Experienced Senior Used Car Reconditioning Service Advisor

Senior Used Car Reconditioning Service Advisor ( Internal Service Writer)

Non-Exempt

Pay Range: $34.62-$43.27 per hour

Company and Service Department Overview:

Dalton Motors services Dalton Toyota National City, Dalton Subaru National City, and Dalton Hyundai National City and is located less than 20 minutes from most areas of San Diego. Founded in Guadalajara in 1945, Dalton Motors is a family owned and operated business with over 30 dealerships serving major manufacturers including Toyota, Subaru, Hyundai, and others. They are continuing the legacy of Frank Motors, an automotive and community presence since 1965.  We provide ongoing training all of our teams, and position specific training by our in-house trainer. Our various departments run very smoothly in large part due to our solid processes and trained, skilled staff, many of whom have been at our dealerships for twenty years or more.     

Position Summary:

The Senior Used Car Reconditioning Service Advisor is the central link between the Used Vehicle Sales and Service Departments, responsible for managing the full lifecycle of pre-owned inventory—from acquisition to frontline readiness.

This role drives efficiency, cost control, and quality by ensuring all vehicles are reconditioned quickly, correctly, and within budget. Success in this position directly impacts inventory turn, gross profit, and overall dealership performance.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Vehicle Intake & Initial Inspection

• Receive trade-ins, auction units, and acquired inventory
• Perform and document initial visual inspections
• Open and manage internal Repair Orders (ROs) in the DMS

Reconditioning Lifecycle Management

• Oversee all phases of recon, including:
• Mechanical repairs
• Safety inspections
• Recall verification
• Sublet/vendor services (body, glass, upholstery, etc.)
• Recommend repair scope and recon strategy to Used Car Management

Workflow & Production Coordination

• Prioritize vehicles to maximize shop efficiency and reduce downtime
• Monitor progress and proactively resolve delays or bottlenecks
• Ensure timely movement from intake → shop → front line

Cross -Department Communication

• Act as the primary point of contact between:
• Used Car Sales Managers
• Service Technicians
• Parts Department
• External vendors
• Provide consistent status updates and fast issue resolution

Cost Control & Estimating

• Prepare accurate repair and sublet estimates
• Manage recon spend to meet budget and profitability targets
• Balance cost vs. retail value decisions

Quality Assurance

• Perform final inspections before frontline release
• Ensure all vehicles meet dealership safety and retail standards
• Minimize comebacks and rework

Documentation & Systems Management

• Maintain detailed records of repairs, parts, and costs
• Utilize DMS systems (Reynolds & Reynolds, Dealertrack)
• Leverage recon tools (e.g., ReconVision) for tracking and reporting

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Turnaround Time: Days to frontline-ready
• Cost per Vehicle: Budget adherence
• Quality: Low rework/comeback rate
• Throughput: Volume and speed of recon completion

Minimum Qualifications

Experience, Education, or Skills Required:

• Experience: 3–5+ years in recon, service advising, or inventory coordination (senior-level preferred)
• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of automotive systems and repair processes
• Systems: Experience with DMS and recon software tools
• Communication: Clear, professional, and effective in fast-paced environments
• Organization: Proven ability to manage high-volume workflows with attention to detail

Licensing

• Valid driver’s license with clean record
• California DMV Verifier License (preferred/optional based on policy)
  
  

Dalton Motors Benefits:

• Full benefits 1st of the month after 60 days of employment including Health, Vision, & Dental Insurance 
• 401 (k) Plan 
• Paid Vacation
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Advancement Opportunities 

At Dalton Motors, we believe that a diverse workforce is a strength to be celebrated. We value  the unique contributions that you can bring to our team in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity,race, sex,gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans' status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.