Director Educational Partnerships

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonic Automotive in Charlotte seeks a Director of Educational Partnerships to design and build long-term talent pipelines through partnerships with colleges, universities, and technical schools. This role will be instrumental in developing future leaders and serving as a strategic connector between educational institutions and retail operations.

The leader will ensure Sonic attracts, develops, and converts top emerging talent into dealership roles, coordinating with brand and dealership

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in talent acquisition, workforce strategy, campus recruiting, or external partnerships.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate talent strategy into operational impact.
• Willingness to travel (40-50%) to campuses and other locations.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with academic leadership to embed Sonic into curricula and career pathways.
• Develop campus recruiting strategies across priority markets with events and branded activities.
• Coordinate with leadership to participate in campus events and internships.
• Define metrics and optimize partnership ROI.

Job description

• Compensation: USD 100,000 - USD 120,000 - yearly

Company Description

Sonic Automotive is a Fortune 500 automotive retailer with a commitment to delivering a superior guest experience through its network of franchised dealerships and its rapidly growing EchoPark Automotive segment. Sonic is focused on innovation, operational excellence, and developing future leaders who can drive performance across a dynamic, customer-centric retail environment.

Director Educational Partnerships

Job Description

The Director of Educational Partnerships will design and build long-term talent pipelines through partnerships with colleges, universities, and technical schools. This role will be instrumental in developing future leaders.

This leader will serve as a strategic connector between educational institutions and retail operations, ensuring Sonic is consistently attracting, developing, and converting top emerging talent into dealership roles.

Key Responsibilities

Educational Partnership Strategy

• Build strong relationships with academic leadership, career services, and faculty to embed Sonic into curriculum, programs, and career pathways.
• Position Sonic Automotive, Sonic Powersportsand EchoPark as leading destinations for business, sales, and automotive career growth.

Campus & Early Career Recruitment

• Work with Talent Acquisition to develop campus recruiting strategies across priority markets, including hiring events, classroom engagement, and branded activities.
• Equip Talent Acquisition teamwith tools and messaging to effectively attract and convert early-career talent.
• Work with Talent Acquisition to build innovative recruitment approaches that resonate with Gen Z talent, highlighting earnings potential, career pathing, and entrepreneurial opportunities within Sonic.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with brand and dealership leadership to participate in campus events
• Coordinate with talent acquisition team in recruiting efforts to fill Internships and Leadership Development Programs.

Performance Measurement & Optimization

• Define and track key success metrics, including pipeline volume, conversion rates, retention, and time-to-productivity.
• Analyze program effectiveness and continuously optimize partnership ROI.

Deliver regular insights and recommendations to executive leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• 3+ years of experience in either talent acquisition, workforce strategy, campus recruiting, or external partnerships.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate talent strategy into operational impact.
• Experience influencing senior leaders in a multi-location or decentralized environment.
• Willingness to travel (40-50%) to campuses and other locations.

Preferred

• Experience in automotive retail operations, hospitality, or multi-unit service environments.
• Familiarity with technical, vocational, or dealership training pathways.

Core Competencies

• External partnership development and influence
• Data-driven execution and continuous improvement
• Strong storytelling and employer branding
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, performance-driven culture

Why This Role Matters at Sonic

Sonic Automotive's continued growth depends on a strong, ready-now bench of leaders who can drive sales performance, deliver exceptional guest experiences, and lead high-performing teams. This role directly fuels that future by creating predictable, scalable pathways for early-career talent to enter and grow within the organization.