General Manager

Lead One of the UK's Most Significant Automotive Auction Operations

Are you an inspiring leader with the commercial acumen, operational expertise, and strategic mindset to drive performance in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment?

Manheim Auctions is seeking an exceptional General Manager to lead our flagship Colchester Auction Centre, the largest physical auction operation in the South East.

This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a high-profile business, leading a team of more than 80 colleagues, shaping customer relationships, and driving operational and financial success.

About the Role

As General Manager, you will have full accountability for the performance, growth, and development of the Colchester operation. Reporting to the Senior Director, MAS, you'll provide visible leadership across the site, ensuring exceptional service delivery, commercial success, operational excellence, and a culture where people thrive.

you'll balance strategic thinking with hands-on leadership, taking responsibility for business performance while identifying opportunities for innovation, continuous improvement, and growth.

What You'll Be Doing

Driving Commercial Success

• Build and strengthen relationships with key customers, buyers, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Identify new business opportunities and contribute to the continued growth of the operation.
• Ensure customer expectations, service levels, and contractual commitments are consistently exceeded.
• Develop and deliver site business plans that support both short and long-term objectives.

Leading a High-Performing Team

• Inspire, develop, and lead a diverse workforce of up to 100 colleagues.
• Create a culture built on accountability, engagement, recognition, and performance.
• Support talent development, succession planning, and leadership capability across the business.
• Champion company values and foster an environment where people can perform at their best.

Delivering Operational Excellence

• Drive productivity, efficiency, quality, and safety across all areas of the auction centre.
• Ensure robust operational controls, inspection standards, and loss management processes are in place.
• Use performance data and insights to identify opportunities for improvement and implement effective solutions.
• Lead transformational projects that enhance customer experience and operational performance.
• Take full responsibility for delivering site financial targets.
• Maximise efficiencies while effectively managing costs and resources.
• Drive sustainable profitability through strong commercial decision-making and operational discipline.

About You

We're looking for a proven business leader who combines commercial awareness with exceptional people leadership and operational expertise.

You'll bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a large-scale automotive, auction or defleet environment.
• A strong track record of leading sizeable teams and delivering measurable business results.
• Experience managing customer relationships and driving commercial growth.
• A passion for operational excellence, continuous improvement, and change management.
• Strong financial and business acumen with experience managing budgets and performance targets.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• A visible, engaging leadership style that inspires confidence and drives accountability.

Why Join Manheim?

This is more than a site leadership role. It is an opportunity to shape the future of one of the most important auction operations within the UK business.

You'll join a market-leading organisation with a strong reputation, ambitious growth plans, and a culture that values collaboration, innovation, customer excellence, and developing outstanding talent.

Ready to Lead?

If you're an ambitious operational leader who thrives on challenge, enjoys delivering results through people, and wants to make a significant impact within a dynamic and evolving business, we'd love to hear from you.