Vice President, Communications & Public Relations

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Job Description

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.

Key Responsibilities:

• 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 risk.
• Work alongside their peers at Cox Enterprises to develop and drive communications strategies/support for any “enterprise” level initiatives and programs.
• Create and maintain relationships with key top-tier business and trade media that can lead to increased visibility for the company, its key initiatives, and campaigns in market.
• Skillfully deploy resources for maximum enterprise, regional and local benefit.
• Design and develop processes and standards to effectively monitor and analyze communications campaigns and efforts.
• Establish KPIs, dashboards, and a measurement approach to monitor and evaluate the impact of communications campaigns and initiatives; use insights to adjust strategy and improve performance.
• Direct and manage PR agency relationships; Oversee PR agency efforts and develop tracking system to measure results.

Essential Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 16+ years of progressive experience in progressive communications/public relations experience with a matrixed corporation, leading the corporate communications function in an organization with a well-known brand(s).  The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master’s degree and 12 years’ experience; a Ph.D. and 10 years of experience; or 20 years’ experience in a related field. 
• Executive presence; a polished, articulate leader with humility and the ability to inspire confidence among senior leaders and all stakeholders.
• Demonstrated track record of success in leading a large corporate communications team with proven achievement with inspirational team building.
• Passionate, high-energy executive with the commitment and enthusiasm to take on complex, challenging situations in a dynamic organization; and the ability to envision, articulate, and realize both process and program improvements within the communications department.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to build rapport with associates at all levels of the organization. Ability to positively motivate, lead, and build consensus across all corporate business units.
• Strong strategic planning skills, solid understanding of the business, and ability to build and nurture relationships at the highest levels in a corporate environment.
• Development and maintenance of internal operational procedures and processes that support the 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 leadership on communication-related issues.
• Experience developing communications strategy and support for confidential and time-sensitive initiatives, including M&A.
• Experience in media training and crisis communications.
• Demonstrated 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 media contacts in consumer, business and trade press, as well as with leaders across the broader communications industry.
• Experience directing and managing external PR agency relationships, including setting expectations, optimizing resourcing, and measuring results.
• Fundamental communication expertise is a must, especially exceptionally strong writing, editing and presentation skills.
• Ability to define communications metrics and use data to evaluate effectiveness and refine strategy.
• Strong experience/knowledge of social media tools and techniques for driving reputation and brand, and advancing messaging in the market.

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