Industry Communications & Events Manager

Be essential at Cars Commerce

At Cars Commerce, we’re fanatical about simplifying everything about car buying and selling. We do right by our customers and consumers to better connect the industry with simplified and tierless technology to enhance, measure and drive local automotive retail. Whether through our No.1 most recognized marketplace, Cars.com, our industry-leading digital experience, Dealer Inspire, our trade and appraisal technology, AccuTrade, our reputation-based digital wholesale auction marketplace, Dealerclub, or our new Cars Commerce Media Network, Cars Commerce is essential for success in the automotive industry.

No one ever travels alone here: at its core, Cars Commerce is collaboration. In fact, it’s built into the very fabric of our shared values. We like to say we Rise Together – putting people at the center of what we do, from consumer to customer to community. Life at Cars Commerce makes it easy when we share the ethos to be Open to All, encouraging open-minded communication because we know diverse thinking yields better outcomes. But critical to our success is Caring to Challengeand Taking Ownership, fueling a competitive spirit in a respectful environment where we think about tomorrow but act today. At our foundation, we have integrity, Doing the Right Thing, even when it’s hard. It’s our shared commitment to these values that makes Cars Commerce a place where growth becomes not only possible, but downright unavoidable.

But don’t take our word for it. As a U.S. News & World Report Best Company to Work For in 2024, we're obsessive about the employee experience. We are among the top 20% being declared “Best” of our industry based on six critical factors that are important to employee wellbeing, like quality of pay, benefits, work life balance and more.

We are looking for an Industry Communications & Events Manager to join the Cars Commerce Communications department. In this enterprise role, the ideal candidate will leverage their well honed communications skills to develop compelling content that will be used to demonstrate the value proposition of the company’s platform of products and solutions to a wide range of audiences, including but not limited to, automotive retail influencers, dealers and OEM clients. This person will also play a primary role in managing the company’s presence at trade shows and customer events around the US & Canada. 

This person will be responsible for accurately tracking results and implementing an automated process in partnership with Tech and Finance so that a true return on investment can be demonstrated at the end of each business cycle. This role requires the ability to create the presentation materials (slide decks, short video clips, graphics, etc.) needed to support at events.

This role reports to the Senior Director of Industry Relations. There is significant interaction with and accountabilities to other leaders across the organization and industry partners outside the company. 

Responsibilities include:

• Developing content to be used across social and influencer channels that highlights the functionality and value of the Cars Commerce platform to help drive reputation and incremental sales.

• Own the Independent Dealer communications strategy – including events, workshops, influencer messaging, 20 Groups and the like.

• Work with the Industry Communications Sr. Manager to build a robust plan for regular influencer briefings.

• Partner closely with B2B Marketing to create off-the-shelf presentations and event support materials that can be used across a wide range of opportunities. Create a booth strategy for the small conferences that appropriately represents all of the brands and can easily be transported and set-up by anyone.

• Manage planning and execution of the company’s participation in 80+ events a year (trade shows, small conferences, regional dealer events, etc.)

• Manage the day-to-day budget of more than $3.0M and the execution of all sponsorship contracts.

• Drive measurable, data-driven results and manage analytics dashboards for industry events and sponsorships to ensure effectiveness of programs and a true return on investment. 

• Travel to support the business (30%)

#LI-REMOTE #LI-KO1

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package includes:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Healthcare Plans
• New Hire Stipend for Home Office Set-Up
• Generous PTO
• Refuel - a service based recognition program where employees receive additional paid time away to learn grow and reset
• Paid Holidays, Floating Holiday, Volunteer Day, Recharge Day

Learn more about our Benefits, Perks, & Culture on our LinkedIn Life Pages!
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