Director Of Automotive Upfit

Description Director Of Automotive UpfitThis role owns the end-to-end performance of Spiffy's Van Factory—our physical production engine for mobile service. The Director is accountable for throughput, quality, cost, scalability of all upfit operations, including dealer vans and proprietary device assembly with some hands on mechanical assistance if needed.This is not a shop manager role. This is a production leader responsible for building a repeatable, high-quality manufacturing system that can scale from 10–15 vans/month today to 30+ vans/month with consistent margins and delivery timelines.The ideal candidate brings hands-on automotive mechanical experience—someone who has worked on vehicles at a technical level, understands how they're built and modified, and can credibly lead a team of skilled technicians from the shop floor up.What does success look like in the first 12 months of this role?Increase production capacity from ~15 ? 25+ vans/monthReduce labor hours per van by 15–25%Achieve >95% on-time deliveryReduce rework/defects by 50%+Establish fully documented, repeatable build processRequirements Mechanical Experience At least 5 years working experience as an Automotive Mechanic with a strong understanding of vehicle systems and components Proficiency in using diagnostic equipment and specialized tools.In-depth knowledge of automotive repair and maintenance techniques Production & ThroughputDeliver 10–15 vans/month with a clear path to 25–30+ vans/month without degradation in quality or marginOwn production scheduling, labor planning, and capacity modelingImplement standardized build processes, time standards, and work instructions Quaility & Standardization Establish and enforce a factory-level quality system (checklists, QA gates, sign-offs) Drive zero-rework culture; track defects per build and continuously reduce Ensure every van meets Spiffy brand, safety, and dealer delivery standards Cost & Margin OwnershipOwn upfit P&L: labor efficiency, materials cost, vendor pricing, and waste reductionDrive continuous improvement in unit economics (target: cost per van down, margin up)Manage vendor relationships and negotiate pricing for key component Iventory & Supply ChainBuild a reliable inventory and procurement system (no stockouts, no excess)Improve logistics: vehicle intake, staging, build flow, and outbound deliveryImplement basic MRP-style discipline appropriate for current scale Device Assembly & Light Manufacturing Oversee assembly of proprietary Spiffy devicesStandardize assembly processes and ensure consistent quality/outputIntegrate device production into overall factory workflow Team LeadershipLead and develop a 5-person team (mechanics + inventory/logistics)Build a high-accountability culture with clear daily/weekly production targetsHire and scale team as throughput increases Systems & Continuous ImprovementImplement lean manufacturing principles (5S, visual management, flow optimization)Establish KPIs and operating cadence:Vans completed per week/monthLabor hours per vanDefect/rework rateOn-time deliveryCost per unitDrive ongoing process improvements that enable scale without adding linear headcount Executive & Dealer InterfaceServe as the operational face of the factory to internal leadership and key dealer partnersProvide clear production forecasts, delivery timelines, and issue escalationBasic Qualifications5+ years in automotive operations, upfit, manufacturing, or production environments3+ years leading teams in a production or shop settingDemonstrated ownership of output metrics (throughput, quality, cost)Strong operational discipline with ability to build structure where it doesn’t existFinancial fluency: understands unit economics, labor efficiency, and cost driversHigh accountability leader—sets targets and consistently deliversPreferred QualificationsDirect experience in vehicle upfitting, fleet builds, or specialty vehiclesExperience scaling production from small batch to repeatable volumeLean manufacturing or Six Sigma exposureExperience working with dealer or OEM programsFamiliarity with light manufacturing or assembly environments