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Division Technical Education Partner

Company Overview

Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) is part of Bridgestone Americas and employs over 22,000 teammates in North America. BSRO operates more than 2,200 company-owned stores, including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus and Wheel Works locations. With locations across North America and more than $3 billion in tire and auto service sales, Bridgestone Retail Operations is the right place to build a career. Whatever role you fill, when you represent the Bridgestone name, you are a valued teammate, and part of our larger mission to Serve Society with Superior Quality. We start by offering each teammate more than just competitive pay. We provide formal training, performance incentives, paid vacation and holidays, competitive healthcare packages for full-time and part-time employees, and a 401k plan to help build towards your future. We believe people can only provide superior service and quality to others when they are allowed to bring their whole self to work and know they are supported. We believe in championing all perspectives, individuals and teams because we understand the importance of seeing the world and our business through many different lenses. We are building a team as diverse as the world we serve. So, show us what you are made of. Show us the smart stuff, the tough stuff, the bold, beautiful and brave stuff. Because who you are is what we need.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Division Technical Education Manager, the Division Technical Education Partner facilitates and delivers various technical training workshops, programs, and other Bridgestone Retail Operations technical training initiatives for field technician teammates within their assigned geographic territory. The Division Technical Education Partner works with a comprehensive knowledge of Bridgestone Retail Operations technical services, products, vision, and training priorities to conduct live and virtual training, coaching, and facilitation while ensuring they have the necessary skills and abilities to deliver on operational excellence.

*Our preferred candidate will reside in the Boston, MA. area. This person must live near this location.*

Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Coordinates and facilitates technical training workshops in both live and virtual formats to develop technician teammates to be more effective within their roles
    • Introduction to Technical Services at Bridgestone Retail Operations, including but not limited to:
      • Safety & Environmental Overview
      • Tire Services
      • Tire Knowledge
      • Vehicle Inspection
      • Vehicle Service Standards
      • Battery Services
      • Fluid Services
      • Vehicle Lifting
      • Accessing/Using Information Services (ALLDATA, MAP, Mitchell, etc.)
      • Integrated Store Operating System
    • Other requested technical training as needed per assigned Area, Region, Division
  • Conducts and supports special technical training assignments and large group meetings as required
  • Coordinates technician training through vendor partners
    • Advanced technical training for various levels of technicians (A, B, C level technicians)
    • Other technical training as needed
  • Coordinates and drives Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) accreditations while maintaining and/or increasing current individual certification status
  • Supports Vehicle Service Teammate Council activities, claims and incidents mitigation plans, and Environmental Health & Safety Solutions priorities
  • Develops and manages individual schedule to support store/technician needs while working with Divisional personnel on direction and priorities
  • Oversees all technical e-learning activities and completions within Division assignments
  • Supports Bridgestone Retail Operations, Division, Region, or Area business and/or education-based performance change initiatives and meetings
    • Technical education related business plans
    • Implementation of technical business solutions
    • Technician talent development plans
    • Reporting
  • Communicates and collaborates with parties in and outside of own job function on technical education offerings and requirements
  • Models compliance with company policies and procedures and supports company mission, values, standards of ethics, and integrity
  • Demonstrates up-to-date expertise in technical education practices and applies this to the development, deployment, and execution of technical education action plans
  • Submits schedules, rosters, contact reports, and expense reports according to performance standards
  • Tracks and maintains operational readiness of assigned Training Centers
  • Partners with peer Division Technical Education Partners, Division Education Partners, and Education department leadership to ensure consistent deployment and communication practices
  • Partners and aligns with the Store Support Center Technical Operations Department to maintain alignment on industry standards, requirements, and company policies
  • Assumes other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Attributes:

  • Travel within assigned geographic territory is required and will also include some national travel as directed
  • Consistently practices positive leadership to create an environment that encourages open communication, diversity of thought, and respect for the individual
  • Consistently practices and champions the principles of an open-door organization by listening to issues, problems, or unpopular points of view from others and states opinions in a manner that encourages dialog and understanding rather than disengagement
  • Leads training environments that foster teamwork, collaboration, and knowledge transfer
  • Works to achieve day-to-day objectives with moderate impact to supported teammates
  • Works independently with limited supervision on larger, moderately complex projects / assignments such as planning and executing specific training programs
  • Provides input to Division Technical Education Manager regarding improvements, updates, and successes
  • Trains on operational compliance to all company policies and programs
  • Identifies process gaps, identifies interim solutions, and sends recommendations to the Division Technical Education Manager
  • Partners with the Store Support Center to gather accurate feedback from teammates participating in Store Support Center level workshops
  • Maintains strong relationships within Division, Region, and Area leadership
  • Responsible for making minor changes or enhancements in programs and processes to solve problems or improve effectiveness of work area in partnership with Store Support Center
  • Explains technical policies, practices and procedures of the work area to others within the organization
  • Problems and issues faced are general, and may require understanding of broader set of issues, but typically are not complex
  • Problems are typically solved through some analysis, drawing from prior experiences, and escalation

