Dealer Development Director (North America)

Gotion Inc. is based in Silicon Valley, CA, currently building a Manufacturing facility in Manteno, IL and has R&D centers in Ohio, China, Japan and Europe. We innovate in the next generation electric vehicle and energy storage technologies (lithium batteries and related systems) with the aim to accelerate electrified transportation and achieve sustainable development. Gotion is powered by a leading power battery technology company that provides solutions for vehicles including the world's first mass commercial e-bus route.

Gotion is a career destination - we are not simply attempting to just fill another job, but to pursue a dream of global green energy together! We offer outstanding opportunities to individuals seeking an exciting and challenging working environment. Everyone is highly valued and plays a vital role in the growth of our organization.

Location: Manteno, IL, United States – Onsite

Reports to: VP of Sales & Marketing, Americas

Scope: U.S and Canada

Travel: ~40%

Position Summary

The Dealer Development Director – North America will lead the establishment, launch, and expansion of Gotion-owned 4S/SOHO dealerships across the United States and Canada. This includes designing the dealership concept, selecting locations, building operations from the ground up, and developing integrated showroom, sales, customer experience, service-light capability, and parts availability functions.

This role is strategic and hands-on, responsible for creating Gotion’s first-owned dealer network in North America. The Director will develop store standards, build teams, oversee launch operations, and ensure seamless day-to-day execution across multiple locations.

Although this is not a heavy aftersales service role, the leader must build and govern baseline service support, customer handling standards, and parts readiness within each Gotion-owned dealership.

Nice to have: experience establishing a service or dealership network from scratch, including startup operations, process design, and capability building.

Key Responsibilities

Company-Owned Dealership Network Development (Core)

Lead planning, establishment, and expansion of Gotion-owned 4S/SOHO dealerships across North America.

Conduct market and location analysis; select sites and define dealership formats.

Develop operating models for showroom, sales, service-light, and parts readiness functions.

Establish facility standards, operating procedures, staffing plans, and store governance models.

Sales Enablement & Retail Operations Support

Build retail sales capabilities across Gotion-owned stores, including hiring/training and performance management.

Partner with sales teams to execute customer meetings, product demos, and in-store engagements.

Implement CRM, retail sales tools, and structured sales processes to drive conversion and revenue.

Brand Experience & Showroom Development

Lead design and rollout of Gotion’s showroom concept, ensuring exceptional customer experience.

Oversee store layout, product displays, experience flow, and merchandising.

Ensure brand consistency across all company-owned retail locations.

Dealer Training & Capability Development

Develop and deliver training programs for sales teams, product specialists, and customer-facing staff.

Maintain training curriculum, onboarding playbooks, product guides, and operational handbooks.

Conduct national dealer conferences, regional workshops, and certification programs.

Service Standards & Customer Support (Light After-Sales)

Establish baseline service-light capability for all Gotion-owned stores, including safety protocols and diagnostic workflows.

Build SOPs for customer communication, basic troubleshooting, and escalation pathways.

Ensure consistent customer experience and service quality across all dealership locations.

Parts Planning & Inventory Management (External Warehouse / 3PL Model)

Evaluate, select, and manage external warehouse and 3PL partners to support regional parts storage and distribution.

Define stocking requirements, replenishment cycles, safety stock levels, and parts availability KPIs.

Partner with Supply Chain to design the regional distribution model, including warehouse selection and logistics routing.

Oversee 3PL performance in receiving, storage, pick/pack/ship speed, order accuracy, and inventory integrity.

Ensure parts operations support:

• Service readiness (first-line technical support capability)
• Retail performance (high fill rates and fast availability)
• Operational Governance & Business Model Optimization
• Create operating policies, KPIs, compliance standards, and performance dashboards.
• Conduct regular audits of store operations, customer experience, and brand compliance.
• Drive continuous improvements to maximize store profitability, customer satisfaction, and market coverage.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Product, Supply Chain, HR, Operations, Finance, and Quality.
• Align dealership execution with broader commercial, brand, and technical strategies.
• Lead new initiatives or pilot programs for retail innovation and customer experience.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 10 years in dealer development, retail operations, channel management, or service network development.
• Proven experience building or managing company-owned dealerships, retail stores, or service-light centers.
• Background in EV, automotive, industrial equipment, energy storage, or related sectors.
• Experience launching new locations, including site selection, buildout, and operational ramp.
• Experience enabling sales service-light customer experience in a retail or dealership environment.
  
  

Preferred Experience

• Experience building a service or dealership network from the ground up.
• Experience integrating sales service parts into a unified dealership model.
• Experience with external warehouse/3PL selection and oversight.
• Leadership roles in OEM-owned stores, authorized dealers, service centers, or brand experience centers.
• Familiarity with CRM, DMS, parts systems, diagnostics tools, or retail service platforms.
  
  

Core Competencies

• Strategic & Operational Leadership – Able to design and scale a multi-location dealer network.
• Retail & Dealer Operations Excellence – Strong understanding of store operations and performance levers.
• Customer Experience Design – Ability to architect best-in-class showroom and service experiences.
• Commercial Acumen – Deep understanding of retail sales, conversion, and revenue drivers.
• Technical Aptitude – Comfort with product training, diagnostics, and service workflows.
• Change Leadership – Effective at driving capability building and operational transformation.
• Cross-Functional Influence – Able to align multiple departments around dealer execution.
  
  

Base pay is one part of our total compensation package at Gotion, and is determined within a range. This provides you with the opportunity to progress as you grow and advance your career at Gotion. The base pay range for this role is shown below, and will depend on your skills, qualifications, experiences, and location.

Expected Pay Range

$160,000 - $200,000 USD

Gotion Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to fostering a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve, cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging, and ensuring equal employment opportunities for all.

We provide equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions (including breastfeeding), parental status, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Gotion Inc., we strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.