Director Educational Partnerships

Company DescriptionSonic 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 PartnershipsSalary: $100K - $120K Total Annual CompensationJob DescriptionThe Director of Educational Partnerships will design and lead Sonic Automotive’s enterprise strategy for building 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 by creating structured early-career pathways aligned to Sonic’s high-performance culture and guest-first philosophy.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 StrategyDevelop a national partnership strategy targeting community colleges, universities, HBCUs, and technical trade programs aligned to Sonic’s footprint and growth markets.Build 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 teams and store leaders 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.QualificationsRequired3+ 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 dealership locations.PreferredExperience in automotive retail operations, hospitality, or multi-unit service environments.Familiarity with technical, vocational, or dealership training pathways.Core CompetenciesExternal partnership development and influenceData-driven execution and continuous improvementStrong storytelling and employer brandingAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, performance-driven cultureWhy This Role Matters at SonicSonic 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.Additional InformationExperience the best the automotive industry has to offer and apply today. We look forward to sharing our success with the brightest talent out there!SummaryType: Full-timeFunction: Other