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Education or related discipline OR equivalent experience
  • Minimum of 3-5 years’ automotive/technical experience required
    • Automotive technician experience highly preferred
    • Possess 1 to 3 current Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications highly preferred
    • Training experience in a technical environment preferred
    • Retail experience preferred
  • Strong communication skills
  • Strong facilitation, presentation, and coaching skills
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Tools, including Microsoft Outlook calendar management and training delivery applications
  • Ability to travel entire assigned Division and nationally up to 60% of the time

General Physical Requirements:

  • Moderate Work- Exerting up to 50-75 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects
  • Physical Activities- Reaching, sitting, driving, standing, stooping, lifting, walking, typing, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions
  • Visual Acuity- Close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data, view computer monitors, and read
    • Requires visual acuity to view surroundings and identify potential hazards to safety while performing essential functions of the job. May need to view presentation screens and other visual aids in a classroom or other corporate/retail/shop settings
    • Visual acuity to operate a motor vehicle
  • General working Conditions- Indoor, outdoor, and shop environmental conditions

Value:

  • Of critical importance to the success of company is the on-boarding and continued development of our technician teammates to better serve the Boss. Leading, coordinating, and executing this development is the purpose of the Division Technical Education Partner. This role is vital in ensuring our technician teammates receive training that is on time and on target to deliver on the Bosses expectations which allows our company to hit financial targets and win within the marketplace.
  • There is significant risk to the company achieving financial targets and maintaining market share if we do not provide necessary and required technical training and development. Higher incident claims, increased workers comp events, loss of productivity, lower Boss satisfaction, and higher turnover rates occur when we do not effectively provide training.

This Position Description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all supplemental duties, responsibilities, or non-essential requirements.

Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. It is our policy to consider for employment all individuals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Typically requires a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 2 years of related experience; or an advanced degree without experience; or equivalent work experience

Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. It is our policy to consider for employment all individuals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Employment Eligibility

If hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.

Our Benefits

Bridgestone Americas believes that taking care of you means more than just a prescription or dental plan. Our benefit plans are designed to meet our teammates' emotional, financial and physical needs, helping them thrive at work.

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Physical Health

At Bridgestone, we care about your physical health. That’s why we offer competitive benefits to ensure our teammates have access to quality and equitable healthcare.

Learn More
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Emotional Well-being

We recognize that emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. That's why we offer a supportive work environment and resources to help our teammates manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

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Financial Well-being

Bridgestone helps you invest in your future by investing in you. We provide resources and benefits to support your financial health, including retirement plans, financial planning resources and tuition reimbursement, among others.

Learn More

Bridgestone Application & Interview FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions about our application and interview process to help you prepare.

Before you apply for one of the available opportunities at Bridgestone, review each of the skills needed for the role that interests you and be prepared to show how you meet the qualifications.

Whether on a job application or your resume, it is essential to customize your information to highlight the most relevant connections to the job you want.

Once you have provided your information to Bridgestone, you will receive a request for an interview if you are being considered.

In the Bridgestone hiring process, depending on the role you are being considered for, you may have a one-on-one interview or a panel interview, and both can happen in person or via video call. If you are applying for a manufacturing or retail role, you will probably interview in person or at the location where you plan to work. All these factors can change how you might prepare for and conduct an interview, so we have created a guide that covers virtual or video interview tips and in-person interview tips. We have also included other common information you should consider.

Prepare Your “Elevator Speech”
In most interviews, you will get the prompt to “tell us about yourself” or something of that nature. It’s best to prepare a short but compelling description of yourself. Consider including:
Brief summary of your career, potentially highlighting your most relevant job.
Why are you looking to start a career at Bridgestone, or are you looking to change careers/jobs?
What was interesting about this particular role or working at Bridgestone?

