General Manager - Commercial Vehicle in Antrim

An established commercial vehicle dealership is seeking a General Manager to take full operational and commercial ownership of the business. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can balance strategic thinking with day-to-day involvement on the ground someone equally comfortable reviewing margin performance as they are walking the workshop floor or sitting down with a key customer. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving profitability, tightening up operational processes, and building on the company's reputation for strong customer relationships. Reports To Managing Director / Owner Key Responsibilities Business & Industry Understanding Maintain a strong grasp of the commercial vehicle sector, including market trends, competitor activity, and supplier/franchise relationships. Ensure the business remains compliant with relevant industry, health & safety, and regulatory requirements. Bring commercial judgement to decisions on pricing, stock, staffing, and capital investment. Customer & Relationship Management Act as a senior point of contact for key accounts and long-standing customers, maintaining and growing those relationships personally. Ensure consistently high standards of customer service are delivered across sales, parts, and service/workshop functions. Handle escalated customer issues directly, using them as opportunities to strengthen loyalty rather than just resolve complaints. Represent the business at industry events, with suppliers, and within the local business community. Hands-On Operational Leadership Be visibly present across the business on the floor, in the workshop, on the sales floor not just in the office. Lead, motivate, and hold accountable department heads and their teams (sales, service, parts, admin). Step in directly where needed to resolve operational bottlenecks or support the team during busy periods. Recruit, develop, and manage performance of direct reports. Process & Efficiency Review current operational processes across departments and identify where they are inconsistent, outdated, or being worked around. Design and implement clear, documented processes for core operations (job workflows, stock control, invoicing, reporting) to improve consistency and reduce errors. Introduce better use of systems/data to track performance in real time rather than relying on informal or ad hoc reporting. Build a culture of continuous improvement, with staff empowered to flag inefficiencies. Person Specification Essential Proven experience as a General Manager, Operations Manager, or senior department head within a commercial/automotive/vehicle dealership/mechanical environment (or a closely comparable sector). Track record of building and maintaining strong customer relationships at a senior level. A genuinely hands-on leadership style comfortable being on-site and visible, not purely desk-based. Demonstrated experience improving or building operational processes in a previous role. Strong people management skills, with experience managing managers/supervisors. Contact Nicky Strutt ADZN1_NI41bf1e1f-b16b-4260-a40a-17c77a06fd15