Toyota of Downtown Chicago Used Car Sales Manager

Chicago, IL - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 21 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Used Car Director Toyota of Downtown Chicago

Toyota of Downtown Chicago is building something different. Were not looking for someone to manage a used car lot. Were looking for a Used Car Director who understands that pre-owned is not a side businessits a profit center a customer acquisition engine and a competitive advantage.

Our model is built on Transparency and Velocity. We believe customers deserve real answers fast. We use AI and automation to handle the noise so our people can focus on what matters: acquiring the right inventory pricing it to move and delivering exceptional experiences. The Used Car Directors job is to make this model work by building a machine that sources reconditions and retails vehicles faster and smarter than anyone else in the market.

Position Overview

The Used Car Director owns the entire pre-owned operation from acquisition to delivery. You are accountable for turn gross volume and the processes that produce all three. But you dont just manageyou build. You create systems. You develop people. You find the gaps and close them.

You will lead an operation built around four distinct phases:

Acquisition: Trades service lane auctions KBB Instant Cash Offer equity mining and street purchases

Reconditioning: Speed to frontline cost control and quality standards

Pricing & Merchandising: Market-based pricing photography descriptions and digital presentation

Sales Execution: Working with Sales Management to convert inventory into deliveries

Your job is to ensure every phase operates with precision and urgency. Youre not above appraising a trade walking the recon lot or jumping into a deal thats stuck. You lead by example and hold your team to the same standard.

This role is designed for someone who wants to become a General Manager. At Murgado Automotive Group we have GM in Training positions and development paths available for high-performing Used Car Directors who prove themselves. Success in this department signals the operational discipline and business acumen we look for in our next generation of leaders.

Key Responsibilities

Acquisition Strategy and Execution

Own the acquisition pipeline. Know where every vehicle is coming from and build systems to increase flow.

Maximize trade capture on every deal. Work with Sales Management to ensure appraisals are competitive and timely.

Mine the service lane daily. Identify customers in equity positions and convert service visits into acquisitions.

Leverage KBB Instant Cash Offer equity mining tools and outbound campaigns to source inventory outside the showroom.

Maximize closed auction sales. Know what sells what doesnt and what the market will bear.

Utilize sourcing and wholesale channels like ACV & Manheim to sell wholesale inventory.

Reconditioning Management

Own the recon process from start to finish. Set and enforce time-to-frontline standards (target: 3-5 days).

Partner with Service and Parts to ensure work is completed on time and on budget.

Manage reconditioning costs per unit. Know where the dollars are going and eliminate waste.

Ensure every vehicle meets frontline-ready standards before it hits the lot or website.

Build a no surprises culturevehicles are disclosed accurately and reconditioned to standard.

Leverage Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV) program to maximize CPO penetration and backend gross.

Pricing Merchandising and Market Position

Price to the market not to your gut. Use market data (vAuto Tekion analytics) to set competitive prices that drive turn.

Own the 30/45/60-day aging buckets. Adjust pricing weekly based on market movement and days in inventory.

Ensure every vehicle has professional photos accurate descriptions and compelling digital presentation within 24 hours of frontline.

Coordinate with Marketing on used car campaigns promotions and inventory merchandising.

Monitor competitor pricing and inventory. Know whats moving and why.

Sales Collaboration and Deal Support

Partner with Sales Management to ensure used inventory is being actively worked.

Support appraisals on trades and provide real-time market data to desk managers.

Step into deals when neededstructure negotiate and close.

Ensure seamless handoff between digital inquiries and showroom delivery.

Financial Performance and Reporting

Own the P&L for the used car department. Know your numbers daily.

Track and report on acquisition cost recon cost days to sale turn rate and gross per unit.

Set monthly weekly and daily objectives. Track. Adjust. Execute.

Partner with the General Manager on inventory investment levels and floor plan management.

Team Development

Recruit train and develop buyers appraisers and recon coordinators.

Conduct regular one-on-ones. Set expectations. Give feedback. Remove obstacles.

Build a bench. The best Used Car Directors develop people who can step up.

