Vice President, Communications & Public Relations

The Vice President, Communications and Public Relations serves as the senior most communications executive and is responsible for developing, implementing, executing, and adjusting the integrated communications strategy for the entire organization both internally and externally. This individual has a high level of visibility and influence across the organization and with the Executive Leadership Team. This role brings to life the corporate narrative, elevates the company’s visibility and reputation, and ensures messaging is integrated and consistently articulated to key stakeholders.

The Vice President leads and manages the communications team with direct responsibility for people, activities, and enterprise-wide initiatives.

This role requires a highly experienced self-starter with the confidence and capability to guide and shape a communications strategy and agenda that has executive endorsement. Through proactive stakeholder management, the Vice President serves as a trusted business partner and counselor to senior leaders; understands the business and can provide strategic counsel while driving measurable results. The leader in this role must have a track record of success managing stakeholders in a distributed, matrixed organization in a complex change management environment, including proactive media relations, crisis and issues management, and confidential/time-sensitive communications such as M&A.

• Responsible for bringing to life the Cox Automotive corporate narrative and increasing the visibility and positive messaging of Cox Automotive, the company’s portfolio of brands, and its visibility as a “Great Place to Work” to all key stakeholders.

• Reporting to the Chief Marketing & Sales Officer, this position works closely with the President, Executive Leadership Team, and other key stakeholders to create an overarching corporate communications strategy ensuring it is closely aligned with local and national business objectives and is integrated and consistently articulated to all of the Company’s stakeholders (including employees, media, investors, industry leaders/influencers, customers, vendors, community leaders and the general public).
• Manage the day-to-day operations of a fast-moving communications organization, with the ability to drive flawless execution, pivot as needed, and provide leadership as a “player/coach.”
• Develop and lead a team of strong communicators who operate well in a fast-paced environment and can manage communications for multiple stakeholders across multiple businesses.
• Favorably position the company, President, and top executives through proactive messaging – creating and seizing opportunities in support of this strategy both internally and externally. Help determine when the company should speak up, and how to do so with intentionality.
• Facilitate clarity of corporate vision, strategy, and values, and drive consistency of the narrative across internal and external audiences.
• Create and implement a proactive media relations program to favorably position Cox Automotive and its leadership within the business and financial press.
• Work alongside the Executive Leadership Team and Chief Marketing & Sales Officer to develop and drive communications strategies/support for any confidential and time sensitive M&A initiatives.
• Create a strategic and proactive internal communications plan to educate, align and engage employees around the mission and business objectives, including change management communications initiatives.
• Develop and manage an effective crisis and issues management program that signals an early warning system for any scenario that could be disruptive to the business. Anticipate, identify, and mitigate communications and reputation…