Express Lane Area Manager
Reports To: Director of Express Lanes
Compensation: $70 - 80K + bonus
Background Required: 3+ years of multi-unit leadership experience with strong knowledge of Quick Lube / Express Lane operations
Headline: Sun Auto Tire & Service is the fastest growing, top-10 independent tire dealer in the US with 525+ stores operating under multiple brands. We've been nominated a "Best Place to Work" and are a leading provider of vehicle after-market tires and repair services. We are increasing our footprint rapidly through both organic growth and acquisitions and seek candidates who are looking for a long-term career path and capable of growing into roles of greater responsibility.
Position Summary
The Area Manager – Express Lanes leads operational consistency, people development, and Express Lane standards across a defined set of Express Lane locations. This role ensures predictable execution, strong cycle time, exceptional guest experience, staffing alignment, and safe, high-performing teams. The position will support up to 10 Express Lane locations.
A critical function of this role is creating, reinforcing, and sustaining a high-performing partnership between each Express Lane Service Manager (ELSM) and the full-line Store Manager. Express Lane success is inseparable from main-store success. The Area Manager ensures both leaders operate as one unified team, aligned on goals, communication expectations, guest flow, staffing plans, safety, and total-store performance.
The AM partners closely with Store Managers, District Managers, and ELSMs to uphold standards, reinforce workflow boundaries, protect Express Lane identity, and ensure strong execution across all sites.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Performance & Standards
- Own KPIs for assigned Express Lane locations (car count, DVIs, SRRs, cycle time, AT, guest satisfaction).
- Ensure adherence to Express Lane workflow boundaries and service standards.
- Conduct store walks, quality checks, and performance audits.
- Drive flawless SunPro/VAST execution, addressing workflow gaps quickly.
- Reinforce the Safety → Prevention → Performance operating model.
Full-Line Store Partnership & Total Store Alignment
- Build and maintain a strong operational partnership between each ELSM and the full-line Store Manager, ensuring both leaders operate as one team supporting the overall performance of the main store.
- Facilitate shared expectations on goals, communication rhythms, guest experience standards, safety practices, staffing alignment, and team culture.
- Support the Store Manager in identifying cross-store improvement opportunities while protecting Express Lane boundaries and workflow integrity.
- Ensure the Express Lane contributes positively to total-store performance by maintaining clear workload ownership, role clarity, and Express Lane identity.
People Leadership, Hiring & Development
- Lead hiring, onboarding, and role placement for all Express Lane team members.
- Provide structured weekly coaching and development for ELSMs and Leads.
- Set performance expectations; manage corrective action and evaluations.
- Build a strong leadership pipeline and maintain a safe, inclusive, high-accountability culture.
Training, Coaching & Quality
- Deliver coaching on DVI quality, SRR accuracy, safety practices, and workflow efficiency.
- Reinforce Express Lane SOP adherence and close training gaps quickly.
- Partner with L&D to support onboarding and continuing education.
Staffing, Scheduling & Workforce Planning
- Ensure schedules align with headcount models, throughput goals, and cycle-time expectations.
- Review weekly scheduling performance and labor alignment; course-correct as needed.
Guest Experience
- Monitor guest feedback and coach teams on hospitality, communication, and engagement.
- Ensure consistent execution of Sun360 guest experience standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with District Managers, RVPs, HR, Training, and Safety to resolve issues and maintain operational alignment.
- Escalate workflow boundary issues quickly and protect the Express Lane service model.
- Serve as the operational link between Express Lane, main-store teams, and field leadership.
Reporting & Accountability
- Provide clear weekly updates, KPI summaries, and action plans to the Director of Express Lanes.
- Track trends, perform RCAs, and maintain organized reporting on people and performance.
Qualifications
- 3+ years multi-unit leadership experience (can include multi-site influence, SME leadership, cross-store responsibilities, or district support roles).
- Clarification: Internal ELSMs may be eligible if they have demonstrable multi-site leadership impact or have supported multiple stores in a formal or informal capacity.
- Strong knowledge of quick lube / Express Lane operations.
- Proven ability to coach teams, manage performance, and drive consistent results.
- Strong communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution abilities.
- Experience with SunPro/VAST preferred.
What Success Looks Like
- High KPI performance across assigned locations.
- Strong, aligned partnerships between ELSMs and full-line Store Managers.
- Clear workflow boundaries upheld with fewer escalations.
- A healthy talent pipeline and reduced turnover.
- Predictable cycle time, throughput, and guest experience execution.
- Timely, accurate reporting and proactive issue resolution.
Benefits
At Sun Auto we recognize that benefits play a vital role in helping ensure the health and financial security of employees and their families. We offer a range of market-competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, and incentive bonus programs as well as:
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Health Savings Account with Company Contribution
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
- Paid Vacation and Sick Days
- Company Paid Life Insurance
- Company Paid Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
Sun Auto Tire & Service provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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