Sr. Director, Industry Data & Insights

Discover Your Possibilities at CARS

Here at CARS, we are constantly developing technology that innovates how customers and dealers buy and sell their vehicles. In 1998, we invented the car search with Cars.com and revolutionized the way the industry does business. Now, we bring that same boldness, energy, and drive to optimizing solutions across our brands every single day. We are constantly creating new possibilities, traversing uncharted routes and welcoming challenges along the way.

No one ever travels alone here: at its core, CARS is collaboration. Whether it is within individual teams, across departments, or the company at large, our employees support one another across every dimension of life at CARS. We operate as a collective, utilizing all of our diverse strengths to approach problems from every single angle, united by our award-winning company culture and our mission to make car shopping the best experience possible.

CARS includes the following brands: Cars.com, Dealer Inspire, DealerRater, FUEL, CreditIQ & Accu-Trade. Learn more here!

The Role:

We are seeking an experienced and motivated individual to lead the Industry Data & Insights function, a growing and critical part of CARS business. CARS properties derive data from a marketplace with 28M unique visitors each month, 6,000+ dealer websites and several software properties. We interact with OEMs, dealers and lenders and have an opportunity to bring deeper insights to our partners based on the signals we get from our large in-market audience.

The primary focus of this role is to establish a team and processes that will allow the company to leverage all of the data and insights to expand our business development, generate additional revenue and increase our industry profile as an expert and trusted data source. This is a high visibility role –  internally and externally – requiring a high degree of cross-functional work and communication. The ideal candidate will also have experience with presenting to investors, industry influencers, and print & broadcast media. This person will function as the primary spokesperson for the company on Industry Data & Insights.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of CARS’ data and insight strategy, in collaboration with the corporate strategy, product, data science and analytics teams on CARS data strategy including the development of data visualization, proprietary metrics and monetization opportunities
• Oversee the development and continuous improvement of CARS’ industry data collection and analysis approach, including but not limited to retail supply & demand trends, and wholesale valuation drivers
• Work with the CARS data science team to drive the adoption of advanced data science techniques, including machine learning models and other AI-driven approaches, to enhance analysis and unlock innovative insights that elevate CARS' data product offerings and overall market competitiveness
• Develop data monetization strategies in collaboration with the sales and business development teams to grow revenue generated from CARS’ data
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize areas for product improvement, research and analysis based on business needs and objectives
• Utilize Cars.com and third party data to conduct research and analysis of the automotive industry, including market trends, competitor strategies, and consumer behavior
• Lead the development of research reports, presentations, and other materials that provide insights into the automotive industry, including industry trends, competitive analysis, and consumer insights
• Represent CARS at industry events and meetings with key external clients and stakeholders

Requirements:

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, including at least 5 years in a senior strategic or analytical role
• Strong analytical skills with experience in market research, competitive analysis, and consumer insights
• Knowledge and first hand experience of latest analytical techniques and tools
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience in leading a team of analysts
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment 
• Knowledge of the latest automotive industry trends, regulations, and technologies
• Approx. 20-30%