Parts Controller (Bodyshop) Jobs

The Parts Controller in a bodyshop environment is the specialist responsible for sourcing, ordering, tracking and delivering all the parts and components required for the bodyshop's accident repair programme. This is a fundamentally different role from the dealership Parts Advisor who supplies a regular workshop from a stocked manufacturer parts range. The Bodyshop Parts Controller works from a daily repair programme that changes shape every morning - new vehicles arriving, repair scopes being revised following strip-down discoveries, insurer parts specifications constraining supplier choice, delivery lead times threatening to hold vehicles in the workshop past their estimated completion date - and must keep every repair job supplied with the right parts at the right time to protect the bodyshop's throughput and its customer satisfaction scores.

In an insurance-funded repair environment the parts sourcing decisions are rarely straightforward. Many insurers specify a parts hierarchy - new genuine manufacturer parts, new approved equivalent (AE) parts, green parts (recycled/salvage) - that the Parts Controller must follow accurately for each repair and each insurer's requirements. Sourcing the correct specification of part at the correct price point, confirming delivery to the workshop before the repair slot, and managing the returns and credits for parts that were superseded, damaged on delivery or no longer required following a repair scope change all require systematic, confident organisation and a working knowledge of the bodyshop supply chain that a general parts advisor role does not develop.

Venatu recruits Bodyshop Parts Controllers for permanent and contract roles across franchised dealer bodyshops, independent and network accident repair centres, multi-site bodyshop groups and insurance-approved repair facilities throughout the UK. This role sits within our car dealership recruitment division.

Who We Recruit For

We place candidates with:

• Franchised car dealer bodyshops with dedicated parts ordering functions
• Independent and network accident repair centres with high repair volumes
• Multi-site bodyshop groups with centralised or site-level parts control functions
• Insurance-approved and insurance-direct repair networks
• Fleet accident management businesses with repair programme parts coordination requirements

Roles We Place

• Parts Controller (Bodyshop)
• Bodyshop Parts Coordinator
• Bodyshop Parts Ordering Specialist
• Senior Parts Controller (Bodyshop)
• Parts Controller (Insurance Repairs)
• Bodyshop Parts and Logistics Coordinator

Who Can Apply

Strong Bodyshop Parts Controller candidates typically come from:

• Experienced Bodyshop Parts Controllers at accident repair centres or dealer bodyshops who want to move to a new employer, a higher-volume operation or an improved package
• Parts Advisors at franchised dealerships who want to move from workshop and retail parts supply into the bodyshop parts environment, where the sourcing complexity, insurer parts hierarchy management and delivery coordination create a more varied and operationally demanding role
• Bodyshop Administrators who have been handling parts booking-in, supplier contact and job card administration within an accident repair centre and want to step into a dedicated parts control role with full ordering and supplier relationship accountability
• Parts Administrators with strong ordering, DMS and supplier management experience who want to develop into the bodyshop environment, where their administrative precision is applied to the more complex multi-source parts procurement challenge of accident repair
• Motor factor or automotive parts distribution staff with experience of the aftermarket and non-OEM parts supply chain who understand how to source parts across multiple suppliers, manage credit accounts and return damaged or incorrect parts efficiently, and want to apply that supply chain knowledge in a bodyshop environment
• Estimators or Damage Assessors who have deep knowledge of the parts required for a wide range of repair types and insurer parts specifications, and want to move into a parts coordination role that sits adjacent to their existing expertise

Familiarity with bodyshop management systems including BodyShop Online, Audatex (Solera) or GT Motive is valued, as is experience with the electronic parts catalogues used to identify the correct manufacturer or approved equivalent part number for each repair. An understanding of insurer parts hierarchy requirements - genuine, approved equivalent and salvage - and the audit trail required by insurance-approved repairer schemes is a specific and highly valued competency in this role. Venatu confirms the systems and insurer network requirements with each employer before presenting candidates.

Bodyshop Parts Controller Salary Guide

Venatu benchmarks total package expectations with each employer before beginning a search. Visit the HR Hub for broader context on bodyshop support and parts function remuneration.

What the Role Involves

Parts Ordering and Sourcing:

• Receiving the daily repair programme from the Bodyshop Controller or repair planner, reviewing each job's parts requirement from the estimate and identifying all parts to be ordered for each vehicle's repair slot
• Identifying the correct part number for each required item using the bodyshop's electronic parts catalogue, Audatex parts integration or manufacturer parts identification system, confirming the part fits the specific vehicle variant before placing the order
• Sourcing parts in accordance with the insurer's parts hierarchy specification for each repair - identifying where genuine manufacturer new parts are required, where approved equivalent parts are acceptable and where green or salvage parts have been specified - and placing orders with the appropriate supplier in each category
• Managing relationships with multiple suppliers simultaneously including the manufacturer franchise parts supply, approved equivalent parts distributors, salvage and recycled parts suppliers and specialist trim or glass suppliers, ensuring credit terms, ordering processes and return policies are clearly understood and applied

Delivery Coordination and Workshop Supply:

