General Manager / Head of Business

Salary/rate:£60,000 – £85,000 basic salary plus bonus
Type of work desired:Permanent
Desired work region:Greater Manchester
Relocation possible:No
Reason for leaving:Fresh Challenge
References on file:8891
Sector:General Manager/Dealer Principal
Post Date:May 15, 2026
Ref:8891
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Meet Our Recruiter

About Profile

This candidate is a highly accomplished automotive General Manager with more than 15 years’ senior leadership experience overseeing dealership operations, profitability and strategic growth across high-volume automotive retail environments. Their background combines strong commercial awareness with extensive expertise in operational turnaround, team development and long-term business performance improvement within major dealership groups.

Throughout their career they have held full dealership P&L accountability across sales, aftersales, accounts and administration departments while consistently improving profitability, customer satisfaction and operational standards. Their experience includes managing large multi-department teams, implementing structured KPI management and driving sustained revenue growth across both new and used vehicle operations.

A major strength is their proven ability to transform underperforming dealerships into profitable, high-performing businesses. They have successfully led cultural change projects, implemented process improvements and introduced strong leadership structures that improved accountability, staff engagement and operational efficiency across multiple dealership sites.

They are highly experienced within financial forecasting, budget planning, working capital management and strategic operational reviews while maintaining excellent manufacturer standards and customer satisfaction performance. Their commercially focused leadership style combines strong analytical decision-making with hands-on coaching, mentoring and performance management across all areas of the business.

Alongside operational leadership, they also bring extensive experience around used vehicle strategy, aftersales performance, F&I reviews and customer complaint resolution. Their ability to work closely with senior stakeholders, divisional leadership teams and manufacturer partners has consistently delivered strong long-term commercial results.

Professional, driven and highly respected within the automotive sector, they are now looking for a General Manager or Head of Business opportunity within a progressive dealership group where they can continue driving profitability, operational excellence and team performance.

Key Experience & Strengths

General Manager and Head of Business experience
Full dealership P&L accountability
Operational turnaround and business transformation
Revenue growth and strategic business development
Financial forecasting and budget planning
Team leadership and staff development
New and used vehicle sales operations
Aftersales and working capital management
Customer satisfaction and complaint resolution
Process optimisation and performance improvement
Cross-functional dealership leadership
Multiple Chairman’s Award winner
Full UK driving licence

What They’re Looking For

General Manager or Head of Business role within a professional automotive dealership group

Salary Expectations

£60,000 – £85,000 basic salary plus bonus

Availability

4 weeks’ notice

Location

Looking for roles within up to 60 minutes of Altrincham

This candidate would be a strong addition to any dealership group seeking an experienced automotive leader with exceptional operational knowledge, strong commercial awareness and a proven track record improving profitability, customer satisfaction and long-term dealership performance within the motor trade sector.

motor trade jobs, automotive jobs, motor trade recruitment, automotive recruitment, general manager jobs, head of business jobs, dealership management recruitment, automotive leadership jobs

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Head of Business

£65,000 - £95,000 per annum
Head of Business leadership Head of Sales management Full dealership P&L responsibility Multi-franchise dealership operations Revenue growth and profitability improvement Business turnaround and performance improvement Sales and aftersales leadership Customer satisfaction and retention strategies Team development and succession planning Strategic planning and forecasting Manufacturer relationship management KPI and performance management Operational efficiency and process improvement Budget management and financial control Full UK driving licence

Business Manager

£50,000 - £65,000+ package
Business Manager experience Main dealer automotive sales background Finance and insurance sales expertise Prospecting and lead generation Customer relationship management Sales pipeline management FCA compliance and regulatory awareness Team leadership and coaching KPI and target achievement Negotiation and closing skills CRM systems and customer follow-up Exceptional customer service standards Full UK driving licence

General Sales Manager

£60,000 – £80,000 package
General Sales Manager experience Business Manager experience Prestige and volume main dealer background New and used vehicle sales leadership Team management, coaching and development FCA compliance and sales process control Finance and insurance performance management Prospecting and lead generation strategies Stock management and pricing optimisation Customer retention and CSI improvement Manufacturer KPI achievement CRM and dealership systems expertise Full UK driving licence

SMART Repair

£35,000 – £42,000 basic salary
10+ years’ SMART repair and paint experience SMART repair and cosmetic vehicle repairs Vehicle paint spraying and refinishing Minor dent and body panel repairs Polishing and vehicle detailing Accident repair centre experience Level 3 NVQ in Vehicle Refinishing Customer-facing workshop experience Workshop opening and closing responsibilities Strong attention to detail Excellent communication and teamwork skills Stable career history within automotive repair Full UK driving licence