Regional Operations Manager - Activate Accident Repair

As the Regional Operations Manager for the London Region, you will lead, manage, and develop your regions AAR sites, ensuring strong financial performance and consistent delivery of operational objectives.

Operational & Financial Performance:

• →Deliver and exceed budgeted financial targets for your region.

• →Ensure all sites meet agreed KPIs, SLAs, and operational performance standards.

• →Plan resources effectively in line with budgets and forecasts for each site.

• →Maintain strong workflow control and capacity planning across all locations.

• →Review performance dashboards and KPIs consistently, identifying shortfalls and implementing robust recovery plans.

• →Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, championing initiatives that enhance quality, efficiency, and cost control.

• →Work collaboratively with centralised teams to achieve required performance levels, including Activate Parts, Finance and Engineering.

• →Support other regions where required, sharing best practice for the benefit of the wider group.

Leadership & People Development:

• →Provide direct line management to Bodyshop Managers within your region.

• →Conduct regular site visits to implement change where needed and communicate financial and operational goals.

• →Coach, develop, and support Bodyshop Managers through regular 121s, objective setting, and ongoing feedback.

• →Foster a highly engaged workforce, using Group engagement survey data to drive meaningful action plans.

• →Promote a positive, collaborative culture that reflects the “One AAR” business goal.

• →Recognise and celebrate excellent performance using Group recognition schemes and local engagement initiatives.

• →Work closely with the People Team to embed key people processes, including absence management, performance improvement, conduct and standards, talent management, and succession planning.

• →Build strong working relationships across Activate Group, demonstrating a collaborative, supportive approach.

Systems, Processes & Compliance:

• →Work with the in-house team to develop and enhance the Onyx Bodyshop Management System to drive operational excellence and improved reporting.

• →Ensure operational processes, controls, and procedures are consistently applied across all sites.

• →Oversee Health & Safety requirements, ensuring policy compliance, audit performance, and swift corrective action where needed.

• →Lead BSI Kitemark activities where required.

• →Encourage a culture of continuous improvement by promoting operational consistency and supporting teams to adopt new and improved ways of working.

Customer Experience:

• →Ensure exceptional customer service across all sites, driving high levels of customer satisfaction.

• →Manage customer complaints promptly and professionally, carrying out root cause analysis and implementing corrective action.

• →Communicate openly and effectively with internal and external stakeholders to support excellent customer outcomes.

• Proven experience leading and managing high-performing teams within a Bodyshop or vehicle repair environment.

• Demonstrated ability to build a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

• Strong organisational skills with a logical, methodical approach to problem-solving.

• Ability to explain technical issues clearly to non-technical colleagues or customers.

• Proven ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

• Strong customer focus with a track record of delivering service that exceeds expectations.

• Strategic thinker able to balance daily operational priorities with longer-term business goals.

• Multi-site or field-based management experience (preferred).

At Activate Group, we want everyone to have the tools and support they need to do their best work. We’re an innovative business that continuously reviews and improves our systems, processes and ways of working, making sure they support our teams to do their jobs effectively.

Every role at Activate Group is aligned to our wider business vision and purpose – making someone’s bad day better. You’ll understand how your role contributes to the bigger picture and how your work helps deliver excellent outcomes for customer and partners.

We believe work should be enjoyable. We make time to celebrate success, recognise achievements and bring people together at team events and company-wide celebrations. We’ll also support your ongoing development through regular feedback and career planning.

Whether you’re based in one of our contact centres in Halifax, Peterborough or Huddersfield, working at an Activate Accident Repair (AAR) site, or working from home, you’ll be part of a supportive culture where people are encouraged to succeed.

Activate Group is a fast-growing business approaching 1,000 team members nationwide.

We work with some of the UK’s largest fleets and insurance companies, supporting drivers that have been involved in road incidents through our contact centres in Halifax, Peterborough and Huddersfield.

We manage every step of the repair journey - repairing vehicles at our own Activate Accident Repair (AAR) body shops, as well as through a UK-wide network of trusted independent repair partners.

We also work with the UK’s largest vehicle manufacturers, supporting their approved repair programmes, and deliver innovative technology solutions to fleets, vehicle repair centres and dealerships.

Our purpose underpins everything we do: Make someone’s bad day better

Our values define how we work with our team members, customers and suppliers:

• Make it happen – Be accountable. Take the initiative, work fast, and do a great job.
• Strive for better – Be bold. Challenge the norm - make small improvements often.
• Win together – Be a team player. Win together, learn together, respect each other.