Auto Department Growth Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The Auto Department Growth Manager is responsible for leading the strategic growth, expansion, and long-term success of the Fresno Mission Auto Department. This position serves as the primary driver of vehicle donation growth, sales performance, customer engagement, community partnerships, and vocational training advancement.

The primary focus of this role is to identify innovative and sustainable ways to increase vehicle donations, expand vehicle sales, generate revenue, maximize the value of donated vehicles, and strengthen Fresno Mission's automotive training opportunities. The Auto Department Growth Manager is expected to think entrepreneurially, pursue new opportunities, build relationships throughout the community, and continually improve the department's ability to support Fresno Mission's ministry through increased financial performance and life-changing impact.

This role will also champion vocational training opportunities by helping students gain practical automotive knowledge, workplace skills, customer service experience, and exposure to automotive industry career pathways.

Operational oversight, inventory management, compliance, fleet administration, and documentation responsibilities remain important supporting functions to ensure the department operates efficiently and responsibly while pursuing aggressive growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Growth & Business Expansion

• Partner with the CBO to develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy for the Fresno Mission Auto Department.
• Identify innovative opportunities to increase vehicle donations throughout Fresno County and surrounding communities.
• Establish and strengthen referral relationships with auto repair facilities, dealerships, churches, businesses, fleet operators, towing companies, estate representatives, and community organizations.
• Create strategic partnerships that increase vehicle donations, customer traffic, and community awareness.
• Identify and implement new sales channels, revenue opportunities, and business initiatives that support sustainable growth.
• Serve as a visible ambassador of Fresno Mission's vehicle donation and automotive programs throughout the community.
• Promote the life-changing impact of vehicle donations and the ministry programs supported through Auto Department revenue.

Vehicle Donation Growth & Donor Relations

• Lead all efforts to increase vehicle donation activity and donor engagement.
• Develop outreach strategies that generate consistent vehicle donation leads.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with individual donors, businesses, and community partners.
• Ensure donors receive professional, responsive, and exceptional service throughout the donation process.
• Collaborate with internal departments to ensure donor acknowledgments and communications are completed appropriately.
• Evaluate donation trends and recommend improvements that increase donation volume and donor satisfaction.
• Continuously identify opportunities to expand the vehicle donation program and improve donor acquisition.

Sales Leadership & Revenue Growth

• Lead all efforts to increase vehicle sales volume, department revenue, and profitability.
• Develop and implement sales strategies designed to maximize vehicle value and accelerate inventory turnover.
• Evaluate pricing strategies, vehicle positioning, and market demand to optimize financial returns.
• Increase customer traffic through creative marketing, outreach, online sales, and promotional efforts.
• Improve lead conversion rates through effective customer engagement and sales follow-up.
• Explore additional retail, wholesale, auction, and online sales opportunities, pursue vehicle dealership license for FM
• Monitor sales performance and implement corrective actions to achieve departmental goals.
• Ensure customers receive professional, courteous, and transparent service throughout the purchasing process.
• Promote a culture focused on integrity, customer satisfaction, accountability, and strong sales performance.

This position is eligible to participate in a performance-based incentive program. In addition to base compensation, the Auto Department Growth Manager may earn bonus compensation through qualified vehicle sales. Incentive plans are determined and administered by Fresno Mission leadership and may be modified as organizational needs evolve.

Student Training & Workforce Development

• Expand and strengthen vocational training opportunities within the Auto Department.
• Develop hands-on learning experiences.
• Mentor and coach students while modeling professionalism, accountability, integrity, and Christ-centered leadership.
• Help students develop practical and marketable workplace skills.
• Assist students in understanding automotive industry career opportunities and employment pathways.
• Partner with industry professionals to enhance training opportunities.
• Foster a positive learning environment that promotes personal growth, responsibility, and workforce readiness.
• Support Fresno Mission's mission of transforming lives through meaningful work experience and vocational development.

Operations, Inventory & Compliance

• Provide oversight of vehicle inventory from donation intake through final sale or disposition.
• Ensure vehicles are evaluated, prepared, priced, marketed, and sold in a manner that maximizes value and supports sales objectives.
• Maintain accurate vehicle, donor, title, and sales records while ensuring required paperwork is completed properly and on time.
• Support compliance with DMV, DOT, environmental, and organizational requirements applicable to vehicle operations.
• Oversee preventative maintenance programs and fleet management practices that support efficient ministry operations.
• Promote safe, organized, and professional automotive operations while minimizing operational and compliance risks.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner effectively with mechanics, support staff, volunteers, leadership, and other Fresno Mission departments.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Build strong working relationships that support department growth, customer service, and vocational training objectives.
• Model Christ-centered leadership, professionalism, integrity, and stewardship in all interactions.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

Required

• Demonstrated leadership experience in automotive sales, dealership operations, vehicle donation programs, business growth, nonprofit enterprise, or related industries.
• Proven ability to increase sales, drive revenue growth, and achieve measurable performance goals.
• Strong relationship-building, marketing, customer service, and business development skills.
• Ability to identify opportunities, solve problems, and implement strategic growth initiatives.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with customers, donors, students, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office, email, online sales platforms, and digital record keeping.
• Valid California Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.
• Commitment to representing Fresno Mission with professionalism, integrity, and Christian character.

Preferred

• Automotive sales or dealership management experience.
• Experience growing vehicle donation, resale, auction, or automotive-related programs.
• Experience creating community partnerships and referral networks.
• Knowledge of vehicle titles, DMV processes, vehicle valuation, repair prioritization, and vehicle sales operations.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Performance Expectations

Success in this position will be measured by:

• Growth in vehicle donation volume and sales revenue
• Increased customer traffic and sales conversion rates.
• Expansion of community partnerships and referral sources.
• Increased profitability and department sustainability.
• Growth and effectiveness of vocational training opportunities.
• Overall contribution to Fresno Mission's mission, financial stability, and long-term organizational impact.

The Fresno Mission is a faith-based, nonprofit Christian organization that seeks to rescue, restore, and empower others through Christ-centered communities of transformation. All employees of Fresno Mission are an integral part of this outreach ministry. Due to the nature of this ministry, each employee must possess and maintain a Christian testimony of faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Employees must be in agreement with the Fresno Mission Statement of Faith.