Business Development Manager

Volkswagen

Full-time - Mid Level

Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers

About the position

The VWFS US Business Development Manager is a field-based role responsible for acting as the primary business consultant and sales contact between VWFS and its dealer customers. This position focuses on developing, growing, and sustaining VWFS US business in retail, lease, ancillary products, and wholesale and remarketing relationships with Volkswagen and Audi dealers. The role requires collaboration with business partners to leverage VWFS products and services for mutual success, while also ensuring compliance with operating standards and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic plans to reach retail, lease, remarketing, and ancillary product objectives for the district each year in support of VWFS's business plan.
• Provide periodic reports on status vs. objective.
• Build trusting and mutually beneficial relationships with dealer customers as well as internal VWFS US and brand colleagues.
• Promote and sell retail, lease, wholesale, end of term (remarketing), and ancillary product and service offerings of VWFS and Audi Financial Services.
• Promote district, regional, and national programs to dealerships.
• Stay current with each dealership to identify opportunities and promote company products for mutual benefit.
• Provide feedback/updates to appropriate dealership personnel on the dealership's performance on company sales programs and promotions.
• Coordinate programs, activities, and communication between VWFS US and dealerships.
• Train dealer personnel as needed on company systems and programs or arrange for such training to be conducted.
• Manage access to company systems and provide company and brand news to dealers.
• Develop and maintain an effective ongoing business relationship with local VW and Audi teams to ensure accomplishment of mutual goals and objectives.
• Familiarize dealers with VWFS's policies, procedures, forms, and finance plans.
• Provide training and support for the retail, lease, and end of term processes.
• Hold sales meetings as needed.
• Maintain account management responsibility and cognizance over VWFS's secured wholesale assets.
• Resolve wholesale related problems, including payment delinquency, billing errors, inventory discrepancies, etc.
• Continuously monitor the financial position of existing wholesale accounts.
• Counsel Dealers on a continuing basis to ensure compliance with operating standards and specific approval contingencies.
• Collaborate with wholesale dealers on additional lending opportunities.
• Review monthly sales penetration and account performance with the dealer and finance manager/business manager.
• Solicit new wholesale business and initiate the development of credit package requests.
• Maintain an open line of communication between Region Management and region office personnel.
• Assist in wholesale takeovers, equity verifications, and other team activities as required.
• Serve as the primary field contact between corporate remarketing and the dealer organization.
• Implement remarketing activities and merchandising programs to minimize costs and maximize dealer involvement.
• Conduct monthly and annual business reviews of all wholesale accounts.
• Assist with equity verification at each wholesale account as needed.
• Develop recommendations for corrective and/or remedial action where necessary.
• Provide constant feedback to the region leader, including collection of information and programs from key competitors.
• Stay cognizant of financial industry trends and competitive developments.
• Update sales activities using salesforce.com and various other reports.
• Responsibly manage any assigned budget.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of professional work experience, preferably in automotive financial operations.
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience; MBA or Master's preferred.
• High impact written and verbal communications skills.
• Professional sales skills and analytical abilities.
• Strong business consulting skills and advanced presentation skills with an excellent command of PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of automotive dealer business, accounting, planning, finance statements, P&L, retail sales and leasing, wholesale credit, and marketing.
• Understanding of retail and commercial credit principles and processes.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of the salesforce business application or ability to quickly grasp and use key components.
• Sound understanding of business management and business finance as applied in automotive dealerships.
• Ability to grasp, track, understand, and respond to company and customer key performance indicators.

Benefits

• Eligible for a job-related company vehicle.