Senior Public Relations Specialist

CarGurus•Boston, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

CarGurus is seeking a strategic, proactive Senior Public Relations Specialist to shape how consumers, dealers, and media understand the company, its products, and its perspective. 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 translating 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 turn complex information into stories that attract attention and provide value to target audiences. The role supports PR planning and execution, media relations, launches, external communications, expert visibility, crisis and issues response, and measurement. CarGurus describes its workplace as people-first and collaborative, with a flexible hybrid model and a range of benefits and development opportunities. The annual pay range is $85,000–$107,000 USD.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in public relations, communications, journalism, or a related field.
Exceptional writing and editing skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise, compelling copy for different audiences and formats.
Demonstrated ability to turn complex data, research, or technical information into accessible stories and useful insights for media and customers.
A track record of developing and executing media relations programs with results in top-tier national media.
Comfort working with data and research, including interpreting findings accurately and identifying strong communications angles.
Sound judgment, discretion, and composure when handling sensitive or fast-moving issues.
A proactive, organized, collaborative working style and the ability to move important work forward without heavy oversight.
Curiosity about the automotive industry, consumer behavior, technology, and lifestyle trends.
A hands-on approach and willingness to work across both strategy and execution.

Nice To Haves

Experience at a PR agency.
International 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.
Develop messaging and press materials, conduct media outreach, prepare briefings and spokespeople, coordinate launch days, and measure results.
Coordinate priority PR workstreams, managing timelines, approvals, deliverables, and communications with internal stakeholders and external agency partners.
Build trusted relationships with reporters and editors across automotive, consumer, business, technology, lifestyle, and personal finance media.
Identify timely news angles that bring CarGurus’ products, market perspective, research, and expertise to life.
Translate complex data, market research, and automotive trends into clear, accurate insights for media and customers.
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 opportunities.
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 indicators of PR impact, using results to improve campaigns and recommendations.
Maintain consistency in external messaging across press materials, subject-matter expert communications, brand campaigns, and other public-facing content.
Use AI and current technology to improve the efficiency and impact of the PR team.

Benefits

Equity for all employees, both at the start of employment and as they continue to grow with the company.
Career development programs.
Corporate giving programs.
Employee resource groups and communities.
Flexible hybrid model.
Robust time-off policies.
Daily free lunch.
New car discount.
Meditation and fitness apps.
Commuting cost coverage.
The role may qualify for discretionary bonuses or incentives and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).