Automotive General Manager

Kelleher Ford; Brandon; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation Support

Signing Bonus

Vehicle Purchase & Service Plans

Employee Assistance Program

Career development opportunities

National automotive network support

Job summary

Kelleher Ford in Brandon is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead the dealership, drive profitability, and develop a high-performing team. You’ll collaborate with senior leaders to steer operations, customer satisfaction and financial results across service, sales and parts.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic planning and a track record of building successful teams in a Ford or major automotive environment. Relocation support and a competitive package are possible.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirement: senior leadership experience in automotive dealership operations.
• Experience leading a management team in a Ford or major automotive environment is highly valued.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, expenses and financial performance.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction to the dealership management team.
• Set goals with department leaders and remove roadblocks to sustain performance.
• Lead with collaboration, accountability and open communication while upholding standards.
• Build strong relationships and foster a respectful, supportive work environment.
• Coach and develop leaders; identify opportunities for growth and succession.
• Monitor KPIs, profitability and operations; take corrective action as needed.
• Collaborate to improve efficiency, customer experience and financial performance.
• Maintain positive relationships with customers; resolve escalated concerns.
• Lead management meetings and encourage constructive challenge in decisions.
• Support the ongoing growth of the dealership's medium-duty truck business.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Budgeting & finance

KPIs & data-driven decisions

Customer relations

Team development & coaching

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Process improvement

MS Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Classification: Full Time, Immediate Hire

Kelleher Ford is proud to be a part of the AutoCanada dealership network. AutoCanada is the largest Canadian owned and publicly traded automotive dealer group operating in Canada and the US. We are innovative, data-driven and our commitment to our Team Members, customers and operational excellence fuels our success.

Our dealership Team Members are at the heart of our success, building long-lasting, trust-based relationships with customers across Canada. Our national network provides opportunities and support to build the career that’s right for you. Working here is fast-paced, non-stop, and a little unpredictable—and we love it.

What makes this opportunity unique:

This dealership offers an established operation with significant momentum already in place. Over the past several years, the business has undergone a major transformation, moving from a challenging operating environment to a strong, well-functioning dealership with a stable leadership team and a clear upward trajectory.

The incoming General Manager will be stepping into:

• An experienced management team, including long-tenured leaders across key departments
• A strong complement of technicians and experienced service personnel
• A well-trained and developing sales team
• A dealership that has significantly improved its profitability over the past two years
• A growing medium-duty truck business, including three- and five-ton trucks, representing an important and unique part of the operation
• A well-maintained, modern facility in a park-like setting
• A strong relationship with the manufacturer and the broader organization
• A team culture built around camaraderie, mutual respect, and supporting one another

The opportunity is not about rebuilding a dealership from the ground up. It's about taking an already successful operation, continuing to develop its people, and finding the next gear.

Your area of focus.

As General Manager, you will provide overall leadership and direction for the dealership, working closely with an experienced management team to drive operational performance, team development, customer satisfaction, and financial results.

This is an opportunity to join a dealership with strong momentum already in place. Over the past several years, Kelleher Ford has undergone significant positive transformation, with profitability and sales volume continuing to grow. The dealership has an experienced management team, a strong complement of technicians and service personnel, and a well-established operation.

The incoming General Manager will be responsible for building on this foundation, continuing to develop the team, identifying opportunities for growth, and taking the dealership to its next level.

What drives your day-to-day?

