Front Office Assistant

Position Title: Front Desk Assistant
Location: Caruso Ford Collision Center
Address: 3500 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
Employment Type: Full-time

About Us

Caruso Ford Collision Center has been serving Long Beach since 1982 with a commitment to superior customer service. We operate a state-of-the-art body shop, factory-certified for Ford & Lincoln, use advanced equipment, and provide a lifetime warranty on repairs and paint work. We're looking for a professional, friendly Front Desk Assistant to help reinforce our brand of excellence by providing outstanding service to our guests at the collision repair center.

Job Summary

The Front Desk Assistant is the first point of contact for guests entering the Collision Center. You will greet customers, answer phone calls, schedule appointments, process check-in/check-out, manage rental car coordination, and assist with administrative tasks. You'll act as the face of the operation, ensuring a welcoming, organized, and efficient experience for every guest. This is a part time position with 30 hours a weeks anticipated.

Key Responsibilities

· Greet and welcome customers as they arrive at the Collision Center, both in person and via phone.

· Answer and route calls professionally, take messages, and assist with general inquiries.

· Schedule appointments for vehicle inspections, estimates, repair work, and follow-ups using the shop's system.

· Check in vehicles: collect customer/vehicle information, insurance details, damage description, photo documentation.

· Check out vehicles: review completed work with customers, process documents, arrange payments, explain warranties.

· Coordinate rental car pick-up/drop-off logistics (on-site rental agency) and liaise with insurance companies as needed.

· Maintain clean, organized front desk area and waiting room; ensure customer comfort (refreshments, seating, etc.).

· Assist with administrative tasks: data entry, filing, scanning, ordering office supplies, preparing customer correspondence.

· Communicate with body shop technicians, estimators, parts department and service advisors to keep customers informed of repair status.

· Uphold dealership brand standards for customer service, professionalism and appearance.

· Comply with all safety, warranty, OEM parts usage and shop-policy procedures. Caruso Ford

· Perform other duties as assigned by the Collision Center Manager.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

· Office environment at the front desk of the collision repair facility; may occasionally walk the shop floor or vehicle lot.

· Must be able to sit for extended periods, stand intermittently, walk short distances, handle light administrative materials.

· Some exposure to vehicle noise, smells, and dust typical of an auto body repair shop; appropriate PPE and safety orientation provided.

· Occasional overtime or weekend work may be required based on shop needs or customer scheduling.

· High school diploma or equivalent.

· Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to handle phone and face-to-face customer interaction with composure and professionalism.

· Excellent customer-service orientation; friendly, proactive, organized.

· Basic computer/office skills: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), appointment scheduling software.

· Ability to multitask: answer phones, assist walk-ins, coordinate rental logistics, handle paperwork.

· Valid driver's license (for rental vehicle coordination) and ability to drive/coordinate as necessary.

· Reliable attendance and punctuality; ability to work the indicated schedule and occasionally adjust as needed.

Preferred:

· Previous experience in an auto body repair shop, dealership service department or collision center front desk role.

· Familiarity with insurance vendor processes, rental car coordination, OEM parts ordering.

· Bilingual in English and Spanish (beneficial for our customer base).

· Passion for the automotive industry and commitment to quality repair standards.

· Be part of a long-standing, respected collision repair center with a strong reputation for quality (since 1982) and factory certification.

· Work in a professional, team-oriented environment where customer service is valued highly.

· Opportunity for growth: front-desk → service advisor/estimator → management roles in collision repair operations.

· Competitive pay and benefits (to be detailed during interview).