General Manager in Tuscumbia, Alabama at Singing River Toyota

The General Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, profitability, growth, and customer satisfaction of the dealership. This role provides strategic direction and operational oversight for all dealership departments, including Sales, Finance & Insurance, Service, Parts, and Administration. The General Manager is accountable for achieving financial objectives, maximizing customer retention, developing high-performing teams, and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.

The ideal candidate is a proven automotive leader with extensive dealership management experience, strong business acumen, and a track record of driving profitable growth while fostering a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and exceptional customer service.

Responsibilities

Leadership & People Development

• Provide leadership, direction, coaching, and mentorship to all department managers and dealership staff.

• Recruit, hire, develop, and retain top-performing employees across all departments.

• Conduct regular performance evaluations and establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures.

• Foster a positive workplace culture focused on teamwork, professionalism, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.

• Lead regular management meetings to review performance, objectives, operational challenges, and growth opportunities.

• Develop succession plans and support employee training and career advancement initiatives.

Financial Management

• Assume full responsibility for dealership profitability and overall financial performance.

• Analyze and manage departmental profit and loss statements to ensure financial goals are achieved.

• Develop annual operating plans, sales objectives, expense budgets, forecasts, and growth strategies.

• Review daily, weekly, monthly, and annual financial reports and implement corrective actions when necessary.

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across all departments to maximize revenue, profitability, and operational efficiency.

• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.

Operations Management

• Oversee all dealership operations to ensure efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

• Collaborate with department leaders to establish short-term and long-term business objectives.

• Ensure dealership processes and operating procedures are consistently followed.

• Evaluate market conditions and develop strategies to increase market share, customer retention, and revenue growth.

• Maintain appropriate inventory levels that align with customer demand and market conditions.

• Identify opportunities for operational improvement and implement best practices throughout the organization.

Sales & Fixed Operations Performance

• Support sales and fixed operations leadership in developing and executing strategies to achieve departmental goals.

• Drive excellence in vehicle sales, service operations, parts performance, F&I products, and customer experience.

• Review sales performance, productivity metrics, service absorption, gross profit, and other operational measurements.

• Implement initiatives that improve customer loyalty, retention, and service profitability.

• Ensure departments operate collaboratively to maximize dealership performance.

Customer Experience

• Promote a customer-first culture throughout the dealership.

• Monitor customer satisfaction metrics and implement action plans for continuous improvement.

• Resolve escalated customer concerns and serve as the final authority in customer dispute resolution.

• Build and maintain strong relationships within the community, customer base, and business partners.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and industry standards.

• Maintain dealership adherence to company policies, manufacturer requirements, and ethical business practices.

• Promote workplace safety and ensure compliance with all safety policies and procedures.

• Manage risk through proper internal controls and operational oversight

Business Development & Strategic Planning

• Develop and execute short-term and long-term growth strategies.

• Assess market trends, competitive activity, customer preferences, and emerging industry developments.

• Partner with marketing teams to develop effective advertising, branding, and customer acquisition initiatives.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with financial institutions, vendors, business partners, and industry stakeholders.

• Drive innovation and continuous improvement throughout dealership operations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Review and approve compensation plans, incentive programs, and staffing structures.

• Participate in corporate meetings, business reviews, and strategic planning sessions.

• Complete additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5-10 years of progressive automotive dealership leadership experience.

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a General Manager, General Sales Manager, Fixed Operations Director, or similar senior leadership role.

• Proven record of achieving revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction goals.

• Strong knowledge of dealership operations, including Sales, Service, Parts, Finance & Insurance, and Administration.

• Experience analyzing financial statements, budgets, forecasts, and key performance indicators.

• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Automotive Management, or a related field.

• Completion of NADA Dealer Academy, General Manager Program, or a comparable automotive leadership program.

• Experience leading high-volume automotive retail operations.

• OEM/manufacturer experience and familiarity with dealership performance standards.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building capabilities.

• Exceptional organizational and strategic planning skills.

• Advanced financial acumen with the ability to interpret profit and loss statements and dealership performance metrics.

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.

• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Knowledge of dealership management systems (DMS), CRM platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.

• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.

• In-depth understanding of automotive retail trends and market conditions.

• Ability to make sound business decisions while balancing customer, employee, and organizational needs.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Revenue growth and profitability.

• New and used vehicle sales performance.

• Fixed operations profitability and service absorption.

• Customer satisfaction and retention scores.

• Employee engagement, development, and retention.

• Compliance and operational effectiveness.

• Achievement of annual business plan objectives.

• Overall dealership growth and market share performance.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus performance-based incentives.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401(k) with company match (if applicable).

• Paid time off and holidays.

• Professional development and career advancement opportunities.

• Employee vehicle purchase program and dealership discounts.

This posting is intended to support ongoing talent acquisition across the ZT Automotive group. Qualified candidates may be considered for current or future opportunities based on experience, organizational fit, and business needs.