Sr. Director, Corporate Media

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, 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 Challenge and 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.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Vice President of Consumer Marketing, the Senior Director of Corporate Media at Cars Commerce will be the driving force behind our paid media strategy and execution. This role is not just about managing campaigns; it's about orchestrating a comprehensive suite of strategies and programs that support our business priorities and drive business performance. Your expertise will be crucial in navigating the ever-evolving landscapes of paid media, automotive marketing, and digital marketplaces, ensuring that Cars Commerce remains at the forefront of innovation and delivers measurable impact for our business and the audiences we serve.

As a key member of the Marketing Leadership Team, this role wields substantial influence in shaping Cars Commerce's overall marketing strategy. The Senior Director will achieve transformative business outcomes by driving cross-functional collaboration internally with Audience Strategy, Analytics, Finance, Product, and B2B Marketing teams and externally with our agency partners and vendors. This leader will spearhead paid initiatives that ensure long-term sustainability and growth, ultimately strengthening our position as a leader in the automotive marketplace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a full-funnel consumer-centric paid media strategy to drive website visits, unique visitors (UVs), and attitudinal measures, and ensure that we deliver on the lead distribution, quality, and quality goals for our dealer partners

• Lead and manage a high-performing team to set clear performance targets, and achieve business outcomes through planning, implementing, and optimizing digital marketing campaigns across paid channels

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Director of Brand and Content to develop annual cross-channel marketing strategies for a $100MM+ marketing budget

• Partner with Brand, Content, and Product to drive up the percentage of traffic coming from organic sources and ensure brand consistency and differentiation

• Oversee media programs for dealer acquisition to drive B2B growth

• Lead supplier relationships, including our media agencies, Google, and Meta, to translate corporate and marketing strategy into breakthrough paid media work and optimize associated budgets

• Act as a COE and a key point of contact for our media products teams to bring an outside perspective into our media business

• Ensure alignment on annual/monthly budgets, forecasts, and KPIs with VP, Consumer Marketing and Finance counterparts

• Work with Data Science and Marketing Analytics teams to integrate business intelligence into campaigns and ensure clear ROI performance

• Ensure connectivity between B2C and B2B efforts to drive both sides of the marketplace simultaneously whenever possible

• Oversee the building and implementation of an iterative testing roadmap to drive continuous, scalable improvement across the business

• Monitor the media and technology landscape to identify innovative breakthrough opportunities

• Exemplify leadership as part of the extended executive team, demonstrating credibility and poise in front of executive and industry audiences

• Navigate large teams and ambiguity to establish influential and impactful relationships

• Oversee a team of approximately eight high-performing marketing professionals

• Drive hiring, retention, employee engagement, and DEI initiatives within the department

• Conduct timely performance evaluations and manage raise/promotion cycles

• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience managing paid marketing channels, with 5+ years in direct people management

• MBA or Master's in Business, Marketing, Analytics, or related field preferred

• Proven track record in managing agency, partnership, and internal relationships

• Demonstrated experience and acumen with media measurement and analysis both within and across channels

• Deep understanding of the performance marketing industry, including expert knowledge of key players, technologies, and vendors

• Strong strategic and analytical skills, coupled with attention to detail

• Ability to make firm decisions in ambiguous situations and champion those decisions

• Excellent communication skills, adept at translating complex marketing concepts to broad audiences

• Experience working in a digital marketplace or digital media/technology business; agency experience a plus

#LI-DNI

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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