Dealer Principal

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group's entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview of the role:

The Dealer Principal is responsible for leading and maximizing the performance of all the branch operational functions and directing the activities of all departmental managers; coaching them in establishing their departmental financial and non-financial objectives.

What you will do:

• Assumes ultimate accountability for the achievement of the budgeted operational objectives in revenue, volume, profit, Guest engagement, and employee engagement; thereby, maximizing returns on investment.
• Manage overall Branch financial budgetary goals and HR forecasts.
• Demonstrate self-management, time management and process management skills. Able to promote, coordinate, and support change.
• Responsible for securing and maintaining the company's fixed assets at the branch.
• Manage branch activities to ensure they are carried out as per the company's policies and procedures through effective communication and monitoring. Ensure compliance to brand standards and values by all staff by living the brand and educating all branch staff.
• Ensure Management and other stakeholders are kept informed of progress and issues related to branch operations.
• Participate in annual strategy planning and objective settings, and follow up with quarterly and monthly business plan reviews.
• Able to present effectively and eloquently to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage documentation and legal government relation matters pertaining to the center by adhering to the prescribed government rules and procedures to minimize legal implications to branch operation.
• Responsible for managing the daily functional and operational activities of the different business departments in the center through regular discussions to achieve smooth business operations.
• Direct, manage and develop employees in the branch by providing regular feedback and updates to management pertaining to their performance to enhance the level of employees' engagement.
• Manage high level customer escalations or issues arising out of transactional situations by promoting Guest First philosophy to ensure overall branch engagement targets are achieved.
• Responsible for managing a talent pool of branch sales and service professionals and coaching team members on the technical aspects of the company's products and services through robust branch marketing campaigns and sales promotion techniques, procedures and standards to achieve branch sales targets and sustainable growth.

Required skills to be successful:

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent.
• The job holder should have a minimum of 5 years' automotive industry experience with at least 2 years as a Branch or Service Manager.
• Experience in optimization of Automotive Services.
• Ideally has strong operational experience in both Aftersales & Sales.

About the team:

• This role will be reporting to the Head of Retail.

What equips you for the role:

• Skills in sales & aftersales operations and customer relations.
• Ability to analyse and interpret financial data.
• Negotiation skills and able to close deals.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate and interact with officials at all levels and to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Obtaining commitment and co-operation ideally through consent and willingness.
• High energy & enthusiasm.
• Leadership and ability to drive through complex solutions.
• Professional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills able to drive best practices and productivity across a diverse workforce.
• Innovative problem-solving skills with entrepreneurial mind-set.
• Confidence in own decision making.
• Target oriented and drive to exceed demanding challenges.