External Communications Manager

CCC Intelligent Solutions•Chicago, IL

17h

About The Position

The External Communications Manager helps bring CCC’s external communications strategy to life through content development, media relations, thought leadership, and announcement execution. Working with the Director, External Communications, this role turns business priorities, research, product innovations, and industry insights into stories that strengthen CCC’s reputation and visibility across the insurance and automotive ecosystem. The manager works within the strategy established by the Director, owns defined projects end-to-end, develops communications materials, and coordinates announcements, research, executive appearances, and media opportunities across earned, owned, executive, employee, and partner channels. The role develops content for varied audiences, supports communications plans and media outreach, builds visibility for executives and subject matter experts, and partners with CCC’s PR agency and internal stakeholders. It also manages selected projects and communications operations, monitors media and industry activity, supports issues response as directed, and tracks results to inform future communications.

Requirements

5 to 8 years of experience in communications, media relations, public relations, or a related field.
Exceptional writing and editing skills, including the ability to draft original content, adapt to executive voices, and use AI thoughtfully while maintaining accuracy, originality, and quality.
Strong news judgment and storytelling instincts, including the ability to identify compelling angles, connect business priorities to timely conversations, and explain complex or technical information clearly for different audiences.
Experience supporting media relations, developing pitches, and building relationships with trade, business, or B2B reporters.
Experience developing executive communications and visibility content, including thought leadership, speaking support, social content, and briefing materials.
Strong project management skills and a record of moving multiple workstreams from concept through execution in a collaborative, fast-moving environment.
Sound judgment when navigating sensitive, legal, regulatory, or reputational considerations, including knowing when to seek input or escalate an issue.
Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience in insurance, financial services, technology, or another highly regulated industry.
Experience communicating about technology, AI, software, or other complex B2B products and topics.
Experience turning earned media, research, executive appearances, and other communications moments into compelling content across owned, social, and emerging channels.
Experience supporting issues or crisis communications, including drafting statements, media responses, and talking points under tight timelines.

Responsibilities

Develop and edit press releases, media pitches, newsroom stories, bylined articles, Q&As, talking points, briefing materials, and social content.
Tailor messaging for insurer, repairer, automaker, and consumer audiences while preserving CCC’s position as a neutral partner across the network.
Keep newsroom media resources, including the company fact sheet and media kit, up to date.
Support communications plans for launches, partnerships, events, and business milestones, including press materials, media lists, embargo coordination, and launch-day plans.
Turn CCC research and insights into newsworthy stories and extend their reach through earned, owned, and shared channels.
Manage routine announcements, including packaged product updates and partner press releases, through Legal, Investor Relations, and Product approvals.
Plan and execute amplification for key announcements, research, speaking engagements, podcasts, and media opportunities across executive, newsroom, employee, social, and partner channels.
Track coverage and report results for key announcements, set expectations with executives before launch, and share outcomes afterward.
Build relationships with insurance, collision repair, and automotive trade reporters; develop pitches; coordinate responses to inbound inquiries; and identify timely media opportunities.
Monitor news, industry trends, and competitor activity to identify story angles and connect CCC priorities to relevant reporter conversations.
Manage the media relations inbox, coverage tracker, and media lists.
Identify subject matter experts and develop their perspectives into authentic social and thought leadership content.
Develop visibility opportunities and content for executives and subject matter experts, including thought leadership, leadership platforms, forums, speaking opportunities, contributed articles, and social content.
Prepare and support executives and subject matter experts for interviews, speeches, panels, podcasts, and briefings.
Extend executive and subject matter expert perspectives and appearances, CCC research, and earned media into content for owned and social channels.
Own selected projects from planning through execution, keeping workstreams organized, stakeholders informed, and deliverables on schedule.
Identify award and speaking opportunities; manage the awards and speaking calendar; and develop submissions with internal teams and the PR agency.
Partner with CCC’s PR agency on day-to-day execution, maintain the communications punch list, track deliverables and opportunities, and move workstreams forward against priorities established by the Director.
Monitor media, competitor, and industry activity for storytelling opportunities and emerging reputational issues; support issues and crisis response as directed.
Track coverage, awards, share of voice, and message pull-through, and use results to improve future communications.