Senior Public Relations Specialist
About The Position
CarGurus is seeking a strategic, proactive Senior Public Relations Specialist to shape how consumers, dealers, and the media understand its business, products, and point of view. The role supports PR programs across the US, Canada, and UK, taking ownership of priority workstreams as business needs evolve. Work may include market-specific campaigns in Canada and the UK, and turning US data, consumer research, and market trends into clear insights for media and customers. Reporting to the Director of External Communications & PR, the specialist works closely with Brand, Product Marketing, Market Research, Investor Relations, Editorial, and International teams. The position calls for strong news judgment, a clear point of view, and the ability to make complex information accessible through stories that earn attention and provide value to target audiences.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of experience in public relations, communications, journalism, or a related field.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise, compelling copy for different audiences and formats.
- Ability to turn complex data, research, or technical information into accessible stories and useful insights for media and customers.
- Track record of developing and executing media relations programs with results in top-tier national media.
- Ability to work with data and research, interpret findings accurately, and identify strong communications angles.
- Sound judgment, discretion, and composure when handling sensitive or fast-moving issues.
- Proactive, organized, collaborative working style and ability to advance important work without heavy oversight.
- Curiosity about the automotive industry, consumer behavior, technology, and lifestyle trends.
- Willingness to stay involved in both strategy and execution.
Nice To Haves
- Experience at a PR agency.
- International media relations experience.
Responsibilities
- Work with the PR Director to shape and execute PR plans and campaigns that advance CarGurus’ business priorities, brand platform, and reputation.
- Support priority launches and campaigns across markets, leading end-to-end workstreams where needed, including messaging, press materials, media outreach, briefings, spokesperson preparation, launch coordination, and measurement.
- Coordinate priority PR workstreams, managing timelines, approvals, deliverables, and communications with internal stakeholders and external agency partners.
- Build relationships with reporters and editors across automotive, consumer, business, technology, lifestyle, and personal finance media.
- Identify timely news angles that showcase CarGurus’ products, market perspective, research, and expertise.
- Turn complex data, market research, and automotive trends into clear, accurate, media-ready and customer-ready insights.
- Write and edit press releases, media pitches, briefing documents, spokesperson talking points, FAQs, reactive statements, award submissions, and other external communications.
- Identify and execute opportunities to elevate subject-matter experts through media interviews, contributed articles, podcasts, panels, awards, and speaking engagements.
- Support the PR Director with crisis and issues management and reactive communications, including fact gathering, holding statements, FAQs, Q&A preparation, internal coordination, and timely media response; escalate significant reputational risks to the Director.
- Track and report on share of voice, coverage quality, message pull-through, sentiment, and other agreed measures of PR impact, and use findings to improve campaigns and recommendations.
- Maintain consistent external messaging across press materials, subject-matter expert communications, brand campaigns, and other public-facing content.
- Use current AI technology to improve the PR team’s efficiency and impact.
Benefits
- Equity for all employees, both when they start and as they continue to grow.
- Career development programs.
- Corporate giving programs.
- Employee resource groups and communities.
- Flexible hybrid work model.
- Robust time off policies.
- Daily free lunch.
- New car discount.
- Meditation and fitness apps.
- Commuting cost coverage.
- Potential eligibility for discretionary bonuses or incentives and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
