Sr. Manager, Public Relations and Communications

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Sr. Manager, Public Relations and Communications based in the United States.** This is an opportunity to build and lead a public relations function from the ground up at a pivotal stage of company growth. As the first dedicated PR leader, you will shape external communications, strengthen brand credibility, and establish a distinctive voice across the automotive technology industry. You will own earned media strategy, executive thought leadership, strategic partnerships, and high-profile event communications. With an emphasis on AI-driven discovery and generative engine optimization (GEO), you will help ensure the brand earns visibility and authority across both traditional media and AI-generated answers. Working closely with senior executives and cross-functional teams, you will turn product innovation, industry expertise, and community impact into compelling stories. This high-impact individual contributor role offers the autonomy to build scalable programs, influence business strategy, and potentially grow a team over time. ### Accountabilities: As the Sr. Manager of Public Relations and Communications, you will develop and execute an integrated external communications strategy that strengthens brand reputation, elevates leadership voices, and drives meaningful industry visibility. Your responsibilities will include: - **Build executive visibility and thought leadership:** Develop tailored communications platforms for senior executives, including voice guides, messaging frameworks, media training, ghostwritten content, speaking opportunities, and award submissions. - **Lead earned media strategy:** Build strong relationships with trade and business journalists, develop data-driven story angles, and secure high-value coverage that positions the business as an authority in automotive repair technology. - **Integrate AI visibility into PR:** Apply GEO principles to media outreach, content strategy, and narrative development to improve brand citations and visibility across AI-powered search and large language model responses. - **Lead communications for major events:** Develop comprehensive PR campaigns for flagship events, industry conferences, and other major brand moments, including media partnerships, podcasts, live recordings, customer visits, and pre- and post-event coverage. - **Drive product and partner communications:** Turn product updates into compelling narratives, establish announcement priorities, manage a sustainable launch cadence, and coordinate joint announcements with strategic partners. - **Develop internal subject matter experts:** Identify relevant expertise across departments and position leaders as credible voices on topics that matter to customers, partners, and the wider industry. - **Communicate community and philanthropic impact:** Identify meaningful customer and community stories that demonstrate the organization's contribution to the automotive repair ecosystem. - **Manage media sponsorships:** Evaluate, negotiate, and oversee media and trade sponsorships, ensuring partnerships deliver measurable strategic value and meaningful audience reach. - **Measure PR performance:** Track earned media reach, placement quality, executive visibility, share of voice, brand sentiment, and AI-generated brand mentions, connecting results to broader business objectives. - **Collaborate across the organization:** Work closely with executive leadership, Product, Sales, and other teams to align communications with business priorities and maintain a consistent narrative. - **Build for future growth:** Establish repeatable processes, prioritize high-impact initiatives, and lay the groundwork for expanding the communications function as the business grows. **Requirements:** The ideal candidate is a strategic communications professional with a strong track record of building programs, influencing executive narratives, and delivering measurable results. You are a confident writer and relationship builder who combines traditional PR expertise with a practical understanding of AI-driven discovery. Qualifications include: - At least 8 years of experience in public relations, communications, or a closely related field, including ownership of a program or function. - Demonstrated experience building and managing an executive visibility or thought leadership program from strategy and platform development through execution and measurement. - Strong expertise in executive communications, thought leadership development, and leadership positioning. - Experience in B2B, SaaS, or technology communications, ideally within an industry-specific market serving field-based or non-desk audiences. - Hands-on familiarity with AI-powered workflows and experience testing or measuring brand visibility in large language models. - Exceptional writing, editing, and messaging skills, including the ability to produce media pitches, press releases, opinion pieces, executive talking points, and social content. - Strong executive presence and interpersonal skills, with the ability to coach senior leaders, provide constructive feedback, and establish trust with C-suite stakeholders. - A builder's mindset, with the ability to work independently in an evolving environment, make strategic decisions, and establish priorities without a predefined roadmap. - Experience collaborating across departments, particularly with Product, Sales, and executive leadership. - Experience managing media sponsorships, event media partnerships, or conference PR strategy. - Experience managing or mentoring colleagues, or a clear interest in developing leadership capabilities and building a team as the function expands. - Curiosity about how AI-powered search is changing information discovery, and a willingness to experiment with content strategies that build visibility and trust. **Nice to have:** - Experience marketing to field-based, non-desk, or trade audiences, particularly in skilled trades or local service industries. - Familiarity with PR platforms such as Meltwater, Muck Rack, or Cision. - Experience with emerging tools for tracking AI visibility, brand citations, and presence in AI-generated responses. **Benefits:** The organization offers a flexible working environment, comprehensive benefits, and resources to support employees' well-being, financial security, and professional growth. - **Competitive compensation:** Competitive base salary reflecting experience and value. The specific salary range is not disclosed in the job description. - **Remote work:** Flexibility to work remotely, with travel required for company events, new-hire training, and team off-sites, typically one to three times per year. - **Flexible paid time off:** No fixed annual limit, with an emphasis on taking time to rest and recharge. - **Paid leave:** Maternity leave, parental bonding leave, and medical leave for employees and their loved ones. - **Health insurance:** Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage. Employee-only plans are covered at 100% of premiums, with 50% of family plan costs covered. - **Mental health support:** Free, confidential counseling through a partnership with BetterHelp. - **401(k) retirement plan:** 100% employer matching on employee contributions up to 6%. - **Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts:** FSA and HSA options to help manage eligible healthcare and related expenses. - **Insurance protection:** Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage. - **Monthly wellness allowance:** Up to $60 per month for fitness, mental health, or other eligible wellness needs. - **Home office support:** A $300 home office setup bonus after one year of employment. - **Professional development:** Continuing education support to encourage ongoing learning and career growth. - **Collaborative culture:** Join a team focused on meaningful work, innovation, and making a positive difference for the businesses and communities it serves.