Sales Desk Manager

L0443 Planet Honda; Union (NJ); On-site; USD 175,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle purchase discounts

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays & PTO

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Job summary

Planet Honda in New Jersey seeks a Sales Desk Manager to lead and inspire the Service sales team, structure vehicle deals, and drive profitability. You will coach associates, negotiate, and ensure exceptional customer experiences while aligning with lender options and pricing strategies.

The role emphasizes daily sales leadership, deal structuring, and process compliance, with opportunities for growth within Lithia & Driveway’s national network and performance incentives.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of automotive sales leadership in an OEM dealership.
• Proven success desking deals and driving profitability.
• Strong knowledge of finance, lender programs, and trade appraisals.
• Experience coaching high-performing sales teams.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to analyze performance metrics and take action.
• Proficiency with CRM, DMS, and desking tools.
• Customer-focused mindset with professional appearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily sales process and improve closing ratios.
• Desk vehicle deals, structure pricing, and maximize gross profit.
• Coach Sales Consultants on product knowledge and CRM usage.
• Collaborate with Finance for timely vehicle deliveries.
• Monitor sales activity, appointments, showroom traffic, and lead conversion.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop top sales talent.
• Ensure compliance with dealership processes and manufacturer requirements.
• Address escalated customer concerns professionally.
• Prepare reporting and forecasting for sales performance.

Skills

Sales leadership

Automotive OEM dealership experience

Desking deals

Coaching sales team

Negotiation skills

CRM/DMS proficiency

Tools

CRM software

DMS system

Job description

Dealership: L0443 Planet Honda Planet Honda

Drive Your Career Forward with Lithia & Driveway. At Lithia & Driveway, we're powered by people and driven to deliver results. As one of the largest automotive retailers in North America, we're focused on growing leaders who want to make an impact – both in their store and across the company. We are looking for a Sales Desk Manager to lead, develop, and inspire our Service team at Planet Honda.

Why Join Our Team?

We don't just offer jobs – we offer opportunities. Our culture is rooted in values like earning customers for life, improving constantly, and taking ownership of results.

• Real opportunities for advancement across a national network
• Leadership development and training through our internal learning programs
• A high-performance culture that recognizes and rewards results
• The ability to influence store success and shape your team

What You'll Do:

The Sales Desk Manager is responsible for driving dealership sales performance by supporting and leading the daily sales process, structuring vehicle deals, coaching sales associates, and ensuring an exceptional customer experience. This role serves as a key resource for the sales team by assisting with negotiations, desking deals, inventory management, customer engagement, and sales process compliance while helping the dealership achieve profitability and volume objectives. Desk and structure vehicle transactions to maximize gross profit while ensuring competitive and customer-focused deal presentations. Partner with Sales Consultants throughout the sales process to improve closing ratios and customer satisfaction. Review and approve deal structures, pricing, trade valuations, lender options, and payment scenarios. Work directly with customers on vehicle selection, negotiations, trade evaluations, and objection handling when needed. Assist in achieving department sales, profitability, customer retention, and CSI goals. Monitor daily sales activity, appointments, showroom traffic, and lead conversion performance. Provide ongoing coaching, training, and development to Sales Consultants on product knowledge, sales techniques, CRM utilization, and customer engagement. Ensure adherence to dealership sales processes, compliance standards, and manufacturer requirements. Collaborate with Finance Managers to facilitate smooth deal flow and timely vehicle deliveries. Manage inventory presentation, pricing strategy, aging inventory, and merchandising standards. Conduct daily sales meetings and performance reviews to drive accountability and results. Help recruit, onboard, and develop top sales talent. Address escalated customer concerns professionally and work toward positive resolutions. Maintain accurate documentation, reporting, and forecasting related to sales performance. Support dealership leadership with special projects and operational initiatives as needed. Other duties as assigned.

What You'll Bring:

• 3+ years of automotive sales leadership experience in an OEM dealership.
• Proven success desking deals and driving sales profitability.
• Strong understanding of finance, lender programs, and trade appraisals.
• Experience coaching and developing high-performing sales teams.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to analyze performance metrics and execute action plans.
• Proficiency with CRM, DMS, and automotive desking tools.
• Strong customer service, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Professional appearance and customer-focused mindset.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Total Rewards

Total Rewards $175,000.00 - $250,000.00/ annually. This is a performance driven position, eligible for short-term and/or long-term incentives as part of total compensation, which includes a Base/Salary/Hourly offset and the opportunity to earn bonus and commission. Actual pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge, and physical location. Final compensation will be established through the interview process in accordance with applicable pay equity and transparency laws.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• Paid Holidays & PTO
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Lithia Learning Center
• Vehicle Purchase Discounts
• Wellness Programs

Additional information about our Total Rewards benefits can be reviewed on our careers site at www.totalrewards.lithiadriveway.com.

Ready to Lead and Win?

If you’re a results-driven leader who’s ready to take ownership, build a winning team, and grow your career with a company that invests in its people—Lithia & Driveway wants to hear from you.

About Us

At Lithia & Driveway (NYSE: LAD) our success is fueled by our high performing teams delivering Auto Done Easy for our customers. We create simple, transparent, and convenient customer experiences throughout the vehicle-ownership lifecycle by leveraging our hundreds of store locations and our key adjacencies - Driveway, DFC, and GreenCars. We've built a retail model that champions entrepreneurial leadership, Growth Powered by People, and a strategy that creates possibilities and pushes us to reach our potential.

High School graduate or equivalent, 18 years or older required. We are a drug-free workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity (regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status). We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

At Lithia & Driveway, we stand by our mission of Growth Powered by People, as we build a workplace that ignites ideas and opportunities to Earn Customers for Life. Our focus is on making the customer experience better; as we aim to meet our customers’ needs whether in person, online or a combination of both. Lithia & Driveway is the largest automotive retailer in North America and listed on the Fortune 500 (NYSE: LAD). Drive your career forward with roles in Sales, Finance, Service, Technology and Corporate. With thousands of vehicles and hundreds of locations, the career possibilities are endless. Join us as we accelerate towards growth in automotive and beyond!