SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
Our client, a leading player in the automotive sector, is seeking a highly driven Dealer Training Academy Manager to take charge of their Training Academy. This exciting role offers the chance to design, manage, and deliver cutting-edge training and talent development solutions across their dealer network, ensuring alignment with global standards and local compliance.
As the successful candidate, you’ll lead the strategy behind retail training, oversee state-of-the-art facilities and assets, manage supplier performance, and ensure training remains relevant, innovative, and impactful in the ever-evolving automotive landscape.
What You’ll Be Doing
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Develop and implement a People & Talent Strategy for the dealer network, aligned to group standards.
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Manage service providers, contracts, and Service Level Agreements to ensure quality and compliance.
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Oversee the delivery of training programmes – from new model launches and technology updates to compliance and special projects.
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Design and publish a yearly training catalogue, schedules, pricing, and standards.
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Ensure facilities, fleets, and specialist tools are maintained to group and safety standards.
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Take ownership of budgets (OPEX & CAPEX) with monthly reporting.
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Benchmark, analyse trends, and promote services that support strategic objectives.
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Lead consultation with stakeholders to set Training Needs Analysis (TNA) plans and report on outcomes.
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Supervise procurement processes for service delivery and manage third-party providers.
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Maintain compliance with accreditation bodies (MerSeta, QCTO, HPCSA, etc.).
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Champion data integrity and sound data management practices.
Essential:
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Bachelor’s Degree (Business Management / HR Management or equivalent).
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5+ years’ automotive industry experience in training & development (3+ years at supervisory level).
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Strong business and financial acumen.
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Understanding of retail automotive environments and importer/dealer structures.
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Proven leadership of specialist teams.
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Project management expertise with the ability to handle complexity and volume.
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Entrepreneurial mindset with strong customer and business value-creation drive.
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Cultural awareness, adaptability, and excellent communication skills.
Added Advantage:
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Technical qualification (Technician or Engineering).
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Affinity for technology and data analytics.
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Experience in procurement, purchasing guidelines, and managing outsourced service providers.
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Excellent presentation skills and conceptual thinking ability.
This is a pivotal opportunity to shape the learning, growth, and success of a premier automotive dealer network.
You’ll play a central role in equipping the workforce with the skills needed to keep pace with technological change while fostering compliance, innovation, and customer excellence.
