Automotive Program Specialist

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 34,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Reynolds Community College seeks a part‑time Automotive Program Specialist to strengthen industry partnerships for the Automotive Technology program in Henrico, VA. You will connect with dealerships, repair facilities, fleets, and other employers to align workforce needs with student opportunities.

Working with faculty and leadership, you will gather employer feedback, foster collaborations, and organize activities such as site visits, guest speakers, and internships to support student readiness

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the automotive industry, workforce needs, and sector trends.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with employers and external partners.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with employers, students, faculty, and leadership.
• Ability to identify employer workforce needs and connect them to opportunities for employment and work‑based learning.
• Demonstrated organizational skills to coordinate multiple relationships and activities.
• Ability to take initiative and represent the organization professionally with external partners.

Responsibilities

• Engage regional automotive employers to understand workforce needs and collaboration opportunities.
• Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with dealerships, repair facilities, fleets, and industry partners.
• Communicate employer feedback and industry trends to college stakeholders and program chairs.
• Facilitate student connections to internships, work‑based learning, and employment opportunities.
• Support employer visits, site tours, guest speakers, and career events.
• Represent Reynolds professionally and contribute to workforce planning and program improvements.

Skills

Industry knowledge

Relationship building

Communication skills

Workforce needs analysis

Organizational skills

Professional judgment

Job description

Title: Automotive Program Specialist

Agency: J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College

Location: Henrico - 087

FLSA: Nonexempt

Hiring Range: $25 - $28.00/hourly

Full Time or Part Time: Part Time

Job Description

Reynolds Community College is seeking a part-time Automotive Program Specialist to support the continued growth, industry engagement, and workforce alignment of the Automotive Technology program. This position will serve as a key connection between the College and the regional automotive industry, with a primary focus on developing, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with automotive dealerships, repair facilities, fleet operations, and other industry partners.

Working collaboratively with the Automotive Technology department chair, faculty, and college leadership, the Automotive Program Specialist will engage employers to better understand current and emerging workforce needs, identify opportunities for collaboration, and help ensure that the program remains connected to regional industry expectations and employment opportunities.

The specialist will maintain regular communication with existing industry partners while identifying and cultivating new relationships. The position will gather employer feedback regarding workforce needs, technical skills, industry trends, student readiness, and opportunities for employment and work-based learning and communicate relevant information to appropriate college stakeholders.

The Automotive Program Specialist will also help connect students with industry opportunities by facilitating relationships with employers and supporting activities such as employer visits, facility tours, guest speakers, hiring and networking events, career exploration activities, internships, and other work-based learning experiences. In collaboration with faculty and appropriate college resources, the specialist may assist students with understanding workplace expectations, professionalism, and preparation for employment.

The position will support continued industry engagement with the Automotive Technology program through activities such as advisory committee participation and employer outreach. The specialist will maintain appropriate records of employer contacts, partnership activities, employment and work-based learning opportunities, employer feedback, and student placement outcomes to support program planning and continuous improvement.

The Automotive Program Specialist will represent Reynolds professionally within the regional automotive community and help strengthen the College's visibility and relationships as a responsive education and workforce partner.

Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of the automotive industry, including workforce needs, career pathways, and dealership and/or automotive service operations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with employers, industry partners, or other external stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage effectively with employers, students, faculty, and college leadership.
• Ability to identify employer workforce needs and connect those needs to potential employment, work-based learning, and partnership opportunities.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to independently coordinate multiple relationships, activities, and priorities with appropriate follow-through.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and represent an organization professionally when working with external partners.

Additional Considerations

• Professional experience in the automotive industry or a closely related field.
  • Experience working with automotive dealerships, independent repair facilities, manufacturers, fleet operations, or other automotive employers.
  • Established professional relationships within the regional automotive industry.
  • Experience in employer engagement, workforce development, business development, recruitment, or industry partnerships.
  • Experience supporting internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning, career placement, or other employer-connected student experiences.
  • Familiarity with current automotive workforce trends, industry credentials, emerging technologies, and employer skill needs.