Job Title
Sales Manager – Premium Automotive Retail
Location
Kanagawa, Japan
Work Style
Full-time | Flex-Time System (No Core Hours)
Overview
A leading premium automotive retail organization is seeking an experienced Sales Manager to lead dealership sales operations, drive profitability, enhance customer satisfaction, and develop a high-performing sales team. This position is responsible for executing sales strategies, optimizing business performance, and ensuring alignment with manufacturer programs and brand standards.
Key Responsibilities
Sales Strategy & Performance Management
Develop annual, quarterly, and monthly sales plans and define key business priorities.
Manage sales targets, profitability forecasts, and performance improvement initiatives.
Monitor and analyze sales KPIs, CRM metrics, and balanced scorecard data to identify growth opportunities.
Implement corrective actions to improve sales results and operational performance.
Optimize revenue, gross profit, and operating costs to improve overall business profitability.
Establish and manage sales incentive and discount programs.
Business Planning & Reporting
Prepare regular sales, performance, and forecasting reports for senior management.
Track market trends, competitor activity, and market share performance.
Identify new business opportunities and develop initiatives to increase sales volume and profitability.
Marketing & Customer Acquisition
Lead dealership sales campaigns, promotional activities, customer events, and marketing initiatives.
Support digital marketing, online lead generation, and social media-driven customer acquisition strategies.
Expand new customer acquisition and strengthen corporate sales activities, particularly within the SME sector.
Collaborate with manufacturer representatives to execute brand programs and sales initiatives.
Team Leadership & Talent Development
Recruit, onboard, and develop sales consultants and support staff.
Provide coaching, performance management, and ongoing training to maximize team effectiveness.
Foster a high-performance culture focused on customer satisfaction, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Enhance employee engagement and retention through effective leadership and development initiatives.
Customer Relationship Management
Maintain high levels of customer satisfaction across all sales activities.
Resolve escalated customer concerns and manage relationships with key and VIP customers.
Ensure consistent delivery of premium customer experiences aligned with brand expectations.
Inventory & Operational Management
Oversee vehicle ordering, trade-in management, and inventory planning.
Manage demonstration vehicles, company vehicles, and related logistics activities.
Coordinate closely with internal departments to ensure smooth dealership operations.
Support branch facility management and maintain showroom presentation standards.
Required Qualifications
Proven leadership experience in automotive retail, dealership operations, or vehicle sales management.
Strong understanding of dealership financial performance, KPIs, and profitability management.
Demonstrated success in sales strategy development and execution.
Experience managing marketing campaigns and customer acquisition initiatives.
Strong people management skills with experience building and developing high-performing teams.
Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management abilities.
Preferred Qualifications
Deep understanding of automotive retail business strategy and performance management.
Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative business analysis.
Strong problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mindset.
Ability to lead organizational change and drive business transformation initiatives.
Recognized as a role model for leadership, professionalism, and customer focus.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Commercially driven leader with strong business acumen.
Passionate about premium customer experiences and sales excellence.
Data-oriented and comfortable making decisions based on performance metrics.
Effective coach and mentor who develops talent and motivates teams.
Proactive, innovative, and focused on delivering sustainable business growth.
Benefits
Flex-time work arrangement with no core working hours.
Annual paid leave starting after six months of employment.
Comprehensive social insurance coverage.
Career development opportunities within a premium consumer-facing business.
Collaborative and performance-oriented working environment.