorities.

What Success Looks Like

Successful Area Managers consistently improve:

• Sales and revenue growth
• Store profitability
• Labor productivity
• Customer satisfaction and retention
• Transaction growth
• Staffing and employee retention
• Store Manager performance
• Leadership bench strength
• Safety performance
• Training and certification completion
• Inventory and loss control
• Overall operational execution

Pay

Starting at $75,000, based on experience