Used Vehicle Manager in Southwater

Used Vehicle Manager – Specialist Passenger Vehicles Southwater, West Sussex £45,000–£55,000 depending on experience + performance-related bonus of £15,000-£20,000 Monday to Thursday, 8am–5pm; Friday, 8am–3pm ACS Recruitment Consultants are recruiting a Used Vehicle Manager for a specialist vehicle business based near Horsham. This is a hands-on opportunity to take ownership of the used vehicle operation and develop it into a well-managed, profitable part of the business. The vehicles are primarily minibuses, midicoaches and other specialist passenger vehicles, so experience in commercial or specialist vehicles will be particularly valuable. You will manage the full vehicle lifecycle: identifying and buying suitable stock, appraising part exchanges, arranging preparation, setting prices, generating enquiries, negotiating sales and overseeing customer handovers. Alongside the day-to-day activity, you will improve the processes, stock management and reporting needed to grow the department. Responsibilities * Take ownership of the used vehicle operation, from acquisition and appraisal through to sale and handover. * Identify and source suitable vehicles through part exchanges, operators, fleets, rental companies, dealers and industry contacts. * Appraise purchase opportunities and provide accurate, commercially sound part-exchange valuations to support the new vehicle sales team. * Assess preparation requirements and work with workshop and parts colleagues to agree costs, standards and completion timescales. * Set competitive prices that reflect vehicle condition, market demand, preparation costs and the required margin. * Work with the marketing team to ensure vehicles are accurately described and professionally presented online. * Develop sales opportunities through existing customer records, website enquiries, industry relationships and targeted outbound activity. * Handle enquiries, negotiate sales and deliver a professional customer experience through to handover. * Review stock performance regularly and take action on ageing vehicles, including repricing, targeted promotion or trade disposal. * Keep stock details, enquiries, opportunities, quotations and expected close dates up to date in the CRM system. * Report on sales volume, gross profit, stock value and stock age. * Develop practical processes and standards for purchasing, preparation, advertising and selling used vehicles. About you We’re looking for someone who combines used vehicle sales ability with strong purchasing, appraisal and stock management skills. You should be comfortable assessing a vehicle in person, making a valuation decision and backing it up commercially. You will ideally have: * Proven experience in used vehicle sales, vehicle purchasing or appraisals. * Experience within the PSV, bus, coach, minibus, van, truck, rental or specialist commercial vehicle sector is essential. * A sound understanding of valuations, preparation costs, pricing, stock ageing, stock turn and gross profit. * The ability to source vehicles and turn enquiries and contacts into profitable sales. * Strong negotiation skills and the confidence to make independent commercial decisions. * A proactive, organised approach and the ability to work closely with sales, marketing, workshop and parts teams. * Confidence using CRM systems and online vehicle advertising platforms. * A full UK driving licence. D1 entitlement would be advantageous. You must be able to work from the Southwater site five days per week. The position may also involve occasional UK or international travel for vehicle inspections, customer visits, supplier meetings or exhibitions. Salary and benefits * £45,000–£55,000 starting salary, depending on experience * Performance-related bonus linked to agreed gross profit, stock turn and business development targets * 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays * Workplace pension scheme * Employee benefits portal * Cycle to Work scheme * Statutory sick pay This role would suit an experienced used vehicle professional who wants the responsibility to shape a department, build reliable sources of stock and grow sales within a specialist vehicle business. To apply, please send your up-to-date CV to Adam at ACS Automotive Recruitment Consultants