Metrics and Accountability

You will be measured on:

Gross Profit (Front Gross per Unit Total Gross)

Turn Rate (Target: 45 days or less average age)

Volume (Units Retailed per Month)

Acquisition Mix (Trades Service Lane Auctions KBB/ICO)

Recon Efficiency (Days to Frontline Cost per Unit)

Aged Inventory (Units over 60 days as % of total)

Wholesale Loss (Minimize units wholesaled at a loss)

TCUV Penetration (Certified units as % of eligible inventory)

You will use Tekion (DMS) vAuto or equivalent pricing tools and equity mining platforms to drive decisions. If its not in the system it didnt happen.

Qualifications

Experience

Proven track record as a Used Car Manager Used Car Director or equivalent role in automotive retail.

Demonstrated ability to source inventory control recon costs and hit gross and volume targets.

Experience with modern DMS platforms (Tekion preferred) inventory management tools and CRM systems.

History of building processes and developing people.

Skills

Strong appraisal instincts and market awareness. You know what a car is worth and what it will bring.

Analytical mindset. You use data to make decisions not hunches.

Process-oriented. You build systems that scale.

Tech-literate. Comfortable with digital retailing AI tools and data-driven decision-making.

Excellent communication skills with customers employees peers and ownership.

Mindset

Believes in transparency over gamesmanship. Disclose accurately. Price fairly. Earn the business.

Values velocity: speed to acquisition speed to frontline speed to sale.

Understands that authority comes with accountability. You own the results.

Obsessed with turn. You know that time is the enemy of gross.

Hungry to grow. This role is a stepping stone to General Manager for the right person.

Other Requirements

Valid drivers license with clean driving record.

Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Willingness to attend auctions and travel for acquisition opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive Compensation: Base salary plus performance-based bonuses tied to gross volume and turn.

Comprehensive Benefits: Health dental vision 401(k) with company match PTO.

Career Growth: We have 13 dealerships in Illinois and 31 across the Murgado Automotive Group. Proven Used Car Directors have access to our GM in Training program and a clear path to General Manager.

Employee Discounts: Vehicle purchases parts and service.

Modern Tools: Youll work with Tekion and best-in-class inventory management tools.

Training: Ongoing development in leadership market analysis and emerging technology.

Why Toyota of Downtown Chicago

Were not a dealership stuck in 2005. Were building a model where AI handles initial inquiries and routine questions experts handle the deals and customers feel respected instead of manipulated. The Used Car Director is the person who builds the inventory engine that powers the whole operation.

Toyota of Downtown Chicago is under Murgado Automotive Groups leadership and looking for a Used Car Director who wants to build a pre-owned department from scratchthe right way. Youll work intimately with Mario Murgado Jr. to set up and build a premier Used Vehicle Operation. You wont inherit someone elses aged units or broken processes. Youll build your own with the tools authority and backing to do it right.

With a 57-bay service operation and a growing customer base in Lincoln Park Lakeview and surrounding Chicago neighborhoods the opportunity to acquire vehicles through our service lane alone is significant. Add Toyotas strong brand momentum in the Chicago market and this is a pre-owned department with real upside.

If youve ever been frustrated by recon bottlenecks bad appraisals or a lot full of 90-day cars this is your chance to do it differently. And if aspire for more in your career this is where you prove it.

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a brief note on why youre the right person to build this department.

$130000 - $180000 a year

Salary dependent on performance - no cap on commissions.

Murgado Automotive Group is an equal opportunity employer. Murgado Automotive Group does not discriminate in employment on account of race/ethnicity color religion national origin gender sexual orientation/transgender status age disability martial/parental status citizenship status military status political affiliation and/or beliefs pregnancy order of protection status or other non-merit status.

We are an employer who participates in the E-verify program with the Department ofHomeland and Security.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process such as reviewing applications analyzing resumes or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us.

Required Experience:

Manager

Used Car Director Toyota of Downtown ChicagoToyota of Downtown Chicago is building something different. Were not looking for someone to manage a used car lot. Were looking for a Used Car Director who understands that pre-owned is not a side businessits a profit center a customer acquisition engine ...