Service Manager – Hydrovac, Vacuum Truck & Pressure Wash Equipment
Company: Canvac Systems Inc.
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Position: Full-Time, Permanent
About Canvac Systems
Canvac Systems Inc. is a specialized equipment repair and sales company serving the hydrovac, vacuum truck, industrial cleaning, and pressure washing industries. We provide mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and pressure wash system repairs, along with custom equipment installations and system builds.
We are looking for an experienced, organized, and accountable Service Manager to oversee all service work coming through our repair facility.
Position Overview
The Service Manager is responsible for managing the complete service process—from the initial customer request and equipment intake through diagnosis, estimating, scheduling, repair, quality control, invoicing, and customer follow-up.
This position requires a strong understanding of equipment repair operations, excellent communication skills, and the ability to coordinate technicians, customers, parts, vendors, and deadlines.
The successful candidate will ensure that repairs are completed safely, efficiently, profitably, and to Canvac’s workmanship standards.
Key ResponsibilitiesService Operations
- Manage all service work entering the hydrovac, vacuum truck, and pressure wash repair facility.
- Review incoming service requests and establish the required scope of work.
- Coordinate equipment inspections, diagnostics, repair estimates, and customer approvals.
- Prioritize and schedule jobs based on urgency, technician availability, parts availability, and customer commitments.
- Assign work to technicians based on experience, qualifications, and workload.
- Monitor jobs throughout the repair process and address delays or technical issues.
- Ensure work orders contain accurate technician notes, labour hours, parts, materials, outside services, and repair details.
- Coordinate outside repairs, fabrication, machining, mobile service, and subcontracted work when required.
- Maintain an organized workflow and help reduce equipment downtime for customers.
Customer Communication
- Act as the primary point of contact for service customers.
- Provide professional and timely updates regarding diagnostics, estimates, approvals, repair progress, delays, and completion dates.
- Explain repair recommendations clearly and accurately.
- Obtain customer authorization before completing additional work outside the approved scope.
- Address customer questions, concerns, warranty matters, and service-related complaints.
- Build long-term customer relationships based on responsiveness, honesty, and dependable service.
Estimating and Financial Performance
- Prepare accurate repair estimates using expected labour, parts, materials, subcontracting, and shop costs.
- Review estimates and completed work orders for accuracy and profitability.
- Monitor labour efficiency, technician productivity, job costing, rework, and service department gross profit.
- Identify additional required repairs and legitimate service opportunities.
- Ensure all completed work is properly documented and invoiced promptly.
- Work with management to establish service pricing, labour rates, productivity targets, and departmental performance goals.
- Assist with warranty claims, vendor credits, customer purchase orders, and outstanding service documentation.
Technician Leadership
- Provide daily direction and support to service technicians.
- Set clear expectations regarding productivity, workmanship, documentation, communication, safety, and shop cleanliness.
- Conduct regular job-status reviews and technician meetings.
- Help technicians troubleshoot difficult mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and pressure wash system problems.
- Identify training needs and coordinate technical development.
- Support technician recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, and corrective action when required.
- Promote a respectful, accountable, and team-oriented work environment.
Parts and Job Coordination
- Work closely with the parts department to identify and source required components.
- Confirm that parts are ordered correctly and available when needed.
- Monitor backorders and communicate any resulting schedule changes.
- Help manage parts allocated to active jobs.
- Ensure customer-owned components and removed parts are properly identified and stored.
- Coordinate special-order items, freight, vendor support, and technical information.
Quality Control and Safety
- Review completed repairs before equipment is released.
- Ensure appropriate testing is completed and documented.
- Confirm that safety-critical systems have been inspected and repaired correctly.
- Reduce comebacks and rework through effective supervision and quality-control procedures.
- Ensure technicians follow company policies, safe work procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Maintain an organized, professional, and safe repair facility.
- Report and investigate service-related incidents, equipment damage, and quality concerns.
Equipment and Systems Serviced
Experience with some or all of the following would be beneficial:
- Hydrovac and hydro-excavation trucks
- Industrial vacuum trucks
- Combination sewer cleaning trucks
- Vacuum pumps and blowers
- High-pressure water pumps
- Industrial pressure washers
- Hot-water pressure wash systems
- Hydraulic systems
- Pneumatic systems
- Electrical and electronic control systems
- Diesel and gasoline engines
- PTO and driveline systems
- Hose reels, valves, tanks, and water systems
- Boilers, burners, and heating systems
- Custom equipment installations and fabrication
Qualifications
- Previous experience in service management, shop management, foreman, lead technician, or equipment repair operations.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and practical understanding of equipment diagnostics and repair.
- Experience with heavy trucks, hydrovac equipment, vacuum equipment, pressure wash systems, hydraulics, or related industrial equipment is preferred.
- Ability to manage multiple active jobs and changing priorities.
- Strong leadership, organization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to prepare and review repair estimates and work orders.
- Understanding of labour efficiency, job costing, gross profit, and service department performance.
- Comfortable working with customers, technicians, suppliers, and company management.
- Proficiency with computers, email, service management software, and Microsoft Office.
- Valid driver’s licence and a clean driving record.
- Relevant trade certification or technician experience is an asset but not mandatory.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is:
- Highly organized and able to maintain control of a busy service schedule.
- Mechanically knowledgeable and comfortable discussing technical repairs.
- Direct, professional, and confident when communicating with customers and technicians.
- Focused on quality workmanship and accurate documentation.
- Able to make decisions and take ownership of service department results.
- Calm and effective when dealing with urgent repairs, unexpected problems, and competing priorities.
- Commercially aware and capable of balancing customer service with productivity and profitability.
- Willing to be involved in day-to-day operations rather than managing exclusively from an office.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Performance-based compensation opportunity.
- Full-time, permanent employment.
- Company benefits.
- Paid vacation.
- Company-provided tools and technology required for the position.
- Specialized equipment and technical training.
- Opportunity to lead and develop a growing service department.
- Stable work environment with a well-established customer base.
- Direct involvement in the growth and improvement of the company’s service operations.
Schedule
- Monday to Friday.
- Day shift.
- Some overtime or after-hours communication may occasionally be required for urgent customer situations.
How to Apply
Please submit your résumé along with a brief explanation of your experience managing technicians, repair work, customers, and service department operations.
Canvac Systems Inc. appreciates all applications; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Canvac Systems Inc. is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Accommodation is available upon request throughout the hiring process.
Pay: $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
