General Sales Manager

VonDerAu Ford El Campo Texas

VonDerAu Ford is seeking an experienced driven and highly accountable General Sales Manager (GSM) to lead our sales operation. The GSM is responsible for the overall performance and profitability of the dealerships new and pre-owned vehicle departments while developing a sales team that delivers an exceptional customer experience.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who understands that long-term dealership success requires balancing volume gross profit inventory management expense control customer satisfaction and employee development.

The General Sales Manager will work closely with the Dealer Principal and other department managers to achieve dealership objectives while maintaining the values reputation and customer-first culture that have made VonDerAu Ford successful.

• Direct and oversee all new and pre-owned vehicle sales activities.
• Establish monthly and annual sales objectives and develop strategies to achieve them.
• Manage the sales desk and assist with deal structuring negotiations trade evaluations and closing opportunities.
• Monitor sales volume front-end gross back-end opportunities closing ratios lead response and overall department profitability.
• Conduct regular sales meetings and one-on-one performance reviews with sales personnel.
• Hold the sales team accountable for follow-up prospecting appointments CRM utilization and customer retention.
• Maintain an active presence on the showroom floor and become involved when management assistance can help close a sale or improve the customer experience.
• Develop a culture focused on urgency accountability teamwork professionalism and continuous improvement.

• Manage new and pre-owned vehicle inventory to maintain the proper mix supply and aging.
• Work with dealership leadership to establish appropriate inventory levels and turn objectives.
• Monitor aging inventory and develop pricing and merchandising strategies to move vehicles before they become a profitability or cash-flow problem.
• Assist with acquiring pre-owned inventory through trades customer purchases auctions and other appropriate sources.
• Accurately appraise trade-in vehicles using current market data vehicle condition reconditioning requirements and dealership sales history.
• Maintain disciplined used-vehicle pricing based on market position days in stock cost and expected gross.
• Monitor wholesale inventory and ensure vehicles designated for wholesale are sold promptly.
• Work closely with the service department to ensure timely and cost-effective reconditioning of pre-owned vehicles.
• Assist in managing Ford vehicle allocation ordering dealer trades and inventory planning.

• Structure deals to maximize reasonable dealership gross while maintaining competitiveness and customer satisfaction.
• Review discounts trade allowances incentives rebates and deal structure for accuracy and profitability.
• Maintain consistent pricing and negotiation practices throughout the sales department.
• Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure smooth deal turnover and maximize legitimate finance and protection-product opportunities.
• Monitor departmental expenses and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Review daily weekly and monthly sales performance against budget and established objectives.

• Ensure every sales opportunity is properly entered managed and followed through the dealership CRM.
• Monitor internet leads phone leads showroom traffic unsold prospects and previous customers.
• Establish expectations for response times follow-up frequency appointment setting and long-term prospect management.
• Review lead performance by salesperson and source to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Work with dealership leadership and marketing partners to develop effective advertising digital marketing promotional and inventory merchandising strategies.
• Ensure online vehicle listings pricing photos descriptions and merchandising accurately represent dealership inventory.

• Maintain a high level of customer satisfaction throughout the sales and delivery process.
• Personally assist with difficult customer situations and work toward fair and timely resolutions.
• Ensure customers receive professional vehicle demonstrations transparent deal presentations and thorough deliveries.
• Maintain strong Ford customer satisfaction and experience metrics.
• Develop processes that encourage repeat business referrals and long-term relationships with VonDerAu Ford customers.

• Recruit train coach and retain high-quality sales professionals.
• Establish clear expectations and measurable performance standards for every member of the sales team.
• Develop salespeople in product knowledge prospecting CRM usage negotiation closing customer service and Ford technology.
• Ensure sales personnel maintain required Ford certifications and training.
• Identify underperformance quickly and establish clear improvement plans.
• Recognize and develop high-performing employees for future leadership opportunities.
• Foster cooperation between Sales Finance Service Parts and Accounting.

• Ensure sales activities comply with dealership policies and all applicable federal state and local regulations.
• Maintain accurate deal documentation and ensure deals are properly completed before being submitted to Accounting.
• Ensure proper handling of customer information and adherence to dealership privacy and information-security procedures.
• Maintain high ethical standards in advertising negotiations trade appraisals financing presentations and customer communications.
• Protect the reputation and long-term interests of VonDerAu Ford in every transaction.

Performance will be evaluated using a balanced scorecard that may include:

• New vehicle sales volume
• Pre-owned vehicle sales volume
• Retail market share
• Front-end gross profit
• Total gross profit per retail unit
• Used vehicle inventory turn
• Average days in inventory
• Wholesale aging and losses
• Trade acquisition and appraisal performance
• CRM utilization and follow-up
• Lead response time
• Appointment set and show rates
• Lead and showroom closing ratios
• Customer satisfaction scores
• Ford certification and training compliance
• Salesperson productivity and retention
• Departmental expense control
• Overall sales department profitability

• Previous automotive sales management experience strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead motivate and hold a sales team accountable.
• Strong understanding of new and used vehicle retail operations.
• Experience with vehicle appraisals inventory management pricing and merchandising.
• Strong understanding of dealership financial statements and sales department profitability.
• Experience working with CRM DMS digital retailing and automotive market-pricing tools.
• Strong negotiation and closing skills.
• Excellent communication and customer-service skills.
• Ability to analyze performance data and make timely business decisions.
• Ford dealership experience is preferred but not required.
• Valid drivers license and acceptable driving record required.

The General Sales Manager at VonDerAu Ford is expected to operate as a leader coach and business managernot simply a desk manager.

The GSM should understand the financial impact of decisions involving pricing inventory trades advertising personnel and customer satisfaction. The successful candidate will take ownership of the departments results and proactively identify opportunities rather than waiting for direction.

We expect our General Sales Manager to lead by example treat customers and employees with respect communicate openly with dealership leadership and make decisions that support both todays objectives and the long-term success of VonDerAu Ford.

VonDerAu Ford is a family-owned dealership with deep roots in the El Campo and Wharton County community. Our success has been built on long-term relationships with our customers employees and community.

We believe in doing business with integrity accountability teamwork and a commitment to exceptional service. Our General Sales Manager should share those values and help build a sales organization that our employees are proud to be part of and our customers are comfortable returning to for generations.