Vice President, Communications & Public Relations

Cox Enterprises • Atlanta, GA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President, Communications and Public Relations is Cox Automotive’s senior-most communications executive. This leader develops, implements, executes, and adjusts the integrated communications strategy across the organization, both internally and externally. The role brings the corporate narrative to life, elevates the company’s visibility and reputation, and ensures consistent messaging to key stakeholders. It leads the communications team and is directly responsible for its people, activities, and enterprise-wide initiatives.

The Vice President partners with senior leaders as a trusted business counselor, shaping an executive-endorsed communications strategy and driving measurable results. The role operates in a distributed, matrixed organization and addresses complex change management, proactive media relations, crisis and issues management, and confidential, time-sensitive communications such as M&A. It manages day-to-day communications operations, leads the team as a “player/coach,” and works with the President, Executive Leadership Team, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer, and Cox Enterprises peers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 16+ years of progressive communications/public relations experience, including leading corporate communications for a matrixed organization with well-known brands; alternative combinations include a master’s degree and 12 years of experience, a Ph.D. and 10 years of experience, or 20 years of related experience.
• Executive presence; polished, articulate leadership, humility, and the ability to inspire confidence among senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success leading a large corporate communications team and building an inspirational team.
• High energy and commitment to handling complex challenges in a dynamic organization, with the ability to envision and implement communications process and program improvements.
• Leadership skills and ability to build rapport, motivate associates, and build consensus across corporate business units.
• Strong strategic planning skills, business understanding, and ability to build and nurture senior-level corporate relationships.
• Experience developing and maintaining operational procedures and processes supporting communications programs and business units.
• Proven success leading communications in a complex, distributed, matrixed environment, including enterprise change management communications.
• Experience advising and coaching executive leaders on communications issues.
• Experience developing communications strategy and support for confidential, time-sensitive initiatives, including M&A.
• Experience in media training and crisis communications.
• Success creating and executing proactive media relations strategies that position corporate leadership in trade, business, and financial press.
• Extensive network and positive working relationships with regional and national consumer, business, and trade media, and communications industry leaders.
• Experience directing external PR agency relationships, including setting expectations, optimizing resources, and measuring results.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to define communications metrics and use data to evaluate effectiveness and refine strategy.
• Strong knowledge of social media tools and techniques for reputation and brand building and advancing market messaging.
• Must clear a pre-employment drug test. The company does not currently administer a pre-employment marijuana test for this position; prohibited drug use, possession, or impairment during work hours or on company property or in company vehicles is not permitted.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship; OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT, and visa sponsorship are not available.

Responsibilities

• Bring the Cox Automotive corporate narrative to life and increase positive visibility for the company, its portfolio of brands, and its reputation as a “Great Place to Work.”
• Develop and lead an overarching corporate communications strategy aligned with local and national business objectives and consistently communicated to stakeholders.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the communications organization, ensuring strong execution and adapting as needed.
• Lead, develop, and motivate a communications team serving multiple stakeholders and businesses.
• Favorably position the company, President, and top executives through proactive internal and external messaging.
• Facilitate clarity and consistency of the corporate vision, strategy, and values across audiences.
• Create and implement a proactive media relations program positioning Cox Automotive and its leadership in business and financial press.
• Develop communications strategies and support for confidential, time-sensitive M&A initiatives with the Executive Leadership Team and Chief Marketing & Sales Officer.
• Create and implement internal communications plans that educate, align, and engage employees around the mission and business objectives, including change management initiatives.
• Develop and manage a crisis and issues management program, anticipating, identifying, and mitigating communications and reputation risks.
• Partner with Cox Enterprises peers on communications strategies and support for enterprise-level initiatives and programs.
• Build relationships with top-tier business and trade media to increase visibility for the company, initiatives, and campaigns.
• Deploy resources for enterprise, regional, and local benefit.
• Design processes and standards to monitor and analyze communications campaigns and efforts.
• Establish KPIs, dashboards, and measurement approaches; use insights to evaluate impact and improve performance.
• Direct and manage PR agency relationships, oversee agency efforts, and develop systems to measure results.

Benefits

• Health care insurance, which may include medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement planning, including a 401(k).
• Paid days off, which may include sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive