How to hire a body shop manager

How to hire a body shop manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step body shop manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a body shop manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new body shop manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a body shop manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect body shop manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of body shop managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Body Shop Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Body Shop Manager		$25-52
   Maintenance Technician Supervisor	A maintenance technician supervisor is responsible for monitoring the facilities within the company premises, including office equipment and machinery, ensuring performance efficiency for smooth daily operations. Maintenance technician supervisors may perform troubleshooting for defective equipment, call for repairs, or replace the items as needed... Show more	$14-25
   Maintenance Superintendent	A maintenance superintendent works in the oil and gas industries. They are based offshore, overseeing a rig concerning these facets mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and telecommunication... Show more	$23-58

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Dealership
   • Customer Service
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Insurance Adjusters
   • Repair Orders
   • Safety Procedures
   • Quality Standards
   • Repair Process
   • OEM
   • Collision Repair
   • Insurance Claims
   • Customer Complaints
   • Repair Estimates
   • Inventory Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Meet with QC and conduct walk through to ensure that a sign-off on finish product is achieved.
   • Manage and operate custom restoration shop for existing bodyshop.
   • Coordinate and assign jobs to technicians and manage timekeeping procedures for payroll.
   • Complete quality estimates for DRP programs utilizing ADP and CCC.
   • Programme CNC machine to bend desire angles.
   • Provide new and used vehicles to all area Chevrolet customers.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your body shop manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A body shop manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, body shop managers' average salary in south dakota is 53% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level body shop managers 53% less than senior-level body shop managers.
   • Certifications. A body shop manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a body shop manager's salary.

   Average body shop manager salary

   $76,262yearly

   $36.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level body shop manager salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a body shop manager job description

   A body shop manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a body shop manager job description:

   Body shop manager job description example

   Leading the future in luxury electric and mobility
   At Lucid, we set out to introduce the most captivating, luxury electric vehicles that elevate the human experience and transcend the perceived limitations of space, performance, and intelligence. Vehicles that are intuitive, liberating, and designed for the future of mobility.
   
   We plan to lead in this new era of luxury electric by returning to the fundamentals of great design - where every decision we make is in service of the individual and environment. Because when you are no longer bound by convention, you are free to define your own experience.
   
   Come work alongside some of the most accomplished minds in the industry. Beyond providing competitive salaries, we're providing a community for innovators who want to make an immediate and significant impact. If you are driven to create a better, more sustainable future, then this is the right place for you.
   
   We are currently seeking a Manager - Body Structures. The body structures group is responsible for product engineering from studio to launch. The manager will lead the team of design engineers and integrate all simultaneous engineering requirements of the body structure of current and future Lucid products.
   
   This position requires an experienced professional with in-depth technical expertise in structures, body performance indicators, materials, joining technologies, structural adhesives, fasteners, and corrosion in combination with high performance team management skills. Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches his or her work with vigor and determination. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in their respective fields, to possess the ability to learn quickly and to strive for perfection within a fast-paced environment.
   
   Role:Lead a world-class body structure engineering team Interface with suppliers, product data management, supply chain, manufacturing and other internal and external partners Drive the engineering of structures with a focus on structural performance, weight, cost, timing, feasibility, package, and other simultaneous engineering factors Work with CAE and testing teams Engineer body structures for world class crash, NVH, and durability performance Expand the team to take on future Lucid Motors programs
   Qualifications:Demonstrated experience as a detail-oriented manager with technical depth and breadth Full program cycle experience from concept to production launch in automotive field Expertise in and understanding of materials and processes commonly used in automotive body structure applications Flexibility and ability to adapt to achieve success in a fast-paced startup environment Profound knowledge of structural engineering and demonstrable track record of technical excellence and program execution Exceptional technical abilities paired with outstanding communication skills Over 5 years of experience in a relevant technical role Over 3 years of experience leading teams of engineers Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering or related discipline A strong desire to create the very best product, working as an integral part of a very capable team A practical hands-on approach to complement engineering fundamentals and management skills
   #ACHP
   #LMHP
   
   At Lucid, we don't just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.
   
   Notice regarding COVID-19 protocols
   At Lucid, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, and friends above all else. In response to the novel Coronavirus all new Lucid employees, whose job will be based in the United States may or may not be required to provide original documentation confirming status as having received the prescribed inoculation (doses). Vaccination requirements are dependent upon location and position, please refer to the job description for more details.
   
   Individuals in positions requiring vaccinations may seek a medical and/or religious exemption from this requirement and may be granted such an accommodation after submitting a formal request to and the subsequent review and approval thereof by our dedicated Covid-19 Response team.
   
   To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our careers alias or other Lucid Motors employees. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right body shop manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your body shop manager job on Zippia to find and recruit body shop manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit body shop managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new body shop manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect body shop manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new body shop manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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