Automotive Sales Manager
Great Managers Build Sales. Exceptional Leaders Build People.
Join DeFOUW Automotive | Lafayette, Indiana
Most dealerships hire managers to manage numbers. At DeFOUW Automotive, we're looking for someone who can build something much bigger.
We're searching for a Sales Manager who inspires confidence, develops talent, creates accountability, and leads by example. Someone who believes the best sales culture isn't created through pressure—it's built through coaching, consistency, integrity, and a relentless commitment to customer satisfaction.
If you're passionate about winning, love developing people, and believe that a great customer experience starts with a great team, we'd love to meet you.
Why DeFOUW Automotive?
For more than 65 years, DeFOUW Automotive has earned the trust of our customers and our community by doing business the right way. Our reputation wasn't built overnight—and it isn't maintained by chance. It's built every day by leaders who:
- Set high expectations.
- Lead with integrity.
- Hold themselves accountable.
- Invest in their people.
- Never stop improving.
We aren't looking for someone to simply fill a position. We're looking for someone who wants to make an impact.
What You'll Lead
As our Sales Manager, you'll play a critical leadership role in shaping the success of both our dealership and our people. You'll coach and develop a high-performing sales team, create an exceptional customer experience, and drive results while fostering a culture built on professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement. Every day you'll have the opportunity to:
- Coach, mentor, and develop Sales Consultants to maximize both performance and career growth.
- Create an energetic, positive, and accountable sales culture.
- Lead daily sales meetings focused on motivation, training, and performance.
- Work alongside Sales Consultants throughout the customer journey to ensure an outstanding buying experience.
- Monitor CRM activity and customer follow-up to ensure every opportunity is managed with urgency.
- Analyze key performance metrics and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain top-performing sales professionals.
- Partner with Finance, Service, Parts, and Fixed Operations to create a seamless ownership experience.
- Resolve customer concerns with professionalism while protecting long-term customer relationships.
- Ensure compliance with dealership policies, manufacturer standards, and all applicable federal and state regulations.
Who You Are
You're more than a sales manager. You're a leader. You understand that success isn't measured only by monthly numbers—it is measured by the people you develop, the culture you create, and the trust you earn.
You probably possess:
- Proven automotive sales leadership experience
- A successful track record of driving sales performance
- Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills
- Experience utilizing CRM platforms and dealership technology
- Outstanding organizational and problem-solving skills
- A customer-first mindset
- High ethical standards and unquestionable integrity
- A competitive drive balanced with genuine care for your team
What Success Looks Like in This Role
Within your first year, you'll have:
- Built a highly engaged, accountable sales team.
- Improved sales performance through coaching rather than micromanagement.
- Increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.
- Developed future leaders within the department.
- Helped strengthen one of the most respected dealership cultures in Indiana.
Why You'll Love Working Here
At DeFOUW Automotive, we believe exceptional people deserve exceptional support. We provide:
- Competitive compensation with performance-based incentives
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Paid Time Off
- Employee Vehicle Purchase Program
- Ongoing Leadership Development
- Professional Training
- Career Advancement Opportunities
- A collaborative leadership team that values your ideas
- A culture where integrity matters as much as results
This Opportunity Is For You If...
- You enjoy coaching more than controlling.
- You celebrate your team's success more than your own.
- You embrace change and continuously look for better ways to lead.
- You hold yourself to the same standards you expect from others.
- You believe customers remember how they were treated long after they forget the price they paid.
If that sounds like you, we want to talk. Apply today and help shape the future of DeFOUW Automotive.
DeFOUW Automotive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees are respected, valued, and empowered to succeed. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, business needs, and applicable law.
Pay: $140,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) 2% match
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
