Automotive General Manager

General Manager - Preston Ford

Position Summary

The General Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, profitability, and operational excellence of Preston Ford. This role is accountable for every department including Sales, Service, Parts, Collision Center (if applicable), Finance, BDC, and Administration. The General Manager develops leaders, drives performance, ensures exceptional customer experience, protects company assets, and creates a culture centered around accountability, growth, and servant leadership.

The General Manager is expected to operate the dealership as if they own it, making decisions that improve profitability, customer satisfaction, employee retention, and long-term market share while maintaining Ford standards and Preston Automotive Group values.

Not everyone is built for this job.

We’re not looking for someone who wants the title.

We’re looking for someone who wants the responsibility.

We’re looking for someone who is obsessed with building guests for life.

Preston Ford is one of the highest volume Ford dealerships in the country!

You’ll oversee three growing operations

• Preston Ford
• Preston Commercial
• Preston Pre-Owned

This is not a turnaround.

This is not a rebuild.

This is an opportunity to take an already exceptional team and build it into one of the premier Ford operations in America.

If your leadership style is sitting in an office reading reports and barking orders, this isn’t the place for you.

If you’re the first one on the showroom floor, the first one greeting guests, the first one coaching managers, the first one celebrating wins, and the first one owning the losses, we want to talk to you.

This is a hands-on leadership position. We believe the best General Managers lead from the front.

WHAT WINNING LOOKS LIKE

The automotive industry is changing faster than ever.

Inventory, pricing, and advertising still matter, but they are no longer enough. The dealerships that will dominate the next decade are the ones that master the fundamentals while embracing the future.

At Preston Ford, winning means

Build Guests for Life

• We don’t measure success by selling vehicles.
• We measure success by creating guests for life.
• Every interaction should build trust, earn loyalty, and create lifelong advocates for the Preston brand.
• Lead From the Front - Your office is wherever your team needs you.
• The showroom.
• The service drive.
• The parts department.
• The commercial center.
• The used car lot.
• Great leaders are visible, engaged, coaching, and inspiring every day.

Develop Championship People

• Build leaders.
• Coach daily.
• Hold people accountable.
• Celebrate wins.
• Create a culture where associates love coming to work because they know they’re growing professionally and personally.

Embrace AI and Innovation

• Technology isn’t replacing great leaders. It’s making great leaders even better.
• We expect our General Managers to embrace AI, leverage technology, and continually look for ways to make our teams smarter, faster, and more efficient.

Be Active on Social Media

• Our guests want to know who we are before they ever walk through our doors.
• Tell your team’s story.
• Celebrate your associates.
• Highlight your guests.
• Build your dealership’s brand every single day.

Build an Unmatched Community Reputation

• Winning isn’t confined to the dealership.
• Volunteer.
• Support local organizations.
• Coach youth sports.
• Serve on community boards.
• Be known as a leader who makes the entire community stronger.

Drive Profitable Growth

• Sales matter.
• Service matters.
• Parts matter.
• Body Shop matters.
• Commercial matters.
• Pre-Owned matters.
• We expect excellence across every department because that’s what world-class dealerships deliver.

WHO YOU ARE

You have successfully led a high-volume dealership.

You know how to develop people, not just manage them.

You thrive on accountability.

You love competition.

You understand that culture is a competitive advantage.

You don’t make excuses.

You own the results.

You never stop learning.

Most importantly, you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and do whatever it takes to help your team win.

WHY PRESTON?

Preston Ford is already one of the highest volume Ford dealerships in America.

You’ll inherit a strong team, a winning culture, and an organization committed to continuous improvement.

You’ll also enjoy living on Maryland’s beautiful Eastern Shore, just minutes from the Chesapeake Bay, waterfront communities, world-class boating, and some of the East Coast’s best beaches.

This is more than a job.

It’s an opportunity to leave a legacy.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of automotive retail experience.
• Minimum 5-7 years in dealership executive management.
• Ford dealership leadership experience preferred.
• Proven success leading a high-volume dealership.
• Strong understanding of Fixed Operations and Variable Operations.
• Strong financial statement knowledge and the ability to analyze dealership financial performance.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to recruit, develop, and retain top-performing talent.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Primary Responsibilities

Financial Performance

• Deliver annual Net Profit and Return on Sales objectives.
• Maximize profitability across all departments.
• Maintain healthy cash flow and control departmental expenses.
• Improve gross profit while protecting sales volume and market share.
• Manage inventory investments and frozen capital.
• Analyze dealership financial statements and take corrective action when necessary.
• Protect dealership assets and ensure long-term financial stability.

