Senior Director of Model 1 Automotive Group

Job Description

The Senior Director of Model 1 Automotive Group is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing all dealership operations (Service, Parts, and Vehicle Sales) across multiple automotive franchise dealerships within the organization. This role is pivotal in driving operational excellence, maximizing profitability, and ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction. Additionally, the Senior Director will be a key contributor in the development and growth of the organization’s commercial truck centers.

This individual will provide strategic direction, implement best practices, and support dealership managers to achieve superior performance metrics, as well as be a key person in the integration of Model 1’s Automotive Group and Model 1 Commercial Vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a cohesive, multi-store strategy for all departments (Service, Parts, Vehicle Sales, and F&I) to maximize efficiency, customer retention, and profitability.
• Analyze financial statements, operational reports, and KPIs (e.g., Gross Profit, Effective Labor Rate, CSI scores, Absorption Rate, Days in Inventory, etc.) across all locations and identify areas for improvement.
• Understand the commercial vehicle landscape to coordinate appropriate inventory stocking levels at the dealerships for fleet customers.
• Drive continuous improvement in labor utilization, parts inventory management, and expense control to optimize the net profit of the dealerships.
• Standardize and enforce best-in-class operating procedures and workflows across all dealerships to ensure consistency and high-quality new/used sales and service delivery.
• Oversee the effective use of Dealer Management Systems (DMS) and other essential software tools within the dealership.
• Ensure all operations comply with manufacturer warranty procedures, local, state, and federal regulations, and internal safety protocols.
• Regularly visit dealerships to audit operations, review facility needs, and provide hands-on support and coaching to local management.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate personnel at each location.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on teamwork, accountability, and professionalism.
• Ensure effective communication between all departments at the dealership to promote a seamless customer experience.
• Maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with manufacturer representatives for all represented franchises.
• Stay current with manufacturer training requirements, product updates, and technological advancements.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in automotive management, with at least 3-5 years managing multi-location or large-volume dealerships with a commercial sales component.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; relevant experience may substitute for education.
• Comprehensive understanding of all aspects of automotive service, parts, and vehicle sales; including financial metrics, warranty administration, and inventory control.
• Exceptional leadership, strategic planning, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in DMS systems (e.g., CDK, Dealertrack) and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record.