Network Director in Coventry

Group Lotus is a leading sports car manufacturer with a 75-year long history of iconic designs, groundbreaking engineering and legendary victories on the F1 track. Today we are transforming into a truly global performance car brand focused on the electrical future. In **** we launched the Eletre, the world's first all-electric hyper-SUV, and in **** Emeya, our fully-electric Hyper-GT. As part of the Lotus team, you push boundaries. Every member of the Lotus family has some of the pioneering mindset of founder Colin Chapman in them. Lotus Cars builds world-class, high-performance and lightweight sports cars that are sold all around the world.

To bring the company to the level we want it to be, we are looking for a Network Director to join us in our Global Commercial site based in Coventry.

Summary: This role plays a critical part in delivering Lotus Cars' commercial and brand ambitions across the UK and Continental Europe. It is accountable for shaping, delivering, and continuously optimising the retail and service network to ensure the right coverage, capability, and partner mix to support current and future sales models. The role has a direct impact on market performance, customer experience, brand representation, regulatory compliance, and return on network investment.

What you'll do:

• Define and deliver UK and European retail and service network strategies aligned with Lotus Cars' sales models and local regulatory frameworks.
• Lead and manage Network Development Managers to ensure effective planning, coordination, and execution of network initiatives.
• Take accountability for market-level network decisions, including go-to-market approaches, dealer and agent appointments, terminations, replacements, and ongoing performance improvement.
• Work closely with the Head of European Sales to ensure network capability, coverage, and execution support agreed commercial targets.
• Analyse market data and insights to prioritise network investment, expansion, and optimisation opportunities.
• Plan and deliver phased network transitions to achieve target coverage, scale, and partner mix in each market.
• Oversee partner recruitment, onboarding, replacements, terminations, and site openings across the UK and Europe.
• Ensure all network activities comply with legal, contractual, regulatory, and brand requirements, including governance and Board approvals where required.
• Monitor partner performance and ensure network decisions support financial performance, ROI, and long-term sustainability.
• Collaborate with European and global stakeholders, including Retail Experience and Brand teams, to deliver Brand Experience Centres and key strategic projects.
• Develop and implement partner-facing materials, brand standards, induction programmes, and training frameworks.

What you'll bring:

• Essential Fluent Mandarin speaker.
• Full responsibility for UK and Continental European retail and service network strategy and execution.
• Covers multiple sales models (direct, agency, dealer, service).
• High level of complexity due to differing national regulations, market maturity, and partner structures.
• Significant influence over network investment decisions, partner selection, and long-term commercial outcomes.
• Strong experience in automotive retail or service network development within the UK and/or Europe.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and optimise dealer, agent, or service networks across multiple markets.
• Strong commercial and analytical capability, with experience using data to drive strategic decisions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and external partners.
• Highly organised, proactive, and resilient, with a structured and methodical approach to complex challenges.
• Proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Desirable:

• Experience working within a premium or luxury automotive brand.
• Knowledge of European automotive regulatory frameworks and agency/direct sales models.
• Experience leading transformational change across retail networks.

What we offer: In addition to a competitive salary, you will have access to the following benefits: 25 days' holiday plus