AVP, Dealer Relationship Manager – Tallahassee & Gainesville, FL

Santander US; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 77,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Santander US is seeking a Dealer Relationship Manager to drive loan originations and build strong partnerships with franchised and independent auto dealerships in Tallahassee and Gainesville, FL. The role requires in-territory travel, in-person meetings, and educating dealers on Santander finance programs.

You will guide dealers through product guidelines, underwriting policies, and digital tools, while coordinating with Credit and Funding teams to deliver superior service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
• 5+ years of sales experience in auto finance, client relations, account management, or automotive retail sales management.
• Ability to travel daily within assigned territory up to 100% of the time.
• Strong knowledge of dealership operations and auto finance products; excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish, develop and manage relationships with automotive dealerships in the territory.
• Grow loan originations and dealer engagement by promoting auto finance programs including Santander.
• Educate dealers on products, programs, underwriting policies, and digital tools.
• Coordinate meetings between dealer principals and dealer commercial services partners.
• Represent Santander at dealer events and ensure regulatory and policy compliance.

Skills

Relationship building

Sales strategy

Dealership operations

Communication & negotiation

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance/Marketing or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

It Starts With You:

Santander is a global leader and innovator in the financial services industry and is evolving from a high-impact brand into a technology-driven organization. Our people are at the heart of this journey and together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

The Difference You Make:

As one of the nation’s top five auto finance providers, we partner with more than 14,000 dealerships nationwide to deliver competitive financing solutions for both prime and non‑prime customers. Our mission is to help dealers grow their business while making vehicle ownership more accessible to customers.

Position Summary

The Dealer Relationship Manager (DRM) is the front-line sales representative responsible for building and maintaining strong partnerships with franchised and independent auto dealerships in a defined territory. This individual will be accountable for driving loan originations, educating dealers on products, finance programs, underwriting policies, ensuring outstanding service and responsiveness.

This outside sales position requires the associate to reside within the assigned territory covering Tallahassee and Gainesville, FL, to meet business needs, effectively serve clients, engage with prospects, and attend in-person meetings and events.

• Establish, develop, and manage strong, trusted relationships with automotive dealerships within the territory.
• Grow loan originations and dealer engagement by promoting the company's auto finance programs including Santander.
• Auto Finance, OEM programs, small business, dealer commercial products, and digital services.
• Execute sales strategies and support key initiatives as directed by sales management.
• Identify market trends and competitive activities to identify growth opportunities.
• Provide ongoing education to dealerships on finance program guidelines, underwriting policies, digital tools, and other platforms.
• Maintain contact with dealership personnel through dealer visits to understand business needs, maximize engagement in the company’s offerings, and ensure overall satisfaction.
• Perform routine account management tasks and proper contact management to ensure accurate record keeping.
• Partner closely with Credit and Funding teams to deliver superior service and resolve dealer issues quickly.
• Coordinate meetings between Dealer Principals and dealer commercial services partners (Floor Plan).
• Communicate dealer performance KPIs with dealership owners and general management staff.
• Provide support to internal partners such as dealer collections, dealer performance, risk, pricing, legal, to resolve outstanding business matters.
• Represent the company at dealer events, trade shows, and industry meetings.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and company policies in dealer interactions.

What You Bring:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Marketing or equivalent work experience - Required.

Professional Experience

• 5+ years of sales experience in auto finance, client relations, account management, relationship management. or automotive retail sales management

Skills

• Ability to travel daily within assigned territory up to 100% of the time. Experience in Microsoft Office products. Proven ability to build strong business relationships and deliver results in a goal-oriented environment. Strong understanding of dealership operations and auto finance products. Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, and negotiation skills. Self-starter with strong organizational and territory management abilities. Effective problem-solving and time management skills.

Certifications

No Certifications listed for this job.

It Would Be Nice For You To Have:

Established work history or equivalent demonstrated through a combination of work experience, training, military service, or education.

What Else You Need To Know:

The base pay range for this position is posted below and represents the annualized salary range. For hourly positions (non‑exempt), the annual range is based on a 40-hour work week. The exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, training, licensure and certifications and location.

Base Pay Range

Minimum:

$76,875.00 USD

Maximum:

$127,500.00 USD

We Value Your Impact

Your contribution matters and it’s recognized. You can expect a fair and competitive rewards package that reflects the impact you create and the value you deliver. We know rewards go beyond numbers. Offering more than just a paycheck our benefits are designed to support you, your family and your well-being, now and into the future. Santander Benefits - 2026 Santander OnGoing/NH eGuide (foleon.com)

Risk Culture

We embrace a strong risk culture and all of our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

EEO Statement

At Santander, we value and respect differences in our workforce. We actively encourage everyone to apply. Santander is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Working Conditions

Frequent minimal physical effort such as sitting, standingand walking is required for this role. Depending on location, occasional moving and lifting light equipment and/or furniture may be required.

Employer Rights

This job description does not list all of the job duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. You may be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and either you or the employer may terminate your employment at any time for any reason.

What To Do Next

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process for all candidates. If you require any assistance or accommodation due to a disability or any other reason, please contact us at [e-mail] to discuss your needs.