About Rivian Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. Role Summary The Service Activation Lead is a member of an elite team dedicated to the operational health of the Rivian Service Network. You are not just a trainer, technician, or advisor, you are an expert Operator who serves as the standard-bearer for the company. Whether your background is in leadership, diagnostics, service writing, or parts logistics, you will leverage that deep functional expertise to elevate the entire facility. This role has a dual-purpose mission. First, you function like a precision "opening team" for our most strategic locations: deploying to New Site Openings (NSOs) in high-visibility and value markets to provide shoulder-to-shoulder training, ensuring that from Day One, the facility operates at company-level standards of excellence. Second, you act as a specialized "recovery unit" for the network: deploying to distressed or underperforming markets to diagnose root causes, execute rapid turnaround plans, and stabilize operations alongside local leadership. You are equal parts Subject Matter Expert (SME), hands-on Operator, and Coach. Whether you are setting the culture at a new location or restoring it at an existing one, your goal is to install excellence and leave behind a team that can sustain it. Responsibilities New Site Activation (The Standard Bearer) Shoulder-to-Shoulder Execution: You don’t just hand over a manual; you work the line. You will embed with new teams during launch, working side-by-side with Service Advisors, Parts Advisors, and Technicians to demonstrate what "good" looks like in real-time. Day One Readiness: Own the operational validation of new sites. Ensure that every workflow—from customer intake to parts logistics to vehicle repair—is functioning to Rivian standard before the doors open. Cultural Installation: Act as the physical embodiment of Rivian’s service culture. You ensure that the high energy, precision, and customer-centricity of the brand are permanently instilled in the local team. Rapid Response & Market Recovery (The Fixer) Strategic Recovery Execution: You deploy to challenged markets not just to put out fires, but to build a foundation for the future. Partnering closely with the Service Activation Manager and Field Leadership, you will translate high-level recovery strategies into on-the-ground operational reality. Root Cause to Resolution: Utilizing a deep diagnostic approach, you will identify the systemic bottlenecks—whether in parts flow, advisor communication, or technical throughput—and implement targeted solutions that solve the core issue rather than just the symptom. Sustainable Growth & Stabilization: Your mission isn't complete until the site is set up for long-term success. You will build scalable workflows and transfer capability to local management, ensuring that the improvements you make are sustainable and that the site is primed for future growth. The Operator-Trainer Capability Transfer: Your goal is to make yourself obsolete at every site you visit. You transfer your capability to local teams through rigorous coaching, ensuring they don't need you to return. Feedback Loop: You are the eyes and ears of the network. You will channel ground-truth data regarding software bugs, process gaps, and tooling issues back to central teams to drive continuous improvement. Qualifications Operational Versatility: 5-6+ years of automotive or high-volume service experience. We welcome backgrounds from all pillars of the operation—Service Advisors, Parts Specialists, and Technicians—provided you are willing to cross-train and navigate both "Front of House" and "Back of House" environments. The "Brand Standard" Mindset: Experience in environments that require strict adherence to high standards (e.g., high-end retail, luxury hospitality, or top-tier automotive groups). You understand that consistency is the key to scale. Crisis Management Skills: The ability to walk into a chaotic, high-pressure environment, remain calm, and immediately begin organizing resources to solve problems. Elite Adaptability: You must be willing to travel extensively (75%+) and shift focus instantly from a "Grand Opening" celebration mode to a "Recovery" grittiness mode depending on business needs. Technical Aptitude: While you don't need to be a Master Tech, you must be fluent in Service Operating Systems and understand the mechanics of vehicle repair flows. No Ego: You are there to help, not to judge. You roll up your sleeves and sweep the floors if that’s what the team needs to succeed. A Special Operator: You thrive on being dropped into new environments and figuring it out. You prefer high-stakes missions over a routine desk job. A Teacher by Doing: You believe people learn best by watching an expert at work. You lead from the front, not from a PowerPoint presentation. A Standardizer: You hate inconsistency. You are obsessive about details and ensuring that the "Rivian Way" is executed perfectly, every time, everywhere. Pay Disclosure The salary range for this role is $102,300 - $135,580 for Georgia, Illinois, and Michigan Based Applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs. The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards. Benefits Summary: We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com. Equal Opportunity Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com. Candidate Data Privacy Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.
Service Activation Lead - East
This role focuses on ensuring the operational health of Rivian's Service Network, acting as an 'opening team' for new sites and a 'recovery unit' for underperforming ones. Responsibilities include hands-on training, operational validation, cultural installation, diagnosing root causes of issues, and implementing solutions to stabilize and improve operations. The role requires extensive travel and the ability to transfer capabilities to local teams.
What you'd actually do
- You will embed with new teams during launch, working side-by-side with Service Advisors, Parts Advisors, and Technicians to demonstrate what "good" looks like in real-time.
- Ensure that every workflow—from customer intake to parts logistics to vehicle repair—is functioning to Rivian standard before the doors open.
- Act as the physical embodiment of Rivian’s service culture.
- Partnering closely with the Service Activation Manager and Field Leadership, you will translate high-level recovery strategies into on-the-ground operational reality.
- Utilizing a deep diagnostic approach, you will identify the systemic bottlenecks—whether in parts flow, advisor communication, or technical throughput—and implement targeted solutions that solve the core issue rather than just the symptom.
Skills
Required
- Automotive or high-volume service experience
- Experience in environments that require strict adherence to high standards
- Crisis management skills
- Ability to travel extensively (75%+)
- Technical aptitude in Service Operating Systems and vehicle repair flows
- Willingness to cross-train and navigate both 'Front of House' and 'Back of House' environments
Nice to have
- Leadership experience
- Diagnostics experience
- Service writing experience
- Parts logistics experience
What the JD emphasized
- 75%+
- 5-6+ years of automotive or high-volume service experience
- Experience in environments that require strict adherence to high standards