General Manager

Purely Automotive Recruitment Ltd; Cork; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle and fuel allowance

Bonus opportunity

Job summary

Purely Automotive Recruitment Ltd is seeking a dynamic General Manager to lead the Cork operation for Ireland's growing used car brand.

You will be hands-on on the showroom floor, drive sales and finance packages, and take full P&L responsibility while mentoring the sales and service teams.

This leadership role focuses on customer experience, local marketing, and strategic growth within the group’s expanding nationwide footprint.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3–5+ years of senior management experience with a proven track record of exceptional personal sales performance in automotive retail (sales and aftersales).
• Leadership style: visible, hands-on manager who leads from the front line.
• Financial acumen: proven track record of managing P&L, budgets, and commercial reporting.
• Licence: Full, clean Irish/EU driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on Sales Leadership: Spend significant time on the showroom floor, engage with customers, negotiate, and assist the sales team in closing vehicle deals and finance packages.
• Business Performance & P&L: Manage full financial accountability for the Cork site, driving revenue growth and KPIs.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and motivate the sales and technical/service teams; conduct daily sales huddles and coaching.
• Customer Experience: Champion a transparent, customer-first retail environment and swiftly resolve escalations.
• Operations & Compliance: Oversee daily site operations, inventory management, vehicle procurement, health and safety standards, and policy enforcement.
• Strategic Growth: Implement local marketing and sales strategies aligned with the group vision to expand market share in Cork and nationwide.

Skills

Sales leadership

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Closing deals

P&L management

Financial reporting

Driving licence

Job description

Purely Automotive Recruitment offers a fantastic opportunity for a General Manager to join our client and their successful team based in Cork, Ireland.

Our client is Ireland's innovative and fast-growing used car brand, proudly operating as part of the wider Group of businesses. With four established Used Car businesses nationwide and a fifth location opening soon, this is an exciting period of growth for our client’s brand.

We are seeking a dynamic, visible, and results-driven General Manager to manage the operation in Cork. In addition to taking full Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility for the dealership, this is a hands-on commercial role. You will be actively present on the showroom floor, leading by example, engaging directly with customers, and driving sales alongside the team.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Hands-on Sales Leadership: Spend significant time on the showroom floor. Engage directly with customers, handle complex negotiations, and actively assist the sales team in closing vehicle deals and finance packages.
• Business Performance & P&L: Manage full financial accountability for the Cork site, driving revenue growth and meeting key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and motivate the sales and technical/service teams. Conduct daily sales huddles, provide active coaching, and drive a high-performance retail culture.
• Customer Experience: Champion a transparent, customer-first retail environment, ensuring highest-tier satisfaction scores and swiftly resolving any escalations.
• Operations & Compliance: Oversee daily site operations, inventory management, vehicle procurement/stock profile, health and safety standards, and company policy enforcement.
• Strategic Growth: Implement local marketing and sales strategies aligned with the broader Joe Duffy Group vision to expand market share in Cork while contributing to our growing nationwide footprint.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Experience: 3–5+ years of senior management experience, with a proven track record of exceptional personal sales performance within automotive retail (both sales and aftersales).
• Leadership Style: A visible, hands-on manager who leads from the front line, rather than managing solely from a desk.
• Financial Acumen: Proven track record of managing P&L, budgets, and commercial reporting.
• Licence: Full, clean Irish/EU driving licence.
• Skills: Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, and closing skills.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive executive salary package with attractive bonus opportunity. Also, a Company vehicle and fuel allowance is provided alongside long term career growth opportunities with Ireland's leading and largest retail motor group.