Sales Leadership

Responsible for achieving

New Vehicle Sales Objectives

Used Vehicle Sales Objectives

Ford Sales Effectiveness

Market Share Growth

Fleet and Commercial Sales Growth

F&I Performance

Customer Retention

Used Vehicle Turn

Inventory Age

Digital Lead Performance

Sales Process Compliance

Provides leadership and accountability to the General Sales Manager, Used Car Manager, Finance Director, and BDC Manager.

Fixed Operations Leadership

Responsible for

Customer Pay Sales Growth

Warranty Performance

Internal Gross Profit

Service Absorption

Technician Productivity and Efficiency

Effective Labor Rate

Parts Gross Profit

Service Gross Profit

Parts Inventory Management

Repair Order Growth

Mobile Service Growth

Ford Pro Performance

Quick Lane Performance

Customer Retention

Provides leadership and accountability to the Service Manager, Parts Manager, Fixed Operations Director, and Body Shop Manager.

Leadership & Culture

Develop and maintain a culture built on

Integrity

Accountability

Urgency

Teamwork

Respect

Servant Leadership

Continuous Improvement

Personal and Professional Growth

Responsibilities include

• Recruiting, hiring, and retaining top talent.
• Coaching and developing department managers.
• Conducting performance evaluations and succession planning.
• Holding leaders accountable to performance standards.
• Promoting employee recognition and engagement.
• Resolving employee concerns professionally and consistently.
• Reinforcing the Preston Automotive Group culture throughout the organization.

Customer Experience

Responsible for maintaining exceptional customer satisfaction through

Sales NPS Performance

Service NPS Performance

Online Reputation Management

Google Review Scores

Customer Retention Initiatives

Timely Resolution of Customer Concerns

Compliance with Ford Customer Experience Standards

The General Manager is expected to personally lead the resolution of escalated customer issues and ensure exceptional ownership experience.

Inventory Management

Responsible for

• Maintaining the proper inventory mix.
• Managing inventory age and turn.
• Controlling frozen capital.
• Overseeing pricing strategy and market competitiveness.
• Leading vehicle acquisition efforts.
• Managing appraisal processes.
• Executing wholesale strategies.
• Maximizing Ford allocation opportunities.

Recruiting & Talent Development

Maintain a fully staffed, high-performing dealership by

• Recruiting exceptional talent across all departments.
• Developing future leaders through coaching and mentoring.
• Promoting from within whenever possible.
• Building a strong leadership succession plan.
• Creating an environment where employees can grow and succeed.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with all applicable

• Ford Motor Company standards.
• Preston Automotive Group policies and procedures.
• Federal, state, and local regulations.
• FTC and consumer protection requirements.
• OSHA safety standards.
• Human Resources policies.
• Finance and insurance compliance requirements.
• Privacy and data security regulations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Financial Performance

Net Profit

Return on Sales

Expense Control

EBITDA

Cash Flow

Sales Performance

New Vehicle Sales

Used Vehicle Sales

Ford Sales Effectiveness

Market Share

Front-End Gross Profit

Back-End Gross Profit

Finance PVR

Product Penetration

Fixed Operations

Service Absorption (Target: 100%+)

Customer Pay Sales

Total Service Sales

Total Parts Sales

Effective Labor Rate

Technician Productivity

Repair Order Count

Gross Profit

Customer Experience

Sales NPS

Service NPS

Online Reputation

Customer Retention

Inventory Management

Inventory Age

Inventory Turn

Days Supply

Frozen Capital

Used Vehicle Acquisition

Leadership & People

Leadership & People

Employee Turnover

Internal Promotions

Hiring Success

Leadership Development

Employee Engagement

Leadership Expectations

A Preston Ford General Manager is expected to

Lead with integrity and professionalism.
Create a culture of accountability and high performance.
Develop future leaders through coaching and mentorship.
Make timely, data-driven business decisions.
Build and retain exceptional teams.
Deliver outstanding customer experiences.
Foster collaboration across all departments.
Embrace innovation and continuous improvement.
Represent Preston Automotive Group and the Ford brand with excellence in the community.
Operate the dealership with an ownership mindset, balancing profitability, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and long-term sustainable growth.
HOW TO APPLY If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you. Email the following to: [email hidden] Include the following:

• A 60-second video introducing yourself and explaining why you’re the right leader for Preston Ford.
• Your resume.
• Three professional references.

If you’re looking for an easy General Manager position, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for an opportunity to lead one of America’s premier Ford dealerships, build guests for life, develop championship people, and make a lasting impact on an incredible organization, we look forward to meeting you.Be All In. Own It. ONEPAG.