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 sales, F&I, and operations 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 ResponsibilitiesEducational Partnership StrategyBuild strong relationships with academic leadership, career services, and faculty to embed Sonic into curriculum, programs, and career pathways.Position Sonic Automotive and EchoPark as leading destinations for business, sales, and automotive career growth. Campus & Early Career RecruitmentWork with Talent Acquisition to develop campus recruiting strategies across priority markets, including hiring events, classroom engagement, and branded activities.Equip Talent Acquisition team with 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 CollaborationCoordinate with brand and dealership leadership to participate in campus eventsCoordinate with talent acquisition team in recruiting efforts to fill Internships and Leadership Development Programs.Performance Measurement & OptimizationDefine 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.
