** SEARCH CONCLUDED ** SALES DIRECTOR - RCI FINANCIAL SERVICES


With a sixty year history in the UK, RCI Financial Services is the financial services specialist for four of the UK’s leading car brands: Renault, Nissan, Dacia and Infiniti. Helping individuals and businesses to buy, hire or lease new and used vehicles from their car partners, the majority of their 300+ team members are based at the head office in Maple Cross, with local teams all over the country. They cover 36 countries and contribute to growth of the Alliance brands. In 2016 they financed the purchase of 1,563,954 vehicles. They also offer specialist insurance, as well as wholesale funding facilities for parts and new and used vehicles for their dealer partners. Their purpose is to serve as a strategic lever for the Alliance brands. By factoring in the specific characteristics of each brand and planning ahead for emerging auto-mobility challenges, they partner them in their sales policies, which seek to win over new customers and earn lasting loyalty.

Due to internal progression, there is now a requirement to recruit a new Sales Director to join the Executive team in a Board position. Reporting into Jean-Louis Labauge, the UK Managing Director of RCI Financial Services and RCI Bank UK, the Sales Director will play an integral role in delivering future growth of the UK business.

ROLE:  

The job-holder is accountable for delivering RCI's UK monthly and annual volume & profit objectives on New & Used vehicle Finance & Services, supporting the Alliance Brand partners growth ambitions & the F&I profitability of their respective dealer networks, through the initiation and deployment of RCI’s commercial strategy and the management of Network performance.   Through the nurturing of strong relationships with Manufacturer and Network partners and the management of a team of team of 27 permanent field & office-based staff, the job-holder is responsible for increasing Network loyalty to RCI, the implementation & monitoring of a robust policy at dealer level, including strategic guidance, the negotiation of annual trading terms, staff training, sales systems & methods, regulatory compliance, optimisation of renewals opportunities, together with the effective deployment of Retail & Business Offers, the development of a strong Used vehicle activity and promotion of RCI Services. KEY

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

New Vehicle Programme Development and Deployment

  • Actively participates in the development of annual programmes and quarterly campaigns 
  • Co-manages the inception of Dealer Reward Programmes linked to New vehicle performance and Finance Renewals 
  • Ensures the effective deployment of quarterly campaigns, new RCI initiatives & maximises the usage & penetration of existing programmes 
  • Ensures the effective coordination & consolidation of Dealer feedback on campaigns and the provision of competitor information   

Used Vehicle Programme Development and Deployment

  • Responsible for the conception, pricing and deployment of Used vehicle offers, including National schemes, Group bespoke terms and promotional offers, notably joint RCI-Manufacturer operations.
  • Engineers associated Dealer remuneration programmes aimed at maximising RCI penetration and customer satisfaction in an FCA-complaint manner 
  • Cooperates actively with the RCI Re-marketing and Network Funding teams to maximise leverage opportunities for the Used vehicle business 
  • Defines and develops RCI’s strategy on new channel and digital activities by identifying and developing future opportunities complementary to RCI’s traditional Used vehicle business model, encompassing B2C & C2C initiatives.   

Finance Renewals Programmes

  • Works in close cooperation with the Total Customer Experience department and Manufacturers to define RCI’s Finance Renewals programme and quarterly Parity campaigns 
  • Responsible for its deployment at Dealer level, the monitoring of results and the instigation of corrective actions to address performance shortfalls

External & Internal Sales Training Strategy and Delivery

  • Defines a strategy for the development & deployment of industry-leading & effective training for the Dealer Network with respect to F&I, at all levels of the Dealership including training needs analysis, regulatory compliance, sales systems & processes, F&I products & services & sales techniques 
  • Scopes & manages the effective provision of the required training modules in terms of in-house or externalised delivery, classic or on-line solutions, working as required with outside agencies & suppliers
  • Ensures a close liaison with the Manufacturers to provide a coherent & integrated approach to Training
  • Organises training for the field team   

Sales Methods & Tools for the Network & RCI Field Force

  • Maximises the effectiveness of the Network’s F&I operations & Account Manager activity through the provision of relevant methods & tools 
  • Supports the implementation new systems, processes & products, defining the delivery method & liaising closely with relevant departments within RCI 
  • Actively participates in the development of internal projects   

Performance Management

  • Agrees national objectives for sales activity, cascades via the Sales Team and monitors achievement monthly 
  • Initiates corrective actions as required to address performance deficits or exploit opportunities 

Relationship Management

  • Nurtures relationships with major Dealer Groups to build support & maximise loyalty 
  • Develops strong relationships and regular contact with Manufacturers & promotes close integration of respective field teams 
  • Represents RCI regularly at Manufacturer Board and Dealer Council meetings   

Budget Formulation & Management

  • Responsible for elaborating the strategy, commercial & financial data for Mid Term Plan, annual Budget & periodic reforecasts relating to Used vehicles. 
  • Accountable for the formulation of the annual Sales’ operating expense budget, expenditure control and reforecasts

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

Knowledge & Experience:  

  • Extensive motor industry experience in a relevant role is a pre-requisite 
  • Detailed knowledge of Retail & Fleet funding products & services is preferable 
  • Current or previous experience in both a field / dealer-facing role and Head Office function is preferable  

Personal skills:  

  • Excellent verbal, written skills 
  • Strong presentation, influencing and negotiation skills 
  • Outstanding Customer Relationship Management skills 
  • Excellent Facilitation & Consultative skills 
  • Analytical skills 
  • Ability to work as part of a team & autonomously 
  • Self-organisation 
  • Strong Project Management skills 
  • Ability to mobilise, motivate & drive colleagues & Manufacturer counterparts   

Drive for Change / Renault Way:  

  • Strong focus on achieving the RCI & Manufacturer partners’ goals 
  • Respect the principles of the Renault Management Way at all times

REWARDS

  • A competitive base salary 
  • 20% bonus Tax efficient car ownership scheme for up to 4 cars. 3 cars are free. 
  • Family healthcare 
  • Dental (self and partner) 
  • Pension 7.2% company contribution (3.5% personal contribution which is refunded in monthly payroll)
  • Flexible benefits scheme 
  • Annual medical screening 
  • 27 days holiday (+ two half days at Christmas period) 
  • Renault share scheme 
To apply: Please send CV and covering note to: daryl.mason@hartmannmason.com