Be Ready to Answer Questions
During an interview, you will be asked questions about previous experience to learn more about you. Whether you are asked about strengths or weaknesses or about a particular work situation that you might have considered a challenge or a win, it helps if you structure your answers with the STAR Method.
Situation: Describe the challenge you faced, win you had, or relevant situation
Task: Explain the role you played
Action: What were the detailed steps you took or how you accomplished the task
Result: Explain the outcome
Make sure that it is relevant to the role you are seeking. This method also helps you demonstrate how you accomplished something or overcame a challenge independently or while working well with a team.

Be Ready to Ask Questions
It is also important to ask questions to help you make an informed decision about the role if an offer is extended to you. Remember that you are interviewing Bridgestone as much as we are interviewing you, so asking interview questions is critical.
Some questions you can ask:
What would my day-to-day role look like?
Describe the team I would be working with.
What is your favorite thing about working at Bridgestone?
You mentioned (insert topic here). Tell me more about that.

By asking open-ended questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” you can learn more about the role and the people you would be working with. And by circling back on information shared during the interview, you show that you are actively listening and interested.

Plan Your Route
If you are interviewing in person, map out the route you will take before the day of your interview to make sure you allow enough time for travel. Be mindful of traffic patterns and look for any construction in the area. Aim to be about 15 minutes early for your interview so you can find a place to park and take some time to prepare mentally.
If you have an unexpected schedule conflict, notify your recruiter via phone/email/text so they can work to reschedule your time.

Dress to Impress
Dress appropriately for the role you want. Different work environments may be more casual, but you always want to look your best for an interview. Consider this for a video interview as well. Most of us have better posture and body language when we look and feel our best. While no one may know you are wearing pajamas, your casual demeanor may not make a great first impression. Make sure you are free of as many distractions as possible. With many of us having to work from home while taking care of our families, we understand that quiet space can be challenging to find for you as well as for the interviewers. While we encourage you to find an area where you can focus and not be interrupted, we understand that life happens and might just happen during your interview, so don’t stress too much about it.

What to Bring
Even if you have provided a resume, always bring one additional copy for each person interviewing you. And for any interview, it’s always good to bring a pen and paper if you want to take notes. Stay engaged in the conversation; no one wants to see the top of your head while you write notes for the entire interview.

There may be a chance one or more of your interviews will be conducted virtually. Here are our tips to prepare;

Check Your Tech
Confirm what platform you will use and make sure that you have it properly installed and launched on your system.
If you use a device like a tablet or a laptop, ensure it is fully charged. Try not to use a phone if possible.
Confirm that your webcam and microphone are allowed and work correctly in your chosen browser.
Test your internet connection to ensure it is strong and working.
If using headphones, make sure they are connected and selected prior.
At the beginning of the interview, verify that the interviewer can hear and see you.
Close other programs on your computer. Getting notifications during your interview is distracting and unprofessional. Before your interview, ensure all other computer windows are closed, and notifications are silenced or turned off.
Switch your other devices onto silent mode; however, have your phone handy if your interviewer is having technical difficulties or trying to reach out via phone or email.
If you need any accessibility accommodations or are concerned about the required virtual platform not being fully accessible for you, please let the recruiter at Bridgestone know. We will reach out to discuss how to best support you.

Prepare Your Space
Conduct your interview in a quiet, well-lit environment, without a backlight or window that may put you in a shadow.
Find a place with a simple backdrop or blank wall to eliminate distractions and put the focus on you.
Avoid taking an interview from your vehicle. If it is the only quiet place you can find, DO NOT attempt to interview while driving or in a moving vehicle; our recruiters will end the call. After all, at Bridgestone, we make safety a business value.

Smile for the Camera
Look at the camera. Looking directly at the video camera (not the screen) is the only way to maintain direct eye contact with your interviewer.
Try to focus on sitting up straight and making eye contact. At the beginning of the interview, verify that the interviewer can hear and see you.
Be mindful of your body language. Not all physical cues translate from in-person interviews to video interviews. Be sure to have good posture and stay engaged.
Silence any other technology, i.e. smart watches; you don’t want to be distracted or appear disinterested during your interview."

When the interview ends, whether virtual or in person, you can ask what to expect as the next step in the process. The person conducting the interview can let you know if there are additional interviews to expect or if you will hear from HR with a decision as to whether you have been chosen for the role.

We ask that you be patient as we may have several candidates to interview, but we value your time and will offer the professional courtesy of a response either way. Also, if you are no longer interested in the role or have accepted another role, please notify your recruiter so they can remove you from the interview process.

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As a member of our Talent Community, you will receive access to news, events and career opportunities at Bridgestone. Sign up now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us.

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