Used Vehicle Business Manager – Southwater, UK

Used Vehicle Business Manager – Southwater, UK

Location

Based in Southwater, West Sussex.

The Package

• Hours Monday to Thursday 8am to 5pm, Friday 8am to 3pm
• 25 days holiday + Bank holidays
• Statutory Sick Pay
• Employee Benefits Portal
• Cycle to Work Scheme.

EVM UK & Ireland

We area specialist sales and aftersales agent for some of Europe’s most trusted minibus and midi coach brands, including EVM, Altas , Ferqui , Indcar , Erener and AOS. With deep engineering knowledge, a future-focused mindset, and an unrivalled approach to service, we help public and private sector operators unlock the full potential of their fleets.

The Person

We need a commercially driven Used Vehicle Business Manager to take full ownership of this important area of the business. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing EVM UK’s used vehicle strategy, sourcing suitable stock, increasing sales and profitability and building a best-in-class used vehicle proposition for our customers.

This position offers an experienced used vehicle professional the opportunity to shape and grow an important commercial area within a successful specialist vehicle business.
We are looking for an exceptional individual who can bring energy, structure, commercial discipline and accountability to the operation and establish EVM UK as a leading supplier of quality used minibuses, midi coaches and specialist passenger vehicles.

The Role

As Used Vehicle Business Manager, you will take full commercial ownership of EVM UK’s used vehicle operation. You will be responsible for the complete vehicle lifecycle, from identifying and acquiring suitable stock through to appraisal, preparation, pricing, marketing, negotiation, sale and customer handover.
This is not simply a vehicle sales role. You will be expected to build and develop the used vehicle side of the business, establish reliable sources of stock, create new sales opportunities, protect margin and working capital and introduce the processes required to deliver sustainable growth.

The role is based at our Southwater, West Sussex site, near Horsham, and works closely with the Head of Sales and the wider Sales, Marketing, Workshop, Parts, Finance and After-sales teams. The role may require occasional UK and international travel for vehicle inspections, customer visits, supplier meetings, exhibitions, training or other operational requirements.

As EVM’s Used Vehicle Business Manager, your responsibilities will include but will not be limited to the following:

• Develop and deliver the used vehicle business plan, including agreed targets for sales volume, gross profit, stock levels, stock turn and business growth.
• Take ownership of the end-to-end used vehicle process, including acquisition, appraisal, valuation, preparation, pricing, marketing, negotiation, sale and customer handover.
• Proactively source suitable used minibuses, midi coaches and specialist passenger vehicles through part exchanges, operators, fleets, leasing and rental companies, dealers, manufacturers and other appropriate channels.
• Work closely with the new vehicle sales team to identify part-exchange opportunities and provide accurate, commercially sound valuations.
• Manage the quantity, value, age and mix of used vehicle stock, protecting the business from excessive preparation cost, depreciation and working-capital exposure.
• Regularly review stock performance and take appropriate action on aged or underperforming vehicles, including repricing, targeted promotion, trade disposal or alternative routes to market.
• Develop strong relationships with operators, local authorities, fleet customers, dealers, leasing companies, brokers and other potential customers and suppliers.
• Generate new business through EVM’s existing database, website leads, marketing campaigns, industry contacts and targeted outbound activity.
• Negotiate profitable vehicle sales, protecting margin while delivering a professional and positive customer experience.
• Work with the Marketing team to ensure vehicles are accurately described and professionally presented across the EVM website, advertising platforms, email campaigns and social media.
• Coordinate vehicle preparation with Workshop, Parts and Aftersales colleagues, agreeing the required standard, cost and completion timescale.
• Maintain accurate records within Odoo, including stock information, enquiries, activities, opportunities, quotations, expected close dates and lost-sale reasons.
• Maintain an accurate sales pipeline and provide regular reporting on stock value, stock age, sales, gross profit, preparation costs, forecast performance and identified risks.
• Develop and improve the systems, standards and processes required to build a scalable and professionally managed used vehicle operation.
• Support the future growth of the department, including identifying resource requirements and helping to recruit and develop additional team members as volumes increase.
• Ensure all activity complies with company procedures, data-protection requirements and applicable legal and regulatory obligations.

Knowledge & Experience

• Proven experience in used vehicle sales, vehicle purchasing, remarketing or a comparable commercial role, ideally within the bus, coach, minibus, van, truck, fleet, leasing, rental or specialist commercial vehicle sector.
• A strong understanding of vehicle appraisals, valuations, preparation costs, pricing, stock ageing, gross-margin management, stock turn and working-capital control.
• Demonstrable ability to source vehicles, develop new business, build industry relationships and convert opportunities into profitable sales.
• Strong commercial judgement and negotiation skills, with the confidence to make evidence-based purchasing, pricing and disposal recommendations.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to deal credibly with customers, suppliers, operators, dealers and senior colleagues.
• A structured, self-motivated and accountable approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively across departments.
• Confidence using CRM systems, online sales platforms and digital tools.
• A full UK driving licence. D1 entitlement would be advantageous.
• The right to work in the UK and the ability to work from our Southwater site five days per week.