General Sales Manager

Job Details

Job Location:

Laird Noller Ford of Lawrence - LAWRENCE, KS, Salary Range: $10000.00 - $20000.00

Base+Commission/month, General Sales Manager Laird Noller Automotive Laird Noller Automotive is looking for an experienced, driven General Sales Manager to join our leadership team. We are looking for a true automotive leader—someone who knows how to build a team, create accountability, work deals, protect gross, increase volume, and keep the sales floor moving. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to take ownership of a department and have a direct impact on the success and growth of the dealership.

The GSM/Sales Manager will oversee day-to-day sales operations and work closely with dealership and executive leadership to drive performance.

• Lead, coach, train, and hold the sales team accountable
• Drive new and pre-owned vehicle sales volume
• Structure and desk deals while balancing gross, volume, and customer experience
• Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly sales performance
• Establish individual and department goals and ensure consistent follow-through
• Conduct effective daily sales meetings
• Manage CRM activity, lead response, appointments, follow-up, and closing performance
• Monitor traffic, closing ratios, lead sources, and salesperson productivity
• Ensure every opportunity is being properly worked and followed up
• Recruit, onboard, train, and develop sales professionals
• Work closely with Finance to improve deal flow, profitability, product penetration, and funding
• Assist with inventory management, aging, pricing, merchandising, and turn
• Review trades and assist with vehicle appraisals
• Identify aged inventory and develop strategies to move it
• Maintain strong relationships with lenders, vendors, and manufacturer representatives as appropriate
• Ensure dealership and manufacturer processes are followed
• Maintain high standards for compliance, documentation, and customer treatment
• Address customer concerns quickly and professionally
• Work closely with Fixed Operations, Accounting, Marketing, and executive leadership
• Help develop advertising, sales events, inventory strategies, and monthly sales plans
• Provide accurate and timely reporting to executive leadership
• Create a culture of urgency, accountability, teamwork, and performance

We want someone who understands that great sales management is more than sitting at the desk and penciling deals. Our ideal candidate:

• Has automotive sales management experience
• Has a proven ability to lead and develop a sales team
• Understands dealership financials and the relationship between volume, gross, expenses, and net profitability
• Can effectively desk and close deals
• Understands both new and used vehicle operations
• Is comfortable managing inventory and aging
• Understands CRM processes and lead management
• Uses numbers and reporting to manage performance—not guesswork
• Holds people accountable while maintaining a positive culture
• Communicates well with employees, customers, and executive leadership
• Is competitive, organized, energetic, and results-driven
• Can make decisions and solve problems without needing constant direction
• Leads from the front and is willing to jump in wherever needed

Success in this position means building a consistent, profitable sales department. We expect our GSM/Sales Manager to know where the department stands every day—not just at the end of the month. That means knowing the numbers, knowing the inventory, knowing the pipeline, knowing where deals are getting stuck, and knowing what each member of the team needs to do to improve.

We want a leader who can celebrate wins, address problems quickly, develop people, and continuously push the department forward.