Responsibilities:
Strategic & Operational Leadership
Provide overall leadership and direction to the dealership management team Develop and implement business plans, budgets, and performance targets Drive sustainable profitability and long-term growth Ensure alignment with OEM standards, dealer group policies, and brand strategy Financial Management
Full P&L responsibility for the dealership Monitor and control expenses, margins, and departmental profitability Analyse financial reports and take corrective action where required Ensure accurate forecasting and achievement of sales, CSI, and profit targets Sales & Marketing Oversight
Oversee New Vehicle, Pre-Owned, Fleet, and F&I performance Ensure sales targets, market share, and OEM objectives are met Support and guide marketing and promotional initiatives Drive customer experience excellence and CSI results Aftersales Management
Ensure Service and Parts departments operate efficiently and profitably Drive workshop productivity, absorption, and quality standards Ensure compliance with OEM technical, warranty, and audit requirements People Management & Leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop departmental managers Ensure effective recruitment, performance management, and succession planning Foster a high-performance, customer-centric culture Ensure compliance with labour legislation and HR best practices Compliance & Governance
Ensure compliance with OEM franchise standards and audits Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and dealer group governance requirements Oversee health & safety, POPIA, FICA, and internal controls Requirements:
Minimum 10 years’ related dealer principal experience in a dealership environment Must have MDP qualification / Sewells Dealer Principal certification Proven experience managing multi-department dealership operations Strong understanding of OEM franchise requirements Solid financial acumen and P&L management experience In-depth knowledge of South African motor retail operations Experience working with dealership management systems (DMS)  
 
Please note only candidates with the required experience will be contacted and considered. If you are not contacted within 14 days from application, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful.
Applications will only be considered from candidates who meet the specified criteria as per the job spec. If you do not meet the requirements, Select Motor Recruitment reserves the right not to respond to your application.
 
Applications should be submitted no later than Tuesday 20 January 2026.