General Manager

Swickard Auto Group

$200K — $350K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience as a General Manager or General Sales Manager in a franchised dealership, preferably with luxury or high-line brands.
  • Extensive background in variable operations, including deal desk operations and F&I management, is mandatory.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop underperforming sales teams into strong producers through effective coaching and strategy implementation.
  • In-depth knowledge of F&I processes, lender relationships, and compliance standards necessary for leading a successful F&I department.
  • Proficient financial acumen, capable of reading financial reports, managing expenses, and making data-driven operational decisions.
  • A builder's mindset focused on developing team members and processes rather than just managing existing resources.
  • Executive presence with a culture of accountability to motivate rather than instill fear. Competing experience with Audi or European luxury brands is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

  • Own complete P&L accountability across new, used, F&I, and fixed operations to drive profitability.
  • Lead and develop the sales team to enhance appointment generation and conversion rates through hands-on training and support.
  • Build and optimize variable operations including new and pre-owned sales and F&I to ensure cohesive performance across all areas.
  • Desk deals on the sales floor to actively participate in closing high-quality transactions and maintain accountability among the team.
  • Implement process improvements across the sales operation to enhance lead management, appointment setting, and deal delivery.
  • Recruit, develop, and retain talent while transforming the sales team from beginners into proficient, revenue-generating assets.
  • Oversee the guest experience to ensure alignment with Audi brand standards and uphold a hospitality-first approach.

Benefits

  • Full P&L ownership and operational autonomy backed by corporate infrastructure.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
  • Life insurance and additional supplemental insurance options available.
  • Paid time off and recognized paid holidays to promote work-life balance.
  • Career advancement opportunities within a 40+ roof organization, with a direct path toward executive leadership roles.
  • Employee discounts on vehicle purchases and service.
Full Job Description
Job Type

Full-time

Description

Palo Alto, CA | Audi | Luxury performance brand | Silicon Valley | General Manager | Variable ops | F&I | Leadership | Veterans encouraged to apply | $200,000 - $350,000+

IS THIS YOU?
• You're a variable-first operator - you can desk deals, read a sales floor, and know who's performing and who isn't
• You develop salespeople, not just manage them - you've taken green teams and built them into producers
• You run a business, not just a sales department - P&L ownership, process improvement, and holding culture and accountability at the same time

Audi Palo Alto is a high-volume luxury store in one of the most competitive and affluent automotive markets in the country. The store has the traffic, the brand, and the guest base to support strong performance. What it needs is a General Manager who can unlock that potential - by developing the sales team, tightening the variable operation, and building a culture of accountability and execution that the store's volume demands.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
• Own full P&L accountability for Audi Palo Alto - driving revenue, gross profit, and expense discipline across new, used, F&I, and fixed operations
• Lead and develop a sales team that is generating appointments but not closing them - your ability to train, desk, and develop consultants is the primary lever for growth at this store
• Build a complete variable operation - new car, pre-owned, and F&I must all perform. You understand how each function interconnects and you manage them as a system, not in silos
• Desk deals and hold the desk accountable - you know what a good deal looks like and you're on the floor making it happen, not just reviewing reports
• Drive process improvement across the sales operation - from lead handling and appointment setting to T.O. structure and delivery process
• Recruit, develop, and retain sales talent - this is a green team that needs a builder, not a manager who inherits a finished product
• Lead the guest experience end-to-end - every interaction should reflect Audi brand standards and Swickard's hospitality-first values
• Partner with Swickard corporate on OEM relations, compliance, and enterprise initiatives while maintaining operational autonomy at the store level

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
• 5+ years of General Manager or GSM experience at a franchised dealership - luxury or high-line brand experience strongly preferred
• Deep variable operations background - you have personally desked deals, managed F&I, and run a pre-owned operation. This is non-negotiable
• Proven track record of developing salespeople - you've taken teams that weren't closing and turned them into producers through coaching, process, and accountability
• Strong F&I expertise - you understand penetration, PVR, lender relationships, and compliance, and you can lead an F&I department to top-tier performance
• Business acumen that goes beyond selling cars - you read financial statements, manage expenses, and make decisions based on data
• A builder's mindset - you're energized by developing people and building process, not just inheriting a high-performing team
• Executive presence and accountability culture - you set high standards, hold the team to them, and do it in a way that drives motivation rather than fear
• Audi or European luxury brand experience a strong plus

WHAT WE OFFER
Income potential of $200,000 - $350,000+ annually - a 200-250 unit/month store with strong gross potential and the market to support it
• Full P&L ownership and operational autonomy backed by Swickard's corporate infrastructure
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and supplemental coverage options
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Career growth within a 40+ rooftop organization - GMs at Swickard have a direct path to platform director and executive leadership
• Employee vehicle purchase and service discounts

WHY AUDI PALO ALTO
• A 200-250 unit/month store with a loyal, high-net-worth guest base in Silicon Valley - the volume and the market are here. The opportunity is real for a GM who can execute
• Audi is one of the most technically sophisticated and passionately followed luxury brands in the world - a guest base that rewards advisors and leaders who match their standard
• The store is generating traffic and appointments - the gap is conversion and sales team development. A strong variable operator will see results quickly
• Swickard is one of the fastest-growing dealer groups in the country - ranked Top 5 in North America for reputation in the automotive industry
• Our HEART values - Honor, Engage, Anticipate, Respond, Thank - are the foundation of how we lead, hire, and serve
• A leadership team that sets clear expectations, gives its GMs room to operate, and backs them with the tools, training, and support to succeed

Audi Palo Alto has the brand, the market, and the guest traffic to be a top-performing store. The General Manager who joins this team will inherit a store with real upside - a strong appointment pipeline, a motivated team, and a market that supports premium performance. What's needed is the variable expertise and leadership discipline to close the gap between the traffic the store generates and the results it produces.

If you're a proven operator who builds teams, runs a complete variable operation, and knows how to drive a culture of accountability and performance - we'd like to meet you.

Salary Description

$200K - $350K+ OTE annually

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