• Provide overall leadership, direction and support to the dealership management team and Team Members
• Partner with department leaders to establish goals, remove roadblocks and drive continued operational performance
• Lead through collaboration, accountability and open communication while maintaining appropriate standards and expectations
• Build strong relationships with managers and Team Members and create an environment where people feel supported and respected
• Coach, mentor and develop leaders while identifying opportunities for continued team growth and succession
• Monitor dealership performance, KPIs, profitability and operational results and take action where required
• Work closely with department leaders to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, customer experience and financial performance
• Maintain strong relationships with customers and be comfortable stepping in to resolve escalated customer concerns
• Foster a culture of accountability while treating Team Members with fairness, consistency and respect
• Lead effective management meetings and encourage open discussion and constructive challenge when decisions are being made
• Support the continued development of an experienced and long-tenured management team
• Ensure the dealership operates in accordance with company standards, manufacturer requirements and applicable safety requirements
• Maintain strong relationships with manufacturer partners, suppliers, customers and other key stakeholders
• Ensure the dealership's facilities, equipment and operations are maintained to a high standard
• Identify opportunities to further grow the dealership and build on its existing momentum
• Champion a healthy, safe, inclusive and positive workplace
• Lead by example and contribute to a culture where Team Members are proud of the business and the work they do
• Support the continued growth of the dealership's medium-duty truck business and identify opportunities to build on this area of the operation
• Other tasks as assigned

What are the must-haves…

• Previous experience as a General Manager or in a senior automotive dealership leadership role
• Previous experience working within a Ford dealership environment is required.
• Proven experience leading, developing and mentoring a management team
• Strong understanding of dealership operations, financial performance, budgeting and expense management
• Demonstrated ability to manage KPIs and use business performance data to drive decisions
• Strong understanding of sales, service and parts operations
• Previous experience working with a manufacturer partner; Ford experience is an asset, but experience with another major automotive manufacturer may be considered
• Experience leading a dealership with meaningful sales volume and operational complexity
• Excellent people management skills, including leadership, employee engagement, team development, coaching, mentoring and supervisory skills
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to act as a partner to department managers while maintaining appropriate accountability
• Ability to work effectively with experienced and long-tenured Team Members
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, diplomacy, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills
• Ability to handle challenging customer situations professionally and confidently
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to manage priorities, perform a variety of tasks and meet required deadlines and targets
• A person of high integrity, maturity and professionalism who is trusted by others and consistently honors their commitments
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated and resourceful
• Results-driven and career-focused individual with an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong desire to build on existing success
• Ability to recognize opportunities for growth while maintaining a strong existing culture
• Strong working knowledge of standard office software, including Microsoft Office
• Must possess a valid driver's license and a safe driving history

Experience with medium-duty trucks or commercial and agricultural customers would be considered a strong asset.

The Perks.

• Competitive Compensation and Benefits Package
• Relocation Support: Relocation expenses may be provided to help make your move to Brandon as seamless as possible.
• Signing Bonus: A signing bonus may be available as part of the overall compensation package for the successful candidate.
• Employee Vehicle Purchase & Service Plans
• Employee and Family Assistance Programs
• Company-wide appreciation events and contests throughout the calendar year
• Professional development and the opportunity to grow your career
• The support, resources, training and knowledge of a national automotive organization

And those are just the basics. We strive every day to create a workplace culture that embraces diversity and inclusivity, ensures fairness and equal opportunities, and fosters a sense of belonging for all Team Members. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively support everyone in expressing themselves and reaching their full potential.

More than a job. It's an opportunity to build on something great!

The community offers the best of both worlds: a welcoming, close-knit lifestyle with many of the amenities you would expect from a larger city.

With approximately 50,000 residents, the community offers a more relaxed pace of life without sacrificing access to restaurants, shopping, recreation, and other amenities. There is no big-city traffic, and major outdoor destinations are within easy reach.

For someone considering a move from a larger urban centre, this opportunity offers more than a career move—it offers the chance to enjoy a different quality of life while taking on a meaningful leadership opportunity.

And at the dealership, you'll be joining a team that takes pride in what they have built. The business has strong momentum, the team is experienced, and there is still significant opportunity to continue growing.

Can you picture yourself here already?

We hope so. It’s equally as important that you choose us as we choose you. Take a sneak peek at what we think makes this one of the best workplaces around.

Our commitment extends to reaching out to individuals from various backgrounds and identities. We do not discriminate based on gender identity, race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital or family status, or mental/physical disabilities. AutoCanada is committed to collaborating with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please inform your recruiter.