General Manager - Santa Monica, CA
About The Position
This is a turnaround role for a General Manager at a luxury franchise dealership. The store is currently underperforming in volume, customer satisfaction (CSI/SSI), and fixed absorption, with high management turnover. The facility, market, and brand equity are strong, but the operation needs significant improvement. The ownership is seeking an experienced operator who has successfully turned around a broken luxury store and is willing to offer equity participation as a partner rather than just an employee. The role offers full P&L authority, including variable, fixed, F&I, and administration. The General Manager will be responsible for rebuilding the management team, recovering fixed operations, managing the factory relationship, implementing inventory discipline, and fostering a positive culture. The first twelve months will involve meeting defined targets for new and used volume, fixed absorption, CSI/SSI, gross per unit retailed, and management turnover stabilization.
Requirements
- Five or more years as a GM at a franchise dealership
- At least one documented turnaround experience at a luxury or premium brand dealership
- Experience with luxury or premium brand clientele, factory standards, and service expectations
- Real fixed operations depth
- A track record of building managers
- Financial fluency (ability to read and interpret financial statements)
Nice To Haves
- Experience in a turnaround role specifically for a broken luxury store
Responsibilities
- Full P&L authority (Variable, Fixed, F&I, and Administration)
- Setting pay plans
- Building the organizational chart
- Making personnel decisions
- Rebuilding the management team
- Recovering fixed operations (technician retention, effective labor rate, hours per RO, service drive profitability)
- Managing the factory relationship (standards compliance, allocation, incentive capture, CSI/SSI recovery)
- Implementing inventory discipline (aged units, days supply, acquisition strategy, reconditioning cycle time)
- Improving the store's culture
- Meeting defined targets for new and used volume, fixed absorption, CSI/SSI, gross per unit retailed, and management turnover stabilization.
Benefits
- Base salary: $120,000 with budget bonus until profitability turnaround
- Total all-in compensation $360,000+
- Percentage of dealership net profit (performance compensation)
- Accelerator above recovery target for performance compensation
- Equity participation (defined ownership stake earned over time, tied to performance milestones)
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k) with match
- Demo vehicle
- Relocation assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