• Tracking all open parts orders against the planned repair schedule, identifying any delivery that is at risk of arriving after the vehicle's planned repair slot and escalating or chasing the relevant supplier to protect the repair programme
• Receiving delivered parts, checking them against the order for correct part number, quantity, condition and specification before booking them in and allocating them to the correct job card in the bodyshop management system
• Communicating parts status updates to the Bodyshop Controller and repair planner at regular intervals, flagging any outstanding parts that will delay a vehicle's progress through the repair programme and providing a revised delivery expectation
• Delivering parts to the workshop at the correct stage of each repair - ensuring MET Technicians, Panel Beaters and refit technicians have the parts they need when they need them, without parts being delivered to the wrong job or going missing before they reach the repair bay

Returns, Credits and Audit:

• Managing the return of incorrect, damaged or surplus parts to suppliers, processing credit claims in line with each supplier's returns policy and following up on outstanding credits to ensure the bodyshop's parts account is accurately maintained
• Maintaining a complete and auditable record of every parts order, delivery, credit and return associated with each repair job - providing the documentation trail required by insurance company audits, manufacturer-approved repairer scheme reviews and internal financial reconciliation processes
• Identifying where the strip-down has revealed additional parts requirements not included in the original estimate, raising the supplement request with the Estimator or Bodyshop Advisor and placing the additional order once authorisation is confirmed

How the Process Works

For employers:

1. Submit a vacancy with the repair volume, insurer networks operated for, parts systems in use and the degree of non-OEM and salvage parts sourcing involved.
2. We confirm candidate availability and present a pre-screened shortlist within five working days.
3. Candidates are assessed for bodyshop parts sourcing experience, insurer parts hierarchy knowledge, systems competency and delivery coordination capability.
4. Interview and offer supported by Venatu throughout.

For candidates:

1. Register your CV with your parts experience, bodyshop or accident repair background, systems knowledge and preferred employer type and geography.
2. A Venatu consultant will review your background and contact you directly.
3. Roles are matched to your parts specialism, preferred bodyshop type and geography.
4. Venatu manages the process and advises on package expectations ahead of offer.

Browse current vacancies or create a job alert to be notified when relevant roles become available.

FAQ

What is a Bodyshop Parts Controller and how does the role differ from a Parts Advisor? A Bodyshop Parts Controller is specifically responsible for sourcing, ordering, tracking and delivering all parts required for the bodyshop's accident repair programme. Unlike a Parts Advisor at a franchise workshop who primarily supplies known parts from a stocked range, the Bodyshop Parts Controller works with a daily-changing repair programme, manages multiple supplier types simultaneously - including genuine, approved equivalent and salvage parts sources - and must coordinate deliveries against repair slots to protect throughput. The insurer parts hierarchy management dimension makes the bodyshop role distinctly more complex than standard workshop parts supply.

What is an insurer parts hierarchy and why does it matter for the Bodyshop Parts Controller? Many insurers specify a parts sourcing hierarchy for funded repairs - requiring the repairer to use new genuine manufacturer parts for certain components, approved equivalent (AE) non-OEM parts where available and approved for specific categories, and salvage or green parts from recycled vehicles where specified. The Bodyshop Parts Controller must source parts in accordance with the specific insurer's requirements for each repair, maintain the documentation to demonstrate compliance with the hierarchy and manage the quality checking of non-genuine parts on receipt. Failure to follow an insurer's parts specification accurately can result in claim supplements being rejected or approved repairer status being reviewed. Venatu confirms the insurer network requirements with each employer before presenting candidates.

What systems does a Bodyshop Parts Controller use? Common systems include BodyShop Online or equivalent bodyshop management systems for job tracking and parts allocation, Audatex (Solera) or GT Motive for estimate-integrated parts identification and ordering, electronic parts catalogues for manufacturer and supplier parts identification, and the bodyshop's chosen non-OEM and salvage parts supplier platforms. Microsoft Office tools are a universal requirement for communication and reporting. Venatu confirms the specific systems used with each employer before presenting candidates.

What does a Bodyshop Parts Controller earn in the UK? Experienced Bodyshop Parts Controllers typically earn between £28,000 and £38,000. Senior Parts Controllers at high-volume or network operations earn between £32,000 and £46,000. Venatu benchmarks package expectations with each employer before beginning a search.

What is the progression from Bodyshop Parts Controller? Common progression routes include Senior Bodyshop Parts Controller, Parts Supervisor, Bodyshop Controller and Bodyshop Manager. Parts Controllers who develop a thorough understanding of the insurer repair and parts audit environment, strong supplier relationship management skills and an understanding of the bodyshop's repair programme management process are well positioned for broader operational roles within the accident repair sector. Read about how industry-level supply chain events affect parts availability and bodyshop operations in What The Stellantis Recall Means For Recruiters.

Register or Enquire

Candidates - Register your CV with your parts experience, bodyshop or accident repair background and insurer parts hierarchy knowledge. Venatu will match you to current Bodyshop Parts Controller vacancies across franchised dealer bodyshops, accident repair centres and bodyshop networks, including roles not publicly advertised. Browse live vacancies or create a job alert.

Employers - Submit a vacancy or visit the client hub to discuss your Bodyshop Parts Controller requirements. Our team will respond within one working day.