Manager, Culture & Recognition

The Culture & Recognition Manager is the person who makes AutoNation feel like somewhere worth being. This role is responsible for bringing the DRIVE culture to life beyond the handbook - through the events associates look forward to, the moments that make milestones feel meaningful, and the recognition programs that tell people their contributions are seen. It is a highly visible, execution-focused role that blends creativity with operational discipline and requires someone who can plan meticulously, deliver consistently, and always keep the associate experience at the center.

This is a Manager role with enterprise reach - partnering across HR, Operations, and senior leadership to deliver programs that reinforce who AutoNation is as an employer and how it treats its people every day.

This role is fully onsite out of our HQ in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

What You Own

Culture Programming & Events

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Design and execute AutoNation’s enterprise culture and engagement event calendar - including associate appreciation events, company milestones, national observances, and DRIVE culture activations across the organization

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Own event logistics end-to-end: venue coordination, vendor management, budget tracking, communications, run-of-show, and post-event wrap-up - delivering experiences that are polished, on-brand, and on budget

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Partner with senior leadership, including the CHRO and CEO, on enterprise-wide culture moments that require executive visibility and tight coordination

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Build a culture programming calendar in advance of each year, ensuring events are planned with enough lead time to execute well and are distributed equitably across markets and populations

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Capture event feedback and participation data to inform future programming - continuously raising the bar on what associate-facing moments look and feel like at AutoNation

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Partner with HRBPs and Talent Advisors to ensure culture programming reaches field associates, not just corporate - designing events and activations that work at the store level

Recognition Programs

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Own the design, administration, and continuous improvement of AutoNation’s enterprise recognition programs - including peer recognition, leadership recognition, spot awards, and any recognition platform powered by a third-party vendor

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Serve as the primary platform administrator for AutoNation’s recognition technology - managing user access, program configuration, reporting, and the vendor relationship

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Develop recognition guidelines, toolkits, and communications that help people leaders recognize their teams consistently, authentically, and in alignment with DRIVE values

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Track recognition program participation, adoption, and sentiment across the organization - reporting insights to the Director and recommending adjustments to keep programs fresh and meaningful

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Identify opportunities to close recognition gaps - ensuring all associate populations, including field and hourly, have access to and visibility in recognition programs

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Stay current on recognition best practices and emerging trends, bringing forward ideas that keep AutoNation’s approach competitive and culturally resonant

Service Awards

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Own the full administration of AutoNation’s Service Awards program - ensuring every associate milestone is acknowledged accurately, on time, and with an experience that reflects the significance of the occasion

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Manage award fulfillment logistics in partnership with vendors - overseeing catalog maintenance, order accuracy, delivery tracking, and issue resolution

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Maintain accurate milestone data in partnership with HRIS - ensuring anniversary triggers are firing correctly and no associate is missed

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Develop Service Awards communications and manager guides that help people leaders personalize the milestone experience for their teams rather than letting it pass without acknowledgment

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Track program health metrics including fulfillment accuracy, on-time delivery, and associate satisfaction - surfacing issues proactively and driving continuous improvement

DRIVE Culture Activation

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Serve as a culture champion and practitioner - embedding DRIVE values into every program, event, and recognition touchpoint this role owns

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Partner with the Director and HR leadership to identify cultural moments that warrant enterprise-level programming - whether in response to engagement data, business change, or deliberate culture-building investment

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Support the rollout of culture-related initiatives from the Talent Strategy team by developing associate-facing content, events, and activation plans that bring the message to life

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Maintain a pulse on cultural health across the organization - partnering with the Associate Experience Specialist on Signal data to identify where culture programming can have the most impact

People Leadership

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Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, and development support for the Associate Experience Specialist — ensuring Signal execution, lifecycle surveys, and engagement action planning are prioritized and running well

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Conduct regular 1:1s and ongoing feedback conversations that help the associate grow in the role and deepen their expertise in listening and engagement

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Partner with the Director on goal-setting , performance reviews, and development planning for the Associate Experience Specialist

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Serve as the first point of escalation for platform issues, stakeholder questions, and workload prioritization within the listening and engagement function

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

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5+ years of experience in HR, culture, employee engagement, recognition, or event management

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Demonstrated experience planning and executing large-scale or multi-site associate-facing events end-to-end

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Experience managing recognition programs or vendor platforms, including administrative and reporting responsibilities

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Exceptional organizational and project management skills - able to manage multiple events and programs simultaneously without details falling through the cracks

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Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to produce polished associate-facing content, executive communications, and program materials

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High attention to detail and a low tolerance for a milestone being missed or an experience falling flat

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Collaborative and relationship-driven - this role requires trust and coordination across many stakeholders simultaneously

Preferred Qualifications

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Experience with a third-party recognition platform ( Workhuman , Achievers, Reward Gateway, or equivalent)

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Background in culture activation, employer brand, or internal communications

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Experience in a large, multi-site, or operationally complex organization with distributed associate populations

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Familiarity with engagement data and how to connect recognition and culture programming to listening outcomes

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Event planning certification or equivalent professional experience in hospitality or corporate events

Success Looks Like

In Year 1, a successful Culture & Recognition Manager will

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Have delivered a full enterprise culture event calendar - with events that receive positive associate feedback and feel distinctly AutoNation

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Have the Service Awards program running cleanly - zero missed milestones, on-time fulfillment, and managers equipped to make each moment personal

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Have a recognition platform live and adopted - with participation data showing broad and growing engagement across associate populations

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Be the person the CHRO calls when a culture moment needs to be handled well - because this person has already proven they deliver

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Have established a rhythm with the Associate Experience Specialist to connect Signal data to culture programming decisions

Exciting Benefits and Perks Await You

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Competitive compensation and 401k matching

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Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with insurance plans (health, dental, vision) and maternity benefits.

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Associate purchase and discount programs for new and pre-owned vehicles, services, parts, collision, accessories, and AutoGear

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Access amazing deals and discounts through YouDecide, a website with offers from top providers and retailers

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Join our DRVPNK mission to raise and donate millions of dollars to cancer research and treatment, partnering with cancer charities nationwide

AutoNation is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, offering innovative products, exceptional services, and comprehensive solutions, empowering our customers to make the best decisions for their needs. With a network of dealerships nationwide strengthened by a recognized brand, we offer a wide variety of new and used vehicles, customer financing, parts, and provide expert maintenance and repair services. Through DRV PNK, we have raised over $40 million for cancer-related causes, demonstrating our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our Associates, Customers, and the communities we serve.

AutoNation is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in our workplace and the services we provide. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds who are passionate about making a positive impact. Even if you do not meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. Join our team and help us foster a culture of belonging while contributing to our revolutionary work in the automotive industry. We value innovation, teamwork, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world.