General Manager / Head of Business

Salary/rate:£60,000 – £80,000
Type of work desired:Permanent
Desired work region:Greater Manchester
Relocation possible:No
Reason for leaving:Looking for a new Challenge
References on file:8828
Sector:General Manager/Dealer Principal
Post Date:February 11, 2026
Ref:8828
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Meet Our Recruiter

About Profile

General Manager / Head of Business

This candidate is an experienced General Manager and Head of Business with full site P&L responsibility and a proven record of turning underperforming operations into profitable, high-performing businesses. Operating at senior leadership level within a major automotive group, they bring strong commercial control, strategic planning capability and people-focused leadership.

They currently oversee a large used car supermarket operation with responsibility across sales, service and vehicle preparation functions. With accountability for over 200 colleagues and multiple direct reports, they combine operational oversight with hands-on leadership to drive performance, improve processes and enhance customer experience.

A key strength is business turnaround and profit recovery. They have successfully transformed a loss-making site into one of the group’s top performers, implementing structured review meetings, improving conversion processes, increasing per-unit profitability and strengthening team engagement. Their leadership has also reduced staff attrition significantly while maintaining budgeted profit delivery month on month.

Commercially astute, they manage high vehicle stock levels, optimise margin performance and embed strong health and safety standards across site operations. They are analytical in approach, regularly reviewing KPIs and P&L data to guide strategic decisions and deliver sustainable growth.

Key Experience & Strengths

General Manager / Head of Business within automotive retail
Full site P&L accountability
Business turnaround and profit recovery
Used car supermarket leadership
Operational performance improvement
Large team leadership and development
Stock control and margin optimisation
Customer experience and retention focus
People engagement and attrition reduction
Strategic planning and commercial decision making
Health and safety leadership (IOSH trained)
Stable and progressive career history
Full UK driving licence

What They’re Looking For

General Manager or Head of Business role
Main dealer or large-scale automotive retail environment

Salary Expectations

£60,000 – £80,000 basic salary plus bonus

Availability

4-week notice period

Location

Open to roles across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire

This candidate would be a strong appointment for a dealer group seeking an experienced automotive leader capable of full operational ownership, delivering profit improvement and building high-performing teams within the motor